The parties have already started work on solutions related to improving maternal health outcomes and chronic disease prediction. Alongside this disease focus, the JV will use AI to identify and eliminate operational inefficiencies in health care delivery. All technologies and tools will be identified, developed, and validated within the secure Northwell Health environment to maximize data integrity and privacy. Ultimately, the aim of the JV will be to accelerate the speed with which new lifesaving AI solutions reach the patient’s bedside.

“New York was at the epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis, and today’s announcement places it at the epicenter of innovation that will tackle health care’s most pressing problems,” said Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health. “This joint venture will leverage data from Northwell’s patient population, one of the most diverse in the world, along with Northwell’s intellectual capital in AI technology. Working together, Northwell and Aegis will create companies that bring higher quality, lower-cost health care to those who need it most.”

Northwell has a track record of success in AI research, including the development of a landmark algorithm that predicts patients’ overnight stability to reduce the need to wake them for vital sign checks. Developed using 26 million measurements from 2.3 million patient visits, the algorithm helps reduce nighttime disturbances to speed patients’ recovery and discharge. In addition, Northwell serves one of the most diverse patient populations in the United States. Caring for more than 2 million people annually across 23 hospitals and hundreds of other facilities provides the health system’s clinicians and researchers with a unique vantage point into the health and wellbeing of traditionally underserved communities. This perspective will be a key aspect of the Northwell-Aegis JV, which will prioritize innovation to reduce racial and socioeconomic biases that drive health inequities and have impaired existing AI solutions.

Complementary AI goals

“Aegis’ experience in commercialization and Northwell’s experience in clinical care complement each other perfectly,” said Aegis Ventures Chairman Bill Schoenfeld. “Our joint platform will bring together the medical, technological, and investment talent to launch new companies that address healthcare’s most pressing challenges.”

In addition to linking clinicians, researchers, patients, and other health care stakeholders, the Northwell-Aegis JV platform team will include exceptional entrepreneurs, data scientists, engineers, and industry leaders with the commercial acumen needed to bring these innovations to the patient’s bedside. From day one, the JV will prioritize the needs of patients and clinicians, and develop best practices in ideation, research, and company creation to significantly accelerate the pace of AI development and adoption. This represents a new, more targeted approach to the way in which venture capitalists and health care systems can work together to solve major health care challenges.

“Our mission is to catalyze a new Moore’s Law in healthcare where, as we continually improve access, we continually reduce cost,” said Tom Manning, Chairman of the Northwell-Aegis JV and former Chairman & CEO of Dun & Bradstreet, the leading global provider of corporate information and data analytics. “This new effort promises to transform the model for innovation in health care and improve outcomes for everyone, but particularly for people who may be lost in the shuffle and most need our help.”

Through the launch of the JV, Northwell and Aegis are committed to building an exceptional team that will embrace this unique opportunity to create impact. Learn more about the JV or register your interest in joining the team that will further these unique opportunities.