LAVCA VC
  • News Feed
  • VC Data
  • Directories
  • Features ✚ Video
  • Tech Growth Coalition
  • Engage
    • VC Council
    • VC Members
  • LAVCA
  • Member Login
  • Member Access

LAVCA VC

  • News Feed
  • VC Data
  • Directories
  • Features ✚ Video
  • Tech Growth Coalition
  • Engage
    • VC Council
    • VC Members
  • LAVCA

Healthtech & the Opportunity to Reduce Diabetes in Mexico

June 6, 2018
SocialDiabetes
Company: SocialDiabetes
Investors: ALLVP, European Commission
Interview with:  Maria Salido, CEO
  • English
  • Spanish
  • Portuguese

SocialDiabetes is a Barcelona-based healthtech platform for diabetes patient care, focused on Mexico and Spain, with funding from ALLVP and the European Commission. In this interview with co-founder and CEO María Salido, we learn about the opportunity to reduce diabetes prevalence in Mexico, a country with the highest rate of diabetes among the OECD countries.

LAVCA: Who are the founders of SocialDiabetes?

María Salido: Victor Bautista, who created the technology from a real need in his own life, as he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and myself. I have dedicated my whole career to the management of technology projects, including strategic consultancy on how the internet and digitization are transforming society.

LAVCA: Why did you start SocialDiabetes?

María Salido: As a patient with diabetes, Victor did not have the tools to make decisions about his health, something that people with diabetes have to do continuously. When the first smartphones appeared, the idea of ​​always having a “pocket doctor” reassured him.

When we saw that the use of our app could help him and improve his health, we knew we had to make it available to the maximum number of people. So we decided to share a personal solution and create a global project.

LAVCA: What problem are you trying to solve?

María Salido: Patients with diabetes feel insecure and that their life is not flexible. With SocialDiabetes, they can gain flexibility in the way they eat and they can calculate the optimal insulin dose at all times, which radically increases safety.

Typically,  professionals visit patients every few months and between visits they have no actionable information. With the telemedicine system, the patient can save trips and in-person visits and professionals can anticipate complications and prioritize attention.

In short, we solve the efficiency and effectiveness issues faced by both patients and professionals due to the current manual, face-to-face management of diabetes.

LAVCA: What markets do you operate in?

María Salido: Our system has been translated into 11 languages and has received downloads from 20 different countries, but mainly from Spain and Mexico. Thanks to the support from ALLVP, we will set up a team in Mexico to be closer to operations both locally and in Latin America.

We also have a presence in the UK, thanks to collaborations with the National Health System.

LAVCA: How did you explain the opportunity to your investors?

María Salido: We were very transparent with our journey and our future ambition. We have a great mission: To transform the way of managing diabetes to improve the lives of patients and save healthcare system costs. We have a great team of highly professional and passionate individuals, and our product has international recognition (incl. UNESCO WSA – Best health application – Abu Dhabi 2013; Winner – ISYSCore: Best Spanish Health APP 2015, 2016, 2017; Winner MunichRE InsurTech Accelerator 2016), and international certifications (ISO medical device 13.485, CE Mark, FDA 510(K), UK MHRA).

LAVCA: How much capital have you raised so far?

María Salido: In total, we have raised €2.4m, of which €830k is private capital (mostly from ALLVP) and €1.6m is public capital from the European Commission, the product of positive technical evaluation and social impact of our proposal.

LAVCA: Any stats you can share on the size of the opportunity in your sector/market?

There are more than 41 million people with diabetes in Latin America. These figures are expected to increase by 30% over the next 10 years.

María Salido: 415 million people worldwide live with diabetes. There are more than 41 million people with diabetes in Latin America. These figures are expected to increase by 30% over the next 10 years.

More stats:

  • 12% of global health spending is dedicated to diabetes.
  • €21.2b is the market value of Telemedicine (tele-home and tele-hospital). And it is expected to grow to €49b by 2021.
  • €515.5m is the market value of “e-Health solution for diabetes”, with an annual growth of 30.74%.

LAVCA: Any stats you can share on SocialDiabetes’ traction/growth so far?

María Salido: We have 250,000 downloads worldwide to date, and 120,000 registered users.

