StarZero All shows Try the podcast clipper →

Jun 28, 2017 · 19m · top-founders

704: A Son Saving His Mom With Health Tech Product That Recognizes Seizures

Eric Dolan · 10m spoken Nathan Latka · 7m spoken
0:00 / 0:00

gold bands on the timeline = statements, start to end. Hover to read, click to jump. CC turns on captions

In this episode of 'The Top,' Nathan Latka interviews Newton co-founder and CEO Eric Dolan, who explains how his digital health startup uses consumer wearable sensors and AI to track epilepsy seizures, monetize via pharmaceutical partnerships, and scale toward a $1 million run rate.

How this conversation actually went

Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. Nathan holds 42.3% of the talking time here. How this is scored →

Nathan as informed peer 3.5 Guest teaching 2.7 Guest disagreement 1.2 Nathan pushing back 2.5
05100:0010:001:36–4:05 · Nathan as informed peer 2/10 Discussion on Operations and Office Location Nathan introduces Eric and asks basic opening questions about location and business model. Eric explains the background of Newton, comparing his device-agnostic software approach to hardware-heavy competitors.4:05–6:28 · Nathan as informed peer 5/10 Revenue Projections and Long-Term Market Intelligence Vision Nathan presses on monthly figures and challenges the phrasing of run rate versus fiscal targets, comparing the business model incentives to lawyers who do not want problems solved. Eric clarifies that recurring script refills provide predictable revenue and outlines his market intelligence vision.6:28–11:28 · Nathan as informed peer 4/10 User Traction and Organic Word-of-Mouth Adoption Nathan drills into customer adoption numbers and repeatedly presses Eric for exact dollar figures per lead. Eric educates Nathan on pharmaceutical industry terminology regarding scripts and describes his AdWords-style pharmacy listing model.11:28–14:33 · Nathan as informed peer 4/10 Accelerometer Seizure Detection and Clinical Value Nathan asks how wearable accelerometers provide clinical value to doctors. Eric explains how patients frequently fake or forget seizure logs, educating Nathan on why baseline tracking data is required before preventative AI algorithms can be trained.14:33–16:46 · Nathan as informed peer 4/10 Funding Rounds and Company Team Size Nathan queries Eric's fundraising history and demonstrates familiarity with standard accelerator instruments like 500 Startups KISS agreements versus convertible notes.16:47–18:35 · Nathan as informed peer 2/10 The Famous Five Rapid-Fire Questions Nathan conducts his standard Famous Five rapid-fire series. Eric answers straightforwardly about his sleep habits and his past collegiate swimming aspirations before Nathan concludes.1:36–4:05 · Guest teaching 3/10 Discussion on Operations and Office Location Nathan introduces Eric and asks basic opening questions about location and business model. Eric explains the background of Newton, comparing his device-agnostic software approach to hardware-heavy competitors.4:05–6:28 · Guest teaching 3/10 Revenue Projections and Long-Term Market Intelligence Vision Nathan presses on monthly figures and challenges the phrasing of run rate versus fiscal targets, comparing the business model incentives to lawyers who do not want problems solved. Eric clarifies that recurring script refills provide predictable revenue and outlines his market intelligence vision.6:28–11:28 · Guest teaching 4/10 User Traction and Organic Word-of-Mouth Adoption Nathan drills into customer adoption numbers and repeatedly presses Eric for exact dollar figures per lead. Eric educates Nathan on pharmaceutical industry terminology regarding scripts and describes his AdWords-style pharmacy listing model.11:28–14:33 · Guest teaching 4/10 Accelerometer Seizure Detection and Clinical Value Nathan asks how wearable accelerometers provide clinical value to doctors. Eric explains how patients frequently fake or forget seizure logs, educating Nathan on why baseline tracking data is required before preventative AI algorithms can be trained.14:33–16:46 · Guest teaching 1/10 Funding Rounds and Company Team Size Nathan queries Eric's fundraising history and demonstrates familiarity with standard accelerator instruments like 500 Startups KISS agreements versus convertible notes.16:47–18:35 · Guest teaching 1/10 The Famous Five Rapid-Fire Questions Nathan conducts his standard Famous Five rapid-fire series. Eric answers straightforwardly about his sleep habits and his past collegiate swimming aspirations before Nathan concludes.1:36–4:05 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Discussion on Operations and Office Location Nathan introduces Eric and asks basic opening questions about location and business model. Eric explains the background of Newton, comparing his device-agnostic software approach to hardware-heavy competitors.4:05–6:28 · Guest disagreement 2/10 Revenue Projections and Long-Term Market Intelligence Vision Nathan presses on monthly figures and challenges the phrasing of run rate versus fiscal targets, comparing the business model incentives to lawyers who do not want problems solved. Eric clarifies that recurring script refills provide predictable revenue and outlines his market intelligence vision.6:28–11:28 · Guest disagreement 2/10 User Traction and Organic Word-of-Mouth Adoption Nathan drills into customer adoption numbers and repeatedly presses Eric for exact dollar figures per lead. Eric educates Nathan on pharmaceutical industry terminology regarding scripts and describes his AdWords-style pharmacy listing model.11:28–14:33 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Accelerometer Seizure Detection and Clinical Value Nathan asks how wearable accelerometers provide clinical value to doctors. Eric explains how patients frequently fake or forget seizure logs, educating Nathan on why baseline tracking data is required before preventative AI algorithms can be trained.14:33–16:46 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Funding Rounds and Company Team Size Nathan queries Eric's fundraising history and demonstrates familiarity with standard accelerator instruments like 500 Startups KISS agreements versus convertible notes.16:47–18:35 · Guest disagreement 0/10 The Famous Five Rapid-Fire Questions Nathan conducts his standard Famous Five rapid-fire series. Eric answers straightforwardly about his sleep habits and his past collegiate swimming aspirations before Nathan concludes.1:36–4:05 · Nathan pushing back 1/10 Discussion on Operations and Office Location Nathan introduces Eric and asks basic opening questions about location and business model. Eric explains the background of Newton, comparing his device-agnostic software approach to hardware-heavy competitors.4:05–6:28 · Nathan pushing back 4/10 Revenue Projections and Long-Term Market Intelligence Vision Nathan presses on monthly figures and challenges the phrasing of run rate versus fiscal targets, comparing the business model incentives to lawyers who do not want problems solved. Eric clarifies that recurring script refills provide predictable revenue and outlines his market intelligence vision.6:28–11:28 · Nathan pushing back 5/10 User Traction and Organic Word-of-Mouth Adoption Nathan drills into customer adoption numbers and repeatedly presses Eric for exact dollar figures per lead. Eric educates Nathan on pharmaceutical industry terminology regarding scripts and describes his AdWords-style pharmacy listing model.11:28–14:33 · Nathan pushing back 2/10 Accelerometer Seizure Detection and Clinical Value Nathan asks how wearable accelerometers provide clinical value to doctors. Eric explains how patients frequently fake or forget seizure logs, educating Nathan on why baseline tracking data is required before preventative AI algorithms can be trained.14:33–16:46 · Nathan pushing back 2/10 Funding Rounds and Company Team Size Nathan queries Eric's fundraising history and demonstrates familiarity with standard accelerator instruments like 500 Startups KISS agreements versus convertible notes.16:47–18:35 · Nathan pushing back 1/10 The Famous Five Rapid-Fire Questions Nathan conducts his standard Famous Five rapid-fire series. Eric answers straightforwardly about his sleep habits and his past collegiate swimming aspirations before Nathan concludes.

