Oncology Ventures: Investing in healthcare data startups that enhance cancer care and research
Oncology Ventures Portfolio Company Highlights:
Congrats to mPATH and Gabbi on being selected into CancerX’s 2025 Accelerator program! Oncology Ventures is proud to be a Champion Partner of this public-private partnership designed to accelerate innovation in the fight against cancer
Risa - an AI-powered prior authorization solution that automates patient eligibility checks through to prior auth submission and appeals - launches “AI for Future of Medicine in Oncology” tour. Find a time to meet them in your city here
Concr - powering precision oncology by enabling more effective discovery and novel usage of cancer biomarkers - completed their FarrSight® beta and launched a new commercial project. They are excited to partner with innovative biotech companies - let us know if you want to connect
OncoveryCare - virtual, tech-enabled clinic delivering whole-person care to cancer survivors - is live with Tennessee Oncology. They are expanding with additional community oncology clinics - let us know if you want to connect
Articles we have been reading:
Time’s “The Race to Explain Why More Young Adults Are Getting Cancer”
Early-onset cancer diagnoses (those under 50 years old) increased by 79% from 1990 to 2019. Researchers are grappling with potential causes, including environmental factors like microplastics and diet (ultra-processed foods), though no single factor fully explains the trend. On the positive side - early detection, improved precision medicine and sharp decline in smoking rates have helped to improve outcomes, as mortality rates have dropped by about a third since 1991.
American Cancer Society’s 2025 Facts and Figures
New cancer diagnoses in the U.S. are projected to break 2M in 2025. And, 40% of newly diagnosed cancers in U.S. adults are potentially avoidable (e.g. cigarettes, diet and alcohol). Cancer rates also vary substantially across states, e.g. male lung cancer incidence varies by 3.5x, from 28 per 100,000 men in Utah to 98 in Kentucky. The 5-year relative survival rate for all cancers combined is nearly 70%.
Comedy!
Big Milk branding could use a refresh. It is wild that it’s not socially acceptable for adults to drink milk in public. It’s delicious and good for you. But, if you went out on a date, and they ordered a glass of milk, you would immediately text your friends saying “Well, Brian and I are done.”
Now, if he instead ordered a martini, which is literally a cup of vodka filled with old olive juice… you’d text them saying, “Wow, Brian is sophisticated and classy”.
And I know branding can help, because F1 is one of the most elite sporting events in the world. You hear F1 and feel luxury, sponsored by Louis Vuitton. Whereas NASCAR, an incredibly similar sport - where people drive cars quickly around a track - feels like something your drunk Uncle Randy keeps trying to get you to come over and watch in his trailer.
Even the F1 name is classy. It’s one letter and one number. Because elegance doesn’t ramble. NASCAR feels like the result of a specific dare - “Hey Kyle, wanna see who can make the loudest circle 600 times in a row?” “Hold my Fireball.”
F1 makes me want to put on a tuxedo and drink champagne. NASCAR makes me want to cut the sleeves off of it while sipping on Mountain Dew Code Red.
Asks
Who is one innovative oncology executive we should meet?
Is there one data-driven pediatric oncology start-up you can introduce us to?
The breakthroughs from mPATH, Gabbi and the rest of the Oncology Ventures portfolio are genuinely inspiring especially seeing how Ai and data are reshaping cancer care from early detection to survivorship. Risa's approach to prior authorizations feels like one of those under the radar pain points that could massively impact both providers and patients.
With early onset cancer rates rising, do you think precision oncology or preventative data insights will make the bigger dent in outcomes over the next 5-10 years?
Hi Ben , I'm associated with a AI company with deep experience with lifescience / bio / pharma / healthcare domains over the last 15 years; With strategic partnership with nvidia, we have been able to power a lot of large scale lifescience problems with the use of AI.
I feel that lot of companies in your portfolio can benefit from the collaboration with our product. I would like to chat up and discuss more. THanks , Vadi ( vadiraj dot a @ gmail dot com )