Farewell to Our Inevitably Fading Startup Days: 2017 Top 10 Innovative Healthcare News Selection
We walked through 2017 together, and in the upcoming 2018, we will embark on the journey once again. Looking back at the healthcare entrepreneurship scene over the past year, although there were no earth-shattering upheavals, it left behind many well-known startup stories. For numerous healthcare entrepreneurs, successfully completing another year is itself a form of success!
As a professional healthcare entrepreneurship service platform, curating industry news and monitoring developments in the medical sector are essential practices for Unicorn Studio, as well as a way to accompany our community’s growth. Since 2015, Unicorn Studio has collaborated with major healthcare media outlets to launch the “Top Ten Innovative Healthcare News of the Year” selection campaign. To date, two editions have been successfully held, garnering widespread attention within the industry.
As the year draws to a close, Unicorn Studio is proudly launching the third annual “Top 10 Innovative Healthcare News Awards,” also known as the “2017 Top 10 Innovative Healthcare News Awards.” We have selected 20 notable news stories from the innovative healthcare sector based on their impact and, in collaboration with major healthcare media outlets, are launching a public voting campaign. Our goal is to allow netizens to independently vote and determine the “Top 10 Innovative Healthcare News Stories of 2017.”
Starting a business is no easy feat—cherish every step of the journey! What were the top 10 news stories that left the deepest impression on you in 2017? Vote and let us know!
DirectScan the QR code below to access the voting page and select the ten most impactful news stories from twenty innovative medical news items (multiple selections are invalid).
Participants whose selections for the Top 10 News Stories exactly match the final voting results will be eligible for the grand prize draw:
▶ Unicorn Award: One winner will be randomly selected from all participants who voted unanimously to receive a Xiaomi MIX 2 Full-Screen Concept Smartphone (the same model used by Mr. Qian); 1 winner in total;
▶ Wit Award: All other participants who voted consistently will receive one Xiaomi Air Purifier each, with no limit on quantity;
▶ Sunshine Award: All participants who vote will be eligible for a lucky draw to win a Xiaomi power bank, with 30 winners in total.
Tag 1: Internet Healthcare
1. February 2017 — Eli Lilly, DXY, and Tencent Launch the “Youxing Care Project,” Joining Forces to Unlock a New Model for Chronic Disease Management
In February, Eli Lilly, DXY, and Tencent jointly announced a strategic partnership in the field of chronic disease management for diabetes, co-developing the “Eli Lilly Diabetes Youxing Care Program.” It is often said that chronic disease management is a quagmire; can the tripartite alliance of Eli Lilly, DXY, and Tencent fill this gap? As the year draws to a close, please promptly share your achievements @EliLilly @DXY @Tencent
2. March 2017 – Haodf.com secured $200 million in Series D financing, led by Tencent, solidifying its position as a leading company in the internet healthcare sector
On March 29, Haodf.com confirmed the completion of its $200 million Series D financing round, led by Tencent. This marks the first time that the typically low-profile Haodf.com has officially announced funding news. As another mobile health company backed by Tencent, following WeDoctor and Dingxiangyuan, Haodf.com is poised for broader development after this financing round.
3. April 2017 – Zhang Kun, a veteran of the internet healthcare industry, took the helm at Chunyu Yisheng (Spring Rain Doctor), unveiling its three major strategic initiatives for the future.
On April 17, six months after the passing of founder Zhang Rui, Chunyu Yisheng (Spring Rain Doctor) publicly announced that Zhang Kun, former General Manager of the Information Management Department at China Resources Medical Group, would assume the role of CEO. Upon taking office, Zhang Kun outlined three core strategic priorities for Chunyu Yisheng’s future development: strengthening consumer-facing services, empowering hospitals, and building a comprehensive platform ecosystem.
4. November 2017—Ping An Good Doctor initially reported its IPO plans, only to later deny them; the profitability of internet healthcare remains to be tested
Following last year’s $500 million Series A financing round, which valued the company at approximately $3 billion and set a new industry record, Ping An Good Doctor’s recent disclosure of a $1 billion IPO plan has undoubtedly drawn significant attention (although it later issued a denial, the spotlight was already captured). However, surface-level glamour cannot compensate for the lack of a viable profit model; after all, profitability is what truly matters.