LAVCA: What impact do you hope to have on healthcare/access in Mexico?

María Salido: We want to improve health education for people, improve their autonomy, empower them, make them feel confident and able to take control of their disease. To do this, we will deploy marketing and communication campaigns to reach the broadest possible population.

On the other hand, we want to influence health management, make the system more efficient, reduce costs and optimize the doctor-patient relationship. We will start with projects in the private sector, but our goal is the National Health System.

SocialDiabetes es una plataforma tecnológica de salud con sede en Barcelona para la atención de pacientes con diabetes, focada en los mercados de México y España, que cuenta con financiación de ALLVP y la Comisión Europea. En esta entrevista con la cofundadora y CEO María Salido, aprendemos sobre la oportunidad de reducir la prevalencia de diabetes en México, el país con la tasa más alta de diabetes entre los países de la OCDE.

LAVCA: ¿Quiénes son los fundadores?

María Salido: Victor Bautista, creador de la tecnología a partir de una necesidad real en su día a día, pues le habían diagnosticado diabetes tipo 1. Y yo, que me he dedicado toda la vida a la dirección de proyectos tecnológicos. Los últimos, a la consultoría estratégica sobre cómo internet y la digitalización, está transformando la sociedad.

LAVCA: ¿Por qué empezaron SocialDiabetes?

María Salido: Como paciente con diabetes, Víctor no tenía herramientas que le permitieran tomar decisiones sobre su salud, algo que las personas con diabetes han de hacer continuamente. Aparecían los primeros smartphones y la idea de tener siempre al “médico en bolsillo” le tranquilizaba. Cuando vimos que el uso de la APP le ayudaba y mejoraba su salud, pensamos que era algo que teníamos que hacer llegar a la máximas personas posibles. Entonces decidimos compartir una solución personal a un proyecto global.

LAVCA: ¿Qué problema están tratando de resolver?

María Salido: Los pacientes con diabetes sienten que su vida no es flexible y se sienten inseguros.

Con SocialDiabetes adquieren flexibilidad en la forma de comer y pueden calcular la dosis de insulina óptima en cada momento, lo que incrementa radicalmente la seguridad.

Por otro lado, los profesionales visitan a los pacientes cada X meses, y entre visita y visita, no tienen información sobre los mismos. Con el sistema de telemedicina, el paciente puede ahorrarse viajes y visitas presenciales y los profesionales pueden anticipar complicaciones

y priorizar la atención.

En definitiva solventamos el problema que tienen tanto pacientes como profesionales de una gestión ineficiente y poco eficaz, debido a la gestión manual y presencial de la Diabetes.

LAVCA: ¿En qué mercados operan?

María Salido: Nuestro Sistema está traducido a 11 idiomas y recibimos descargas de 20 países distintos pero principalmente de España y México donde gracias al respaldo de ALLVP vamos a montar un equipo y asentarnos para poder estar más cerca de las operaciones tanto en el país como en Latinoamérica.

Tenemos también presencia en UK, gracias a colaboraciones con el Sistema Nacional de Salud.

LAVCA: ¿Cómo le explicaste la oportunidad a tus inversores?

María Salido: Fuimos muy transparentes con nuestro recorrido y nuestra ambición futura. Tenemos una gran misión: transformar la forma de gestionar la diabetes para mejorar la vida de los pacientes y ahorrar costes al sistema sanitario. Tenemos un gran equipo, de alto nivel profesional y apasionado, y nuestro producto cuenta con reconocimiento (UNESCO WSA – Best health application – Abu Dhabi 2013; Winner – ISYSCore: Best Spanish Health APP 2015, 2016, 2017; Winner MunichRE InsurTech Accelerator 2016), y certificaciones internacionales (ISO medical device 13.485, CE Mark, FDA 510(K), UK MHRA).

LAVCA: ¿Cuánto capital has levantado hasta ahora?

María Salido: En total hemos obtenido €2.4m de los cuales, €830k en capital privado (entre ellos y especialmente ALLVP) y €1.6m capital público de la Comisión Europea, fruto de una evaluación positiva, técnica y de impacto social, de nuestra propuesta.

