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The U.S. just captured 76% of ALL global digital health funding.
$5.34 billion in Q1 2026 alone.
But here’s what’s really happening beneath the surface:
Deal volume is DOWN, yet average deal sizes MORE THAN DOUBLED.
Investors aren’t spreading bets anymore. They’re going all-in on proven winners.
The money is flowing into three specific areas:
• Clinical workflow AI that actually integrates
• Payer infrastructure that reduces prior auth headaches
• Medication access systems that work at scale
This isn’t about more apps or pilots. It’s about infrastructure.
Remember when everyone predicted healthcare innovation would democratize globally? The opposite happened. Capital concentrated where regulatory pathways are clearest, where health systems have IT budgets, and where reimbursement models support innovation.
Meanwhile, CMS just launched their HealthTech Ecosystem with Medicare app libraries and interoperability standards. Hundreds of organizations aligned overnight.
The message is clear: Healthcare AI is moving from experimentation to core infrastructure.
Smaller markets and early-stage startups face a harsh reality. Without proven ROI and seamless workflow integration, funding dried up.
For health system leaders, this concentration means:
✓ Fewer vendors but stronger solutions
✓ More mature products with real clinical validation
✓ Better integration with existing systems
But it also raises concerns about innovation monopolies and global health equity.
When 76% of funding goes to one country, what happens to healthcare innovation in emerging markets?
The next 12 months will determine if this concentration accelerates innovation or stifles competition.
♻️ Repost if healthcare innovation needs global balance
👉 Follow me, Jonathan Govette, for daily, real-time updates on healthcare technology and business news. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathangovette/
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Author:
Jonathan Govette is a seasoned healthcare and technology executive with more than two decades of experience building, scaling, and advising digital health companies. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Oatmeal Health, an AI-driven Lung Cancer Screening and Diagnostics company focused on expanding access to early detection for underrepresented populations, particularly patients served by Federally Qualified Health Centers and value-based health plans.
With a background in engineering, product development, and strategic partnerships, Jonathan has founded and led multiple health technology ventures across clinical care delivery, regulated medical software, and AI-enabled diagnostics. His work sits at the intersection of medicine, technology, and health equity, with a consistent focus on translating complex clinical problems into scalable, real-world solutions.
Jonathan has spent much of his professional life dedicated to improving outcomes for marginalized and underserved communities. He has designed and implemented frameworks that align clinical quality, reimbursement, and technology to sustainably advance health equity at scale. This mission is deeply personal and informs his leadership philosophy and long-term vision for healthcare transformation.
In addition to his operating experience, Jonathan is an author and long-time writer in the healthcare domain, with over 20 years of published work covering digital health, medical innovation, and healthcare systems. He is a frequent mentor to early-stage founders and regularly advises startups on product strategy, partnerships, and go-to-market execution in regulated healthcare environments.
Before entering industry full-time, Jonathan nearly pursued a career in medicine with an early path toward cardiothoracic surgery, an experience that continues to shape his clinical perspective and respect for frontline care delivery.
CEO | Oatmeal Health | AI Lung Cancer Startup | Engineer | Writer | Almost Became a Doctor (Cardiac Thoracic Surgeon) | 3x Health Tech Founder | Startup Mentor | Follow to share what I’ve learned along the way.
