How do you combine machine learning, tech enabled services, and a scalable SaaS platform to improve outcomes in Alzheimer's and dementia care? In this episode, Sherveen Mashayekhi sits down with Nikhil Patel, the founder of Craniometrics, a cutting-edge healthtech startup backed by Y Combinator, Quiet Capital, Defy.vc, and others.
From his early days at Y Combinator (YC) to building an AI-driven platform aligned with the Biden administration’s Medicare policies, Nikhil shares a journey of innovation, resilience, and a deeply personal connection to this mission.
This conversation dives deep into what it really takes to build in healthcare:
- The founding story of Craniometrics and Nikhil’s personal connection to dementia care
- The decision to join YC, pivot early, and overcome the toughest startup challenges
- How AI and machine learning predict care needs, empowering providers and caregivers
- Navigating Medicare compliance, regulatory hurdles, and healthcare IT innovation
- Lessons in fundraising, building with purpose, and scaling as a young founder
And that's the conversation we have here on Episode 013 of The Sherveen Show!
In this episode...
We also explore the inside story of raising $6 million in funding, unpack why winning 51% of the time can be the key to startup success, and examine how the GUIDE program is changing dementia care in the United States. You’ll hear practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs—especially those interested in healthtech and Y Combinator—as well as insights into what happens when big funding offers collide with the need to pivot toward a different product or market.
We cover strategies for securing venture capital, aligning with Medicare’s GUIDE program, integrating machine learning, patient data, and provider workflows, and scaling go-to-market strategies for B2B healthcare products. Along the way, we look at how Craniometrics balances patient needs, caregiver support, and physician efficiency, building a brand that resonates with patients, families, and the broader healthcare community.
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Follow Nikhil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhil-s-patel
This conversation is packed with insights for startup founders, healthtech enthusiasts, and anyone navigating the intersection of technology, healthcare, and policy innovation. Whether you’re interested in building a mission-driven business, learning how to tackle regulatory challenges, or scaling a startup, this episode is for you.
Join us for in-depth conversations with founders, investors, and innovators shaping the future of technology. Subscribe for weekly insights into building successful startups at their earliest of stages. The Sherveen Show is all about connecting the dots between tech, startups, business, and society.
- Starting a healthcare startup and participating in Y Combinator (YC)
- Pivoting from direct-to-consumer diagnostics to provider-focused dementia care
- Integrating machine learning, patient data, and provider workflows
- Strategies for securing venture capital and seed funding in healthcare
- Balancing patient needs, caregiver support, and physician efficiency
- Building a brand that resonates with patients, families, and the healthcare community
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