Is Digital Health for Diabetes in an Investment Bubble?. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Klonoff, David C.; Evans, Bill; Zweig, Megan; Day, Sean; Kerr, David
• Is Part Of: Journal of diabetes science and technology. Volume 14:Number 1(2020:Jan.)
• Page Start: 165
• Page End: 169
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: bubble -- business -- diabetes -- digital health -- investment; Diabetes -- Periodicals; Medical technology -- Periodicals; Diabetes Mellitus -- Periodicals; 616.462005
• DOI: 10.1177/1932296819867742
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1932-2968

Abstract

An investment bubble occurs when there is a surge in asset prices that is not warranted by asset fundamentals because of irrationally exuberant market behavior. When prices rise to a level where no additional investors are willing to buy at the elevated price, then a massive sell-off typically occurs. Digital health investments represent approximately 10% of venture capital-backed startup investments, and diabetes digital health startups represent 4% of digital health investments. Attributes of a bubble indicate evidence for and against the current time period being in an investment bubble for digital health startups. After analyzing these attributes as well as the overall economy and the demand for healthcare products, we conclude that digital health startups and particularly digital health startups for diabetes are not in a bubble.