In this episode, we meet Matt Miller, Managing Director of the UnitedHealthcare/Techstars Accelerator. The accelerator is focused on healthcare innovations that support payer and care provider efforts, with an emphasis on digital health and wellness solutions. Techstars has a worldwide network of entrepreneurs, including more than 10,000 mentors, 10,000 investors, 1,600 alumni companies, and over 200 staff members. Historically, on average, Techstars companies go on to raise more than $2M of outside capital after the program.

Matt’s background involves a diverse range of pursuits: wilderness guide, startup founder, investor, mental health professional, and behavioral scientist. After his PhD, he worked for health tech startups prior to joining Johnson & Johnson where he promoted health outcomes through digital interventions. He joined Techstars in 2019 after a stint as VP of Behavioral Science at StayWell where he led research, health coaching, and product development. Outside of his work as Managing Director, Matt is a sucker for travel adventures, spending time in nature, and eating food in restaurants where no one else speaks English.

In this episode, Matt and I chat about:

How his experiences as a founder, behavioral scientist, investor and mental health professional have formed his perspectives on digital health innovation
What it’s like to lead behavioral science initiatives and implement behavior change techniques (BCTs) into digital health products at a large company like Johnson and Johnson
The UHC/Techstars accelerator program: what exactly happens during the 14 weeks, the support and resources you receive as a founder, and what the application process looks like
Matt’s insights on recent changes and trends in early-stage digital health entrepreneurship and what has led to successful, valuable companies