A VC and a Founder intellectually spar on Vertical Tech & AI, covering the latest news, unpacking in-depth business strategies, and interviewing world-class leaders in the space. New episodes drop every Wednesday.

In this episode, Luke Sophinos and Nic Poulos sit down with Mike Kopko, CEO of Pearl Health, to break down how AI and value-based care are transforming one of the most complex industries on earth: healthcare.

We cover:

- Why healthcare is becoming the biggest vertical AI opportunity and where startups can actually win

- AI for cost removal vs workflow enhancement — and why the former is where the real money is

- How Pearl Health uses predictive analytics to prevent costly hospitalizations and align financial incentives across providers and payers

- AI fatigue in the enterprise vs AI success in healthcare (42% of AI initiatives discontinued — why healthcare is different)

- The rise of vertical AI funding in healthcare (Timecare’s $100M raise and the surge in oncology + senior care innovation)

- Navigating government programs, value-based care, and risk-bearing models as a startup

- The Pearl Health playbook: building for physicians first, landing wedge products through payments, and scaling upmarket to health systems

If you’re building in healthcare, AI, SaaS, or any high-cost vertical where AI can directly impact financial outcomes, this one’s for you.

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