Disruptive Innovation Trends to Watch

The most exciting life science isn’t coming from a single category anymore - it’s coming from the places in between. Our current Innosphere cohort reflects this shift. The companies we’re supporting are blending disciplines, disrupting boundaries, and reshaping what healthcare innovation looks like. Here’s a snapshot of the cohort’s composition: 🩻 30% medical devices 💊 20% biopharma and biotech 🧠 25% digital and health technologies The remainder are a powerful mix of advanced materials, diagnostics, and breakthrough platforms. And some examples of their innovative solutions? 🧬 A drug-device combination pairing pharmacology with engineered sound stimulation of the brain for age-related central hearing loss, a condition preventing 800M patients from hearing in noisy environments. 🧪 An injectable regenerative biomaterial designed to stimulate brain repair and neurological recovery after stroke, with the potential to extend the treatment window months beyond what it is today. 📄 A digital tool that uses large language models to pre-write high-quality radiology reports, reducing reporting time by 30% and improving consistency. 🧫 A regenerative medicine company that’s creating custom 3D-bioprinted breast tissue using a patient’s own fat cells. 🔥 A revolutionary single-use flexible robot endoscope offering unparalleled precision, stability, and control, reducing technical complexity and procedure times. These products are signals that the most impactful innovation is coming from the convergence of disciplines: AI with diagnostics, advanced materials with biologics, and digital tools with therapeutic interventions. As investors, as industry leaders, and as builders of what comes next, we should be paying attention. These startups are creating entirely new possibilities for how we diagnose, treat, and care for patients. My team is proud to support this generation of founders, and I believe the companies in this cohort aren’t just future-ready - they’re future-defining.

Sam Altman recently claimed AI will replace 95% of what ad agencies do — instantly and at negligible cost. Here's what this ad-industry disruption means, with lessons for all industries: A few weeks ago, in Episode #896, I argued AI probably isn’t going to take your job anytime soon. It is, however, being disruptive as more and more tasks are automated and there are examples of industries being so disrupted that some folks need to take note now because, if they don’t adapt, their role — maybe even their whole company — could be at risk. As a case study, here's how AI is disrupting the ad industry... BIG PICTURE • In addition to Altman's "95%" claim above, Mark Zuckerberg has told brands they'll soon be able to tell Meta what their campaign goals and budget are, then AI will handle the rest. • Global ad spending grows 6% annually, but this now largely flows to only a few tech giants: Google, Meta, Amazon and ByteDance control over half the market. HOW A.I. IS DISRUPTING ADVERTISING 1. Supercharged Targeting • Meta's Advantage+ system claims to increase ROI by 22% while Google's Performance Max raises sales by >10%. • AI search queries are 2-3x longer than historical Google searches, revealing not just what people want but WHY. 2. Granular Data • Previously impossible granular analysis is now routine. • E.g.: startup Alembic used COVID contact-tracing algos to track ad-to-purchase journeys, finding over billions data rows that Delta Air Lines' Olympics sponsorship outperformed all other promotions. 3. Examples of AI-Generated Creative • TikTok has launched tools that create video ads from text/photos. • Meta auto-personalizes ad copy across 10 languages. • Kalshi aired a cinematic TV ad made with Google AI in 48 hours for $2,000. AD INDUSTRY IMPACT • 4 of 5 major agency holding companies saw share prices drop since last year, with WPP seeking a new CEO while Omnicom and Interpublic plan to merge. • Only Publicis avoided the slump by convincing investors of their AI readiness. • Agencies (which themselves can augment processes with AI) are trying to shift from hourly billing to flat fees to protect revenue. THE FUTURE • Brands need to optimize for AI chatbot recommendations, not just human attention. • Old-school PR becomes crucial again because influencing LLMs means influencing high-quality info sources. • Pro tips: Convert infographics to text, write detailed product descriptions that would bore humans but convince AI. WHERE ARE *YOU* VULNERABLE? If you’re not in advertising, what aspects of your role/business are automatable? Unsure? Perhaps a great conversation to kick off with an LLM! Not only can you adapt, you can use AI augmentation to leapfrog competitors. For more on all of the above, listen to Friday's episode (#904) of the "Super Data Science Podcast with Jon Krohn", which is available on all major podcasting platforms and YouTube. See below for quick access ⬇️ #superdatascience #ai #automation #adindustry #disruption

want to know the dirty little secret about trend forecasting? while everyone's obsessing over what's "next," the real innovators are already capitalizing on what's here. i've spent weeks analyzing reports from YouTube, Meta, Spotify, and others. here's what's actually changing (and what's just recycled thinking): 3 massive shifts happening RIGHT NOW: 1. emotional depth revolution ↳ gen Z isn't asking for personalization, they're demanding real connection ↳ example: patagonia turning product repairs into community narratives 2. AI moving from behind the scenes to center stage ↳ we're shifting from AI-powered to AI-partnered ↳ brands winning: look at snapchat's AI characters giving style advice 3. hybridized experiences taking over ↳ physical spaces becoming content studios ↳ digital/physical divide? it's already disappearing bottom line: 2025's "trends" are unfolding in today's consumer behavior. the most successful brands aren't waiting for tomorrow - they're acting on the patterns hiding in plain sight. question is: what signal are you seeing today that you can act on while others are still planning for tomorrow? #FutureOfBusiness #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #MarketingStrategy #Leadership

