Impossible Is a State of Mind

If we would have said 18 months ago, before COVID, that two relatively young startups would be responsible for one of the world’s most significant and life-saving vaccines, and that vaccine would be made available within a year, we would have been laughed out of the room. Did we mention that the vaccine would also involve an unprecedented level of collaboration between business competitors? Ridiculous. Nelson Mandela famously put it this way: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” We take that quote – and the incredible vaccine achievements of the last year – personally because we’ve met our share of doubters. Over the past decade, when presenting our ambitious vision and strategic plan for achieving health moonshots, most people told us we were dreaming the impossible. They told us we couldn't help billions of people live healthier lives while also generating healthy financial returns. But extraordinary times call for a transformative approach. We are seeing significant signals across our global portfolio telling us that health innovation is moving faster than most ever imagined. For proof, look no further than the fact that health innovation funding is set to double in 2021. To support and accelerate that progress, on April 1, 2021, we officially launched our third fund, The StartUp Health Moonshots Impact Fund, as a unique, quarterly member-driven rolling fund. We are deeply grateful to the dozens of investors who have already subscribed and continue with us on our journey to achieve Health Moonshots. We have already made nine investments in Q2, and in the following pages you’ll meet some of these new “Health Transformers'' and learn about the impact they’re making. Thank you for your ongoing support. Together we can improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in the world. Join the mission.