In today’s world, data is one of the most critical assets that one can possess to improve and innovate in almost every industry. Leading professionals who understand the value of data have discovered technologies that can flourish over time, and the healthcare industry isn’t an exception. These leaders are developing technologies for organizations to drive accurate and efficient healthcare via data. Ardy Arianpour, the CEO and Co-Founder of Seqster, is one such leader who is on a mission to make patient-centric interoperability a reality and lead the nation with his venture.
We at Insights Success caught up with Ardy Arianpour in our endeavor to find the “Top 10 Pioneering Leaders Redefining Healthcare 2021” and interviewed him to share his expertise and how he is bringing a meaningful difference to the healthcare world.
Below are the highlights of the interview.
Brief our audience about your journey as a business leader until your current position at Seqster. What challenges have you had to face to reach where you are today?
My journey as an immigrant to the USA began at the age of 6 in 1986. Fast forward to the 2000s, when I became a young executive, and then leading to my position as CEO/Founder of Seqster from 2016. I’m used to challenges. I thrive in uncertainty because I have a strong sense of purpose, and the same can be said about my company; Seqster’s mission is centred on breaking down data silos to improve patient lives at scale, which is the biggest healthcare challenge. To do this, we focused on how to create a platform to put the data in the patient’s hands, empowering them to collect, own and share their data on their terms.
Ironically, the first patients we were able to help were my grandmother, who suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease, and my father who was diagnosed with colon cancer. I witnessed firsthand the impact of the Seqster platform for not only the patient but for the entire family’s care journey. Seqster makes health data access seamless and easy to share in a highly private and secure manner.
What is really remarkable is that for most companies, their vision is in a distant future, far, far away. At Seqster, we executed our vision early in 2018, while delivering on our mission by setting the standard for patient-centric interoperability and real-time data access.
Enlighten us on how you have made an impact in the healthcare niche through your expertise in the market?
I knew early on that DNA/genomic data is meaningless unless it is paired with high-quality, high-fidelity medical record data. Health records have been a static snapshot that captures a person’s health profile at one point in time. A dynamic, real-time view of health is critical for better monitoring of health conditions and more timely medical interventions. Seqster has automated the collection of longitudinal health records, and further, we have created the first and only platform that ties together DNA, fitness/wearable, and health records data in one place.
The stars have aligned at the right place and at the right time. There is a massive push towards healthcare consumerization, simplifying the patient experience and improving the patient journey. The focus is increasingly on the patient, from the latest patient access and interoperability guidelines worldwide to how the information is intuitively displayed for the patient, their physician, and the care team to readily understand. My career has always been focused on empowering patients. We are all patients at one time or another.
What people, what books, what life factors have influenced and impacted you?
Steve Jobs inspired me at a very young age as a visionary entrepreneur who made Apple what it is today. I was also inspired by Bill Gates when I met him in 2018 after being asked to deliver a private presentation, in which he suggested that we take Seqster enterprise in order to scale. As far as books go, his monumental book Business @ the Speed of Thought taught me the importance of trusting my instinct and executing quickly. Additionally, both my maternal and paternal grandmothers suffering from Alzheimer’s led me to realize how important multigenerational data is for society.
We have had special requests from patients to use our platform. After granting access, we realized how lifechanging being on the Seqster platform is. When my father was sick with colorectal cancer, I was able to get him diagnosed immediately and in surgery in days instead of weeks by running a tumor board in 6 hours with his health data. These personal stories, as well as remarkable stories from patients who have used the Seqster platform, keep our team working hard every minute of every day.
Describe in detail the values and the work culture that drives Seqster.
Everything we do at Seqster is patient-first, which means we run a culture that is fast-paced, passionate, and engaging. We are a nimble ninja team that is used to executing quickly and effectively. When it comes to either the patient or how I run the company, there is no “Plan B.” We strive for excellence in everything that we do. Failure is not an option because our mission is so critical that I never have a “Plan B.” We only go by “Plan A.”
What is your opinion on the necessity for businesses to align your offerings with newer technological developments?
Seqster aligns well with the newer technologies, such as virtual care, specialty pharmacies, and virtual clinical trials that require a longitudinal 360-degree view of the patient’s health. A static snapshot of a person’s health does not tell a complete story. Seqster provides a real-time, dynamic view that is unique in digital health and healthcare.
Where do you envision yourself to be in the long run, and what are your future goals for Seqster?
In the long run, I could see our technology at Seqster impacting patient lives at scale in the same way that Amazon or Netflix has made it seamless for consumers to order a product or watch a movie. I couldn’t be more excited about what lies ahead. We are just getting started and are in hyper-growth mode.
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs who aspire to venture into healthcare?
Entrepreneurship is one of the most challenging and rewarding things that you can do with your life. When you layer in healthcare, on top of how challenging entrepreneurship is, it feels impossible most of the time. The only way that you can get through the tough times is by fully aligning with the mission. My advice is that if you want to venture into healthcare, make sure that you are 100% committed to your mission. If not, I guarantee you will fail. The mission is the soul of the company and is a must-have.
Ardy Arianpour, CEO and Co-Founder, Seqster
