**Jasper Health Faces Layoffs in Cancer Care Platform Startup**
Jasper Health, a startup specializing in cancer care platforms, has recently laid off a significant portion of its workforce. According to reports from impacted employees on LinkedIn, departments such as engineering and product design were affected by the cuts. While the exact number of people let go could not be independently verified by TechCrunch, an industry source familiar with the situation estimated that approximately half of Jasper Health’s small team was affected. Prior to the layoffs, Jasper Health had around 48 employees, according to PitchBook data.
Despite attempts to contact the company’s CEO, Adam Pellegrini, and other key executives, TechCrunch did not receive any response. This lack of communication has raised concerns about the future of the company and the reasons behind the layoffs.
It is worth noting that Jasper Health is a portfolio company of General Catalyst, a prominent venture capital firm with a strong focus on healthcare investments. In fact, earlier this year, General Catalyst made an unprecedented move in the venture capital space by acquiring Summa Health, an Ohio-based health system. However, Jasper Health’s recent setbacks demonstrate that not all General Catalyst-backed health tech startups are guaranteed success.
Jasper Health was founded in 2018 by Redesign Health, a venture firm and studio known for creating innovative healthcare companies. Led by CEO Brett Shaheen, Redesign Health has launched 50 healthcare startups that have collectively raised $1.3 billion in funding. However, even Redesign Health experienced its own layoffs earlier this year, indicating that the healthcare industry is not immune to challenges.
Jasper Health’s digital platform focuses on providing care navigation, patient support, remote patient monitoring, and psychosocial care for cancer patients. The company states that approximately 12% of its users are in remission from cancer.
The founder of Jasper Health, Adam Pellegrini, has a background in healthcare. He began his career as a surgical specialist in the US Army and later played a key role in developing the American Cancer Society’s website. Prior to starting Jasper Health, Pellegrini served as the senior vice president of virtual care and consumer health innovation at CVS Health.
In the competitive landscape of cancer care platforms, Jasper Health faces competition from companies like Thyme Care and Reimagine Care. These companies, along with Jasper Health, are striving to provide innovative solutions for cancer patients and improve the overall quality of care in the industry.