Tag 2: Internet Hospital
5. March 2017—17 Internet hospitals were established in Yinchuan overnight, sparking heated discussions within the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the industry
In March 2017, 17 internet hospitals “flocked” to set up operations in Yinchuan, a move that once dominated headlines. However, less than two months later, a leaked document from the National Health and Family Planning Commission was interpreted as signaling a potential ban on internet hospitals, sparking widespread controversy. Indeed, healthcare entrepreneurship is truly a heart-pounding venture!
Tag 3: Third-Party Healthcare
6. August 2017 – The National Health and Family Planning Commission released major favorable policies for privately-run medical institutions, ushering in a springtime for third-party medical centers!
On August 10, the National Health and Family Planning Commission announced the addition of five new categories of independently established medical institutions to the existing five approved categories. This brings the total number of third-party independent medical institution types encouraged for social investment to ten. The policy dividends have spurred rapid industry development, heralding the arrival of a golden age for third-party medical centers!
Tag 4: Pharmaceutical E-commerce
7. November 2017 – From the Abolition of the Three Certificates (ABC) to the Draft for Comments: Policies Eased First, Then Tightened; The Road for Pharmaceutical E-commerce Remains Long and Arduous
The 2017 narrative of pharmaceutical e-commerce was marked by dramatic ups and downs. On the policy front, the review requirements for the “Three Certificates” (A, B, and C) were successively abolished; on the capital front, more than 10 companies secured financing throughout the year. However, in November, a “Draft for Comments” issued by the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) sent a chill down the spines of those in the pharmaceutical e-commerce sector: Is winter truly coming?
Tag 5: Traditional Chinese Medicine
8. November 2017 – The National Health and Family Planning Commission issued a document: TCM clinics can be established with mere filing, marking a significant liberalization of TCM practice!
On November 16, the National Health and Family Planning Commission officially released the Interim Measures for the Record-filing Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Clinics, which came into effect on December 1. Henceforth, establishing a TCM clinic requires only record-filing, with certificates issued on the spot—a move widely applauded. This marks a pivotal turning point in the history of TCM development.
Tag 6: BAT
9. September 2017 – Penguin Doctor simultaneously launched three clinics, connecting offline entry points with various high-quality resources
In September, Penguin Doctor, an “Internet + Healthcare” platform jointly established by Tencent, Gaw Capital Partners, Medlinker, and Sequoia Capital China, announced the opening of three clinics in Beijing, Chengdu, and Shenzhen. The company targets the new middle-class demographic with comprehensive health management services. More than just general practice clinics, Penguin Doctor’s facilities operate as a standardized, shared medical platform, serving as offline entry points and connectors that integrate various high-quality healthcare resources.
10. August 2017 – Alibaba Health piloted the “Medical Consortium + Blockchain” model, entering the regional health information platform sector
On August 17, Alibaba Health announced a collaboration with the Changzhou Medical Consortium + Blockchain Pilot Project, integrating blockchain technology into the underlying technical architecture of the Changzhou Medical Consortium to address the longstanding issues of “information silos” and data security that have plagued healthcare institutions. This marks the first blockchain solution implemented in a medical scenario in China.
11. September 2017 – Little Carp Parenting Exposes Plagiarism Scandal; Alibaba Health Embroiled in “Plagiarism Gate”
On September 30, Xiao Liyu Parenting used its subscription account to expose in detail Alibaba’s egregious misconduct of plagiarizing its products under the guise of collaboration, causing an uproar in the industry. Entrepreneurship is arduous, and medical entrepreneurship is even more challenging. Moving forward, those embarking on the path of medical entrepreneurship must not only guard against fire and theft but also be wary of BAT!
12. November 2017—Alipay’s New Feature: See a Doctor Based on “Credit” Score, Awesome
On November 7, Alipay, together with Zhima Credit, Huabei, and Liankong Network, jointly launched “Credit-Based Medical Payment,” with Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University in Shanghai officially becoming the first hospital to offer this service. It sounds impressive, but a closer look reveals that it simply allows Huabei users to cover medical expenses up to RMB 1,000, which is quite similar to using Huabei for dining and shopping.