Payments is the fastest-evolving financial services domain today. Capgemini identified the Top 10 Payment Trends that will disrupt 2024 (Part 1/5)👇 The Payments industry is innovating like no other. Only payment firms that acknowledge the disruption and adapt can capitalize on the change to spark sustainable growth. Generative AI (#GenAI), worldwide expansion of Central Bank Digital Currency (#CBDC) initiatives, global interoperability, #BigTech active intrusion, and rising consumer expectations require reinvention. Instant payment infrastructure expansion in major markets and ongoing adoption of #openbanking frameworks are driving digital payments growth, as instruments such as digital wallets and instant payments become increasingly popular. Global non-cash transactions volume was expected to reach almost $1.3T in 2023 and $2.3T by 2027. It’s important to understand that these payment methods are gaining acceptance among consumers globally: Virtual Card - A2A Payments - Digital Wallets (PayPal, WeChat Pay, Alipay) - BNPL (Affirm, Klarna…) 👉 The Top Payment Trends for 2024 are based on an analysis across 3 broad themes: 🔸Customer First details how payment methods can deliver a better customer experience and its growing acceptance for both B2C and B2B. 🔸Enterprise Management focuses on payment industry innovations, boosting efficiency by reimagining the back end through composable architecture, digitalizing AR & AP processes and compatible networks for faster cross-border payments. 🔸Intelligent Industry describes how payment providers leverage new-age tech at scale including ISO 20022 for data harmonization, CBDC for interoperability, tokenization for data security and AI for increased productivity. 🚨Top Trend #1 - Real-time treasury empowers clients’ decision-making and cash management capabilities 🔸API’s and connectivity are core enablers for real-time treasury - helping corporate clients reach faster decisions while optimizing cash management. 🔸Real-time payments are rapidly replacing conventional methods of cash management and payment reconciliation. It’s imperative to transition from a static to dynamic treasury. 🚨Top Trend #2 - Cards Alternatives - Pay by Bank and BNPL - are in the rise! 🔸Payment innovation expands the options for shoppers and merchants, giving competition to incumbent card issuers. 🔸Frictionless, more convenient and faster payment transactions are the key drivers of leveraging modern APMs. 🔸Pay by Bank will help reduce risk & fraud 🔸BNPL is popular with half of its users preferring it over credit cards - ResearchFDI. Curious to learn about the 8 other major trends? Part 2 is coming out in a few days, stay tuned 🚀 ----- Hit the 🔔 on my LinkedIn to stay updated with the latest Payment Initiatives 👇 ✍️ Don't be shy, comment! 📲 Sharing is caring, right? 📩 Anything you want to learn more about, DM me! #alternativepaymentmethods #apms #globalpayments #payments #technology

7 Disruptions Changing Shopping Forever. ***TRIGGER WARNING*** Am I excited, or am I worried about AI? If you think of AI as ChatGPT, you’re just excited. You miss that Chat is the UI for 𝘯𝘰𝘯-𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 users. You see it as little more than a cute search engine. You miss what’s running through hundreds of companies. Spreading, growing faster than we can understand it. Salesforce and Notion and Slack and Wendy’s. Walmart and Kroger and Amazon and IKEA. It’s running beneath the surface of every Fortune 500. Logistics, freight routes, forecasting, banking… It’s not the AI that we 𝘴𝘦𝘦 that’ll disrupt. It’s the AI that we 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦 that changes everything. The Biggest Companies, all racing for dominance. It isn’t just Big Tech anymore. It’s also Big Retail. And when we 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘵 the future of shopping. There’s a very little real analysis to be done. Big Tech is telling us if we bother to listen. Here’s what shopping will look like in 5 years. (According to Tech already being piloted.) 𝟭. 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗼𝘂𝘁. - US lags behind UAE, Japan, where it’s common. - Whole Foods, Whattaburger, Steak N Shake, Cali Express. 𝟮. ‘𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁’ 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆. - AI ‘brains’ will coordinate / control store ops. - Shelves will talk to stock systems will talk to DC’s. 𝟯. 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. - Brands will see stock by store in real time. - Marketers will control store promos from a PC. 𝟰. 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆. - At 10% of the cost of human delivery, it’s growing fast. - Walmart, Amazon, Kroger, Pizza Hut, Chic Fil A, UPS… 𝟱. 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 ‘𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀’ 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲). - RFID tags now, then just electronic prints. - Tags communicate shelf life & location to a store “brain”. 𝟲. 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. - Programs coming from Walmart, Amazon, Target, IKEA, etc. - Virtual try-ons, product education, experience. 𝟳. 𝗡𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀. - Sam’s, Walmart already announced mass rollout. If you don’t believe it, you’re not paying attention. Virtually all of this is already here in pockets. Maybe get ready, or partner with someone who is. As the wise poet Olivia Newton-John said. “𝘓𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭.” What do you think? Are you nervous about AI, excited, or both. ——— 🔹We drive velocity in Target, Kroger, Whole Foods, Albertsons, Costco, Walmart, Sprouts, and More. 🔹We grow Amazon Sales. 🔹DM me or book an appointment for help. #ecommerce #retailmedia #retailgrowth #retailvelocity #cpg #cpgbrands #instacart #futureofretail #retailtech #shoppermarketing #Amazonconsulting #Amazon #AmazonGrowth #Grocery #GroceryTech #DoorDash