speaking balance: gold is Nathan, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)

0:00 · Nathan 63.1% · guest 36.9%0:00 · Nathan 63.1% · guest 36.9%3:00 · Nathan 21.7% · guest 78.3%3:00 · Nathan 21.7% · guest 78.3%6:00 · Nathan 25.8% · guest 74.2%6:00 · Nathan 25.8% · guest 74.2%9:00 · Nathan 19.7% · guest 80.3%9:00 · Nathan 19.7% · guest 80.3%12:00 · Nathan 21% · guest 79%12:00 · Nathan 21% · guest 79%15:00 · Nathan 69.9% · guest 30.1%15:00 · Nathan 69.9% · guest 30.1%18:00 · Nathan 99.4% · guest 0.6%18:00 · Nathan 99.4% · guest 0.6%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 9:09 Eric resists revealing proprietary margin data

When Nathan pushes for exact revenue per script, Eric politely pushes back, citing proprietary trade secrets and rate negotiations.

 Hardest push from Nathan ▶ 4:29 Nathan presses on run rate definition

Nathan refuses to let Eric's vague million-dollar projection slide, forcing Eric to define whether he means top-line fiscal revenue or a monthly run-rate multiple.

 Biggest teaching moment ▶ 8:43 Eric explains medical script terminology

When Nathan admits confusion over what 'scripts' means, Eric defines prescription scripts as an industry standard term for fulfilling doctor medication orders.

