In this episode of Tank Talks, host Matt Cohen sits down with Sameer Dhar, Co-Founder and CEO of NiaHealth, to explore how proactive healthcare is reshaping the future of medicine.

Sameer shares his remarkable journey from living in nursing homes for a year while building his first startup (Sensassure) to launching NiaHealth, a Canadian health-tech company empowering people to take ownership of their longevity through AI-driven diagnostics and personalized insights.

With over $8 million in funding and a 12,000-person waitlist, NiaHealth is building a clinician-first model that complements Canada’s public system, helping users prevent disease decades before it develops. Sameer also discusses why prevention, not treatment, must drive the next wave of healthcare innovation, how AI will augment rather than replace clinicians, and what it takes to build a mission-driven company in a regulated industry.

Whether you’re a founder, investor, or health enthusiast, this conversation reveals how the next generation of health tech startups can blend AI, clinical integrity, and human empathy to create lasting impact.

A Quick Word from our Sponsor, Fasken

At Fasken, our clients don’t wait for the future. They build it. As the first and largest dedicated emerging tech practice in Canada, our team is composed of founders, ex in-house counsel, developers and business advisors who have guided clients from startup, to scale-up, to exit. The trust of our clients has enabled us to consistently rank at the top of every major Canadian M&A, Capital Markets and Venture Capital league table. With deep industry knowledge and experience across all areas of emerging and high growth technology including ClimateTech, MedTech, Artificial Intelligence, Fintech, and AgTech we’re your partners within the innovation ecosystem as you transform the landscape of what’s possible.

Tomorrow starts here. Own it with us.

For more information, visit fasken.com/emergingtech and follow us on LinkedIn.

The Entrepreneurial Spark (05:52)

* How the Next 36 program transformed Sameer from a finance student into a founder

* The power of founder-focused education in shaping Canada’s startup ecosystem

* Lessons from learning to “think like a builder” instead of an employee

From Customer Discovery to Conviction (10:46)

* How customer discovery can turn into “analysis paralysis” if you never act

* Why true innovation means taking bold bets, not just collecting insights

* The importance of timing when moving from research to execution

Building NiaHealth (13:26)

* The personal mission to keep people healthy long before disease develops

* How the pandemic revealed gaps in personal healthcare ownership

* The evolution of NiaHealth into a platform offering advanced diagnostics, clinician reviews, and personalized longevity plans

Integrating with the System (17:12)

* Why NiaHealth chose a “clinician-first” model rather than going fully digital

* How nurse practitioners bridge the gap between data and diagnosis

* The importance of integrating with Canada’s public system to maintain trust

Trust and Transparency (22:51)

* Addressing criticism about private healthcare models in Canada

* Why NiaHealth avoids affiliate sales to maintain clinical integrity

* The company’s research-led approach to responsible, evidence-based testing

Filling the System’s Blind Spots (26:13)

* Canada’s biggest blind spot: a reactive healthcare model built around disease

* How prevention and early diagnostics reduce system strain and save lives

* The mission to empower users to act on health risks decades in advance

AI as an Enhancer, Not a Replacement (29:16)

* Why Sameer believes AI should support, not replace, clinicians

* How AI enhances diagnostic accuracy and clinician productivity

* The role of empathy and human connection in patient outcomes

Scaling Impact (33:11)

* NiaHealth’s vision to reach 100,000 Canadians by the end of next year

* Partnering with insurers and governments to expand preventative care

* Why a “built in Canada, for Canada” strategy is key to long-term success

About Sameer Dhar

Sameer Dhar is the Co-Founder and CEO of Nia Health, a serial entrepreneur and health-tech innovator recognized among Canada’s Top 20 Under 20 and Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40. He previously founded Sensassure, an elder-care technology startup acquired by global health leader Essity.

Connect with Sameer Dhar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sameerdhar/

Visit the NiaHealth website: https://www.niahealth.co/

Connect with Matt Cohen on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/matt-cohen1

Visit the Ripple Ventures website: https://www.rippleventures.com/

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