Clayton Christensen’s Disruption Theory: The Financial Reimagining of Hospitals Clayton Christensen’s disruptive innovation theory isn’t just a concept for academics—it’s a clear signal to hospitals and their financial backers. His insights cut to the core of why traditional hospital models, bloated with inefficiencies, are increasingly vulnerable to more focused, cost-effective competitors. Hospitals have long been the centerpiece of healthcare delivery, but their all-encompassing approach—covering trauma, surgery, chronic care, and outpatient services—has created significant financial strain. These systems carry high fixed costs and operational inefficiencies, leading to pricing structures that are increasingly difficult to justify in today’s market. From an investor’s standpoint, this model is under pressure. The most profitable service lines—orthopedic surgeries, diagnostic imaging, and outpatient procedures—are being peeled away by competitors who can deliver better margins with less overhead. Christensen’s work points to a clear trend: disruptors who focus narrowly on specific services can deliver better margins at lower prices. •Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs): By specializing in routine, high-volume procedures, ASCs eliminate much overhead hospitals carry. This allows them to achieve superior margins without relying on subsidizing unprofitable services. •Retail and Urgent Care Clinics: These players capitalize on consumer demand for transparency, speed, and convenience, carving out a significant share of services that hospitals historically provided at a premium. Financially, the case is clear. ASCs can perform surgeries for 30-50% less than hospitals, and retail clinics handle non-urgent cases at a fraction of ER prices. Hospitals are facing challenges on multiple fronts: 1. Labor Costs: Rising wages and staff shortages are compressing margins in an already inefficient system. 2. Shifts in Payer Mix: With private insurance patients turning to disruptors, hospitals increasingly rely on lower-margin government payers like Medicare and Medicaid. 3. Regulatory Criticism: Hospitals have historically relied on government protections, such as Certificate of Need (CON) laws and physician-owned hospitals' moratoriums to limit competition. However, public and political pushback against these anti-competitive practices is growing. The result? Hospitals risk being left with low-margin services and patient segments, while high-margin services flow to more efficient models. Christensen highlighted how technology accelerates disruption by scaling care delivery at a fraction of traditional costs. •Telemedicine and Remote Monitoring: These models bypass the need for physical hospital visits, challenging the relevance of extensive, centralized facilities. •Direct Contracting: Employers negotiate directly with ASCs and physician practices, something I may know reasonably well, removing hospitals from the loop and capturing s…

If I had a dollar for every founder who said “everything’s already been done,” I’d have enough to fund all 6 of these products. The truth is, every category can be disrupted if you find the right angle. Let me share 6 brands proving this right now: 1. barrière This vitamin company completely skipped the gummy trend and went straight to patches. Same nutrients, totally different delivery system. And customers love it. 2. MaryRuth's Caught these at Expo West. Sleep and energy supplements that dissolve in your mouth like those old breath strips. No water needed. No pill swallowing. Just instant delivery. 3. Tushe This clever product sits in the gap between flushable wipes (which aren't actually flushable), traditional toilet paper, and bidets. It's a foam dispenser that turns regular toilet paper into a wet wipe. Sustainable, effective, and plumbing-safe. 4. SACHEU Their Tattoo Lip Liner creates lasting lip color through an innovative peel-off application. It's extending wear time without the commitment of permanent makeup. 5. MagnaReady Adaptable clothing with magnetic closures instead of buttons. Giving independence back to people with disabilities, arthritis, or limited dexterity. 6. DadMode Cleaning products specifically designed and marketed for men. Proving that even the most crowded categories (cleaning supplies) have untapped audiences. The pattern is clear: - Different delivery methods - Neglected customer segments - Unsolved pain points - Technology applications These brands aren't creating NEW categories. They're finding FRESH angles in existing ones. Look around your own home. Every product you use has room for improvement. That's where the opportunity lives. What product have you seen recently that's disrupting its category?