 Nathan holds their own ▶ 5:38 Nathan's lawyer analogy on perverse disease incentives

Nathan demonstrates strategic insight by comparing Newton's monetization on ongoing disease management to lawyers lacking incentive to permanently resolve issues.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicNathan as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementNathan pushing backWhy
Discussion on Operations and Office Location 2311 Nathan introduces Eric and asks basic opening questions about location and business model. Eric explains the background of Newton, comparing his device-agnostic software approach to hardware-heavy competitors.
Revenue Projections and Long-Term Market Intelligence Vision 5324 Nathan presses on monthly figures and challenges the phrasing of run rate versus fiscal targets, comparing the business model incentives to lawyers who do not want problems solved. Eric clarifies that recurring script refills provide predictable revenue and outlines his market intelligence vision.
User Traction and Organic Word-of-Mouth Adoption 4425 Nathan drills into customer adoption numbers and repeatedly presses Eric for exact dollar figures per lead. Eric educates Nathan on pharmaceutical industry terminology regarding scripts and describes his AdWords-style pharmacy listing model.
Accelerometer Seizure Detection and Clinical Value 4412 Nathan asks how wearable accelerometers provide clinical value to doctors. Eric explains how patients frequently fake or forget seizure logs, educating Nathan on why baseline tracking data is required before preventative AI algorithms can be trained.
Funding Rounds and Company Team Size 4112 Nathan queries Eric's fundraising history and demonstrates familiarity with standard accelerator instruments like 500 Startups KISS agreements versus convertible notes.
The Famous Five Rapid-Fire Questions 2101 Nathan conducts his standard Famous Five rapid-fire series. Eric answers straightforwardly about his sleep habits and his past collegiate swimming aspirations before Nathan concludes.

Statements from this episode (10)

Assertion Not checkable as stated
Newton monetizes via lead generation, cutting patient drug costs up to 90%
“And the way we make money is through lead generation, so we work with partners to actually reduce the cost of your drugs of up to 80 to 90%, and we get paid to do so.”
Eric Dolan Jun 28, 2017 ▶ 3:36
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Newton targets a $1 million run rate in 2017
“We're looking to do about a million dollar run rate this year”
Eric Dolan Jun 28, 2017 ▶ 4:10
Insight
Dolan: Chronic disease lead gen is more predictable than SaaS
“Because these are chronic diseases, people have to fulfill these scripts every single month. So it is more predictable. It's actually a lot more predictable than let's say Even in a couple other SaaS businesses, you know, if someone moves from, you know, from …”
Eric Dolan Jun 28, 2017 ▶ 5:01
Disclosure
Newton plans transition from pharma lead gen to market intelligence
“Our initial model is looking at how we can be a lead gen model for pharmaceutical in the pharmaceutical industry, but long-term, because we are collecting a lot of data we would want to transition more to a market intelligence company.”
Eric Dolan Jun 28, 2017 ▶ 5:56
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Dolan: Newton Has Reached Over 10,000 Organic Registered Users Globally
“Yeah, so we have over 10,000 users around the world. That's completely organic”
Eric Dolan Jun 28, 2017 ▶ 6:29
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Dolan: Newton can make $50 to $100 per patient yearly
“You could be making between 50 and a hundred bucks off a person every single year.”
Eric Dolan Jun 28, 2017 ▶ 9:23
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Dolan: Newton can lower Keppra's price from $150 to $9
“I've been able to get the cost of a drug from an individual for, let's say Keppra from Keppra is an anti-epileptic drug. Through our service, I can get it from 150 dollars to nine dollars.”
Eric Dolan Jun 28, 2017 ▶ 11:12
Disclosure
Newton uses AI and user prompts on wearable data to detect seizures
“By applying not only our own algorithm, filtering algorithms, artificial intelligence, we can actually filter down and say, Hey, we, with this degree of certainty, believe that this is a seizure. And from there, we, you know, we allow the, we notify the indivi…”
Eric Dolan Jun 28, 2017 ▶ 11:52
Assertion Partly supported
Dolan: 50,000 to 90,000 people die annually from SUDEP seizures
“A lot of people actually die per year because of seizures around 50 to 90,000. So from a condition called SUDEP, sudden unexplained death and epilepsy patients.”
Eric Dolan Jun 28, 2017 ▶ 12:18
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Dolan: Epilepsy patients often fake paper log data right before doctor visits
“Even people who do do the paper logs, he actually finds that they don't actually record it throughout. They, like, they remember just before the appointment. Fake all the data. Now he's making a medical decision based off known fake data.”
Eric Dolan Jun 28, 2017 ▶ 13:43
Made with StarZero

Turn any episode into a week of clips.

This entire site, over 2,600 episodes transcribed, diarized, checked and made playable, runs on the StarZero media pipeline. Drop in your own episode and the podcast clipper finds the moments worth sharing, cuts them, captions them, and reframes them for every feed.

Try the podcast clipper Learn more