LAVCA: ¿Podrías compartir algunas estadísticas acerca del tamaño del mercado?

Más de 41 millones personas con diabetes en Latinoamérica. Estas cifras se incrementarán en un 30% en los próximos 10 años.

María Salido: 415 millones de personas en el mundo viven con diabetes, y más de 41 millones personas con diabetes en Latinoamérica. Estas cifras se incrementarán en un 30% en los próximos 10 años.

  • El 12% del gasto mundial en salud, está dedicado a la Diabetes.
  • €21,2b es el valor del mercado de Telemedicina (tele-home and tele-hospital). Y se espera un crecimiento de hasta €49b para 2021.
  • €515,5m es el valor del mercado de “e-Health solution para Diabetes”, con un crecimiento anual del 30,74%.

LAVCA: ¿Podrías compartir estadísticas acerca del uso y crecimiento de SocialDiabetes?

María Salido: Tenemos 250.000 descargas en todo el mundo, y 120.000 usuarios registrados.

LAVCA: ¿Qué impacto esperas tener en el acceso a la salud en México?

María Salido: Queremos mejorar la educación sanitaria de las personas con pacientes, mejorar su autonomía, empoderarlos, hacer que se sientan seguros y capaces de tomar el control de su enfermedad. Para ello haremos un despliegue de campañas de marketing y comunicación para llegar a la máxima población posible.

Por otro lado, queremos influir en la gestión sanitaria, hacer el sistema más eficiente, reducir costes y optimizar la relación médico-paciente.

Empezaremos con proyectos en el sector privado, pero nuestro objetivo es el Sistema Nacional de Salud. 


This article is not available in Portuguese. Please see English and Spanish versions.

 

Healthtech & the Opportunity to Reduce Diabetes in Mexico was last modified: December 4th, 2019 by Editor
ALLVPAppHealthtechMexicosocialdiabetes
0
Facebook Twitter Google +

Tech Growth Coalition

Video Tags

Actis Advent Alan Patricof Alaya Capital Partners ALLVP Andreessen Horowitz Blackstone BNDES Bossa Nova Investimentos Brian Hutchings Brookfield Canary CDPQ Confrapar CPPIB DILA Capital DOMO Invest E.bricks Ventures General Atlantic Global Founders Capital IFC Inseed Investimentos Kaszek Ventures Kinea Investimentos Konfio Kovi Marta Cruz McComma Grayson monashees Mountain Nazca MUY Tech Nubank Oikocredit Patria Investimentos QED Investors Redpoint eventures REDWOOD VENTURES Riverwood Capital Scott Voss SOFTBANK Valor Capital Vinci Capital Partners Vinci Partners Vostok Emerging Finance Y Combinator

Quote

  • This is not the first and will not be the last measure that we are going to take. We are serious about changing the rules and having a better environment for entrepreneurship to thrive…

    Healthtech & the Opportunity to Reduce Diabetes in Mexico was last modified: December 4th, 2019 by Editor

    –Mariano Mayer
  • We are very careful about not overcapitalizing companies.

    Healthtech & the Opportunity to Reduce Diabetes in Mexico was last modified: December 4th, 2019 by Editor

    –Alan Patricof
  • Making an investment decision comes down to the people.

    Healthtech & the Opportunity to Reduce Diabetes in Mexico was last modified: December 4th, 2019 by Editor

    –Alex Rossi, Managing Partner, LIV Capital
  • We look at the longevity, the fit, deal attribution by team member. We look at their performance as well as how they focus and what their expertise is…What differentiates them from their peers?

    Healthtech & the Opportunity to Reduce Diabetes in Mexico was last modified: December 4th, 2019 by Editor

    –Adam Ritter, Vice President, Harbourvest
  • The most helpful thing that an investor can do for an entrepreneur is connecting them to great people, and then taking them to experts and connecting them to early customers and partners.

    Healthtech & the Opportunity to Reduce Diabetes in Mexico was last modified: December 4th, 2019 by Editor

    –Cyrus Massoumi
  • We never do a deal alone, never, not one single deal in our entire portfolio are we the only investor. We always have someone else.