Tag 7: Person
13. September 2017—Duan Tao, Yu Ying, Zhang Rongya, Yu Gang... Physicians as Major Influencers Busy with Entrepreneurial Ventures
An influencer doctor who doesn’t want to start a business is not a good doctor! Duan Tao has announced his entrepreneurial venture, Yu Ying posted her clinic’s business license on Weibo, Zhang Rongya resigned from Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and Yu Gang established Meihe Healthcare... This year, several prominent physician influencers have set aside their former prestige to join the ranks of healthcare entrepreneurs. We applaud them and look forward to their outstanding achievements.
Tag 8: Medical AI
14. June 2017 – Baiyang Partners with IBM Watson for Genomics to Focus on Precision Medicine
Following the strategic partnership across its entire product line with IBM in March, Baiyang Smart Technology and IBM jointly announced on June 21 that Baiyang Smart Technology has become the exclusive distributor of Watson for Genomics in China. The two parties will jointly promote the practical application of cancer genomic analysis, providing pathologists and oncologists with precise treatment recommendations based on oncogenic mutations.
15. July 2017 – The State Council released the "Development Plan for New Generation Artificial Intelligence," giving medical AI a significant boost
On July 20, the State Council released the Development Plan for New-Generation Artificial Intelligence, providing directional guidance for the next phase of development in the AI industry. In the healthcare sector, the plan specifically emphasized the promotion and application of new AI-driven treatment models and methods, as well as the establishment of a rapid and precise intelligent healthcare system, thereby creating a favorable environment for the development of medical AI.
16. July 2017—BAT Intensifies Efforts in Medical AI, with Alibaba and Tencent Successively Launching Medical AI Products
On July 11, Alibaba Health, in collaboration with Wanli Cloud, unveiled its medical AI product “Doctor You”; on August 3, Tencent launched its medical AI imaging product suite, “Tencent Miying.” With Baidu having previously announced its medical AI initiatives, all three tech giants—Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent (BAT)—have now joined the wave of medical AI innovation.
17. November 2017 – iFlytek’s robot passes the medical licensing examination with high scores; AI to replace doctors in minutes
On November 6, the National Medical Examination Center officially released the passing score for the “Comprehensive Written Examination for Licensed Clinical Physicians.” In this exam, iFlytek’s “Smart Medical Assistant” robot passed with a score of 456, placing it at an upper-intermediate level among the 530,000 examinees nationwide. It seems poised to replace doctors in no time!
18. November 2017—Infervision, Deepwise, TomoDeep... Let the wave of medical AI financing intensify!
According to relevant data, a total of 27 financing deals were completed in the medical AI sector throughout 2017, with the total amount exceeding RMB 1.7 billion. Among these, Infervision, Deepwise, and TopDiagnosis each secured two rounds of financing within the year, with their latest rounds both surpassing RMB 100 million. The continuous stream of financing announcements has energized the entire medical AI industry. With resources fully prepared, the competition is now officially underway!
19. November 2017 – WeDoctor launches its AI healthcare product, WeDoctor Cloud, and rumors circulate of a Hong Kong IPO next year. Impressive!
With the surge in popularity of medical AI, in addition to tech giants like Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent (BAT), major players in the internet healthcare sector are also prominently involved. On November 15, WeDoctor, a leading figure in internet healthcare, launched WeDoctor Cloud, the world’s first cloud platform dedicated to intelligent healthcare. Reportedly, products developed on this platform have achieved higher sensitivity than Google’s solutions for certain disease categories. Impressive indeed!
20. September 2017—The First Medical AI Conference by Unicorn Studio Was Successfully Held, Cheering for Medical AI
As a professional medical entrepreneurship service platform, in response to the Party and the State’s call for technological innovation and to deepen the integration of cutting-edge technology with medical techniques, Unicorn Studio, in collaboration with the Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence, successfully hosted the “2017 1st International Medical Artificial Intelligence Conference” on September 22–23, demonstrating tangible support for medical AI! (This is purely an advertisement; we welcome your active voting~)
Hosted by:Unicorn Studio
Strategic Media Partners: VCBeat
Supported Media:Health Point, 24-Hour Medical Channel, BeiKeShe, NetEase Health, Sohu Health, Sina Pharmaceutical News, Lanjing Health, YiGu, YiJie, OMAHA Alliance, ZhenLiPai...