Both investor and executive attention to healthcare peaked over the last year… • Earnings calls mentions of “healthcare” peaked in 2020 as the businesses grappled with protecting their workforces during the pandemic.

• Venture capital funding to healthcare companies has also surged. In fact, healthcare funding had a record quarter in Q1’21, where companies raised a total of $31.6B.

• Big tech has invested in deals worth a cumulative $6.8B since the start of 2020.

Big tech companies took new steps to increase their market opportunity in healthcare… • Facebook launched a preventative health solution in the US and a provider search tool to help users find affordable care in their communities. Meanwhile, the company’s Oculus team is working with teaching hospitals to deploy VR-based medical education tools.

• Apple updated Watch and iOS to capture even more health metrics, including blood oxygen level, and created a data sharing feature so users can share medical data with providers. The company also launched a subscription-based streaming platform with exercise classes.

• Microsoft dropped $19.7B to acquire Nuance, a leader in conversational AI for healthcare. The company also launched Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, a tech stack for enterprise healthcare organizations that combines AI, automation, and low-code app development.

• Google launched a camera-based search tool that uses AI to diagnose skin conditions. The company also launched an EHR search solution for providers, an interoperability solution for payers, and a return-to-work test and trace program for employers.

• Amazon launched Amazon Care, Amazon Pharmacy, and AmazonDx in the past year, all consumer-focused healthcare services. The company also unveiled AWS for Health, a suite built to support data science efforts within enterprise healthcare organizations.