    Healthtech & the Opportunity to Reduce Diabetes in Mexico was last modified: December 4th, 2019 by Editor

    –Alan Patricof
  • Empathy is one of the things we value a lot.

    Healthtech & the Opportunity to Reduce Diabetes in Mexico was last modified: December 4th, 2019 by Editor

    –Michael Nicklas, Partner, Valor Capital

Geography Tags

Alquilando Argentina Argentine Austria Belize Bolivia Brasil Brazil Canada Canary Caribbean Central America Chile Colombia Costa Rica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Honduras India International INTL Israel Jamaica Japan Kenya LatAm Latin America Mexico Miami Nicaragua Pan-Regional Panama Paraguay Peru Portugal Puerto Rico South Korea Spain United States Uruguay US USA Venezuela

Global POV

  • Nathan Lustig, Partner, Magma Partners

    Latin America’s Groupon Mafia

  • Sebastian Vidal, Executive Director, Parallel18

    5 Puerto Rican startups that stood up to the hurricane and won in 2017

  • Jaime Sotomayor, Head of Acceleration, Wayra Peru

    El Modo Israelí: 5 lecciones que podemos aprender de Israel sobre innovación

  • Álvaro Rodríguez Arregui, Managing Partner, IGNIA Partners

    Mexico’s Ley Fintech: Excelente iniciativa para entrada de inversión

  • Nathan Lustig, Partner, Magma Partners

    Top 10 Tips From Latin American Entrepreneurs

  • Juan Ignacio Savino, Partner, Altment Capital Partners

    El capital privado como aliado natural del reformismo permanente

  • Francisco Jardim

    Q&A: SP Ventures On Becoming the Leading Farm Tech Investor In South America

  • Francisco Coronel, Founding Partner, NXTP Labs

    Copycats versus disruptors in Latin America

  • Marta Cruz, NXTP Labs

    Argentina’s government is wooing entrepreneurs with a new law

  • Manoel Lemos, Managing Director, Redpoint eventures

    Silicon Valley is a state of mind

  • Pedro Sirotzky Melzer, Managing Director, eBricks Ventures

    Facing crises & bureaucracy in Brazil’s venture capital industry

  • Alexandra da Haan

    Education Technology: the potential impact of MicroLearning in Corporate Training in Brazil.

  • Elizabeth Boggs Davidsen, Chief of Knowledge Economy Unit, MIF/FOMIN

    The Timing is Right for Impact Investing in Latin America

  • Romero Rodrigues, Managing Partner, Redpoint eVentures

    Brazil’s tech-sector bright spots beckon as it begins to emerge from long economic crisis

  • Ben Evans, Partner, Andreessen Horowitz

    In Praise of Failure

  • Federico Antoni, Co Founder & Managing Partner, ALLVP

    The rise and rise of Mexican fintech

  • Pedro Sorren, VC, FundersClub

    Building a startup with integrity: why investor updates matter

  • Anderson Thees, Managing Director, Redpoint e.Ventures

    Corporate venture growth in Brazil is another sign of a mature tech ecosystem

  • Esteban Mancuso, Managing Partner, Velum Ventures

    Los retos del capital emprendedor en Colombia y América Latina

  • Romero Rodrigues, Managing Partner, Redpoint e.Ventures

    Latin America’s chronic inefficiency could drive more O2O commerce growth

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Google + Instagram Pinterest

About LAVCA

 

LAVCA is the Association for Private Capital Investment in Latin America, a not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to supporting the growth of private capital in Latin America and the Caribbean through research, education, networking and advocacy.

LAVCA Offices

    New York City:
    589 8th Ave, 18th Floor
    New York, NY 10031

    Buenos Aires:
    Av. Figueroa Alcorta 3351
    Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1425

LAVCA Also Has a Regional Presence in:

    Silicon Valley:
    San Francisco, CA

    São Paulo:
    São Paulo, Brazil

Explore LAVCA.org

  • About LAVCA
  • Board, Team & Councils
  • Media
  • Contact Us
  • Membership Benefits
  • Members Only Access
  • Education and Programs
  • Research
  • Policy
  • LAVCA VC
  • Contact Us

@2018 - LAVCA. All Rights Reserved.


Back To Top