Virtue VC

Virtue VC is an earliest-stage healthcare venture capital firm dedicated to backing elite founders who are radically transforming the healthcare ecosystem. The firm focuses on identifying and supporting exceptional entrepreneurs building innovative companies within the healthcare and digital health sectors. Virtue VC typically invests at the pre-seed, seed, and Series A stages, with initial check sizes ranging from $500K to $4M. They aim to be the first institutional capital in a company, providing not just funding but also strategic guidance and operational support to help their portfolio companies succeed.

Founded in 2021 by Sean Doolan, Virtue VC is based in Austin, Texas. Emre Karatas joined as a Partner in February 2022. The firm's core thesis revolves around partnering with technical founders who possess deep healthcare domain expertise and a clear understanding of market inefficiencies. They are committed to long-term relationships with founders, offering playbooks, product roadmaps, and scaling strategies to accelerate commercial opportunities and support strategic hiring.

Virtue VC's investment strategy emphasizes digital health and healthcare technology innovations that address critical pain points in healthcare delivery, administration, insurance, data management, and clinical operations. Their portfolio includes companies like Hermes Health, Gyde, Prudentia Sciences, Ryght AI, Solstice Health, and Allara Health, spanning areas such as enterprise software, consumer technology, fintech, and AI-based clinical charting software. The firm actively supports its investments by leveraging its extensive network of founders, investors, and industry experts.

The team at Virtue VC, led by Sean Doolan and Emre Karatas, is known for being founder-aligned and accessible. Sean Doolan, the founder and managing partner, has deep expertise in digital health and healthcare entrepreneurship. Emre Karatas, an investor and partner, is an active investor and commentator on healthcare technology trends. The firm's small but focused team of approximately six individuals, including four partners, works to develop internal systems and frameworks that enable Virtue VC to scale and build a foundation for long-term success.