Inside the Deal: Healthcare VCs to Watch with Stasia Obremskey – Impact Capital for Women’s Health
Welcome to Inside the Deal: Healthcare VCs to Watch, a video series spotlighting investors who are shaping the future of healthcare. In this episode, Stasia Obremskey—Managing Partner at Foreground Capital—joins Carrie Nixon to discuss how mission-driven investing is driving the next generation of innovation in women’s health.
From developing impact metrics to navigating the current regulatory climate, Stasia offers hard-won insight for founders operating at the intersection of equity, access, and innovation.
Timestamps
0:00 – Meet Stasia Obremskey of Foreground Capital
Carrie introduces Stasia and Foreground’s unique thesis focused on equity-driven women's health innovation.
1:30 – From Wall Street to Women’s Health VC
Stasia shares her path—from investment banking and public health to co-founding one of the few women-led impact funds in digital health.
4:00 – Why Impact Capital is Equity, Not Charity
Stasia explains why grants don’t scale innovation—and why early-stage equity capital is the real engine behind healthcare transformation.
6:00 – Foreground’s 4 Impact Pillars
Learn the four questions every startup must meet to align with Foreground’s mission: transformation, access, affordability, and bias reduction.
9:00 – Medicaid-Ready Business Models that Scale
A behind-the-scenes look at how startups like Seven Starling built for both Medicaid and commercial success—by solving a real pain point.
13:00 – Regulatory Risk: What Founders Must Know
Stasia discusses the new wave of macroeconomic and political risks founders must navigate—especially around reimbursement and FDA approvals.
17:00 – Building Mission-Aligned, Scalable Models
Why aligning unit economics with impact outcomes can lead to long-term traction across both public and private payers.
20:00 – Picking the Right Capital Partners
Stasia offers frank advice for founders: treat investor diligence like a two-way street—and choose your VC like you’re entering a long-term marriage.
24:00 – The Future of Women’s Health Innovation
Where Stasia sees momentum today: from endometriosis to PCOS, and a long-overdue renaissance in condition-specific therapeutics.
Quotes from Stasia
“Your dream job might not be linear. Take the detour.”
Stasia’s path to venture wasn’t straight—but it led to purpose-driven leadership in women’s health.“Purpose and profit aren’t a balance, they’re a baseline.”
At Foreground, impact isn’t a tradeoff—it’s the investment thesis.“Diligence goes both ways. Always ask the questions.”
Stasia reminds founders: vet your investors like you’re choosing a long-term business partner.
Featured Q&A
What’s the first thing Foreground screens for in a pitch?
Alignment with at least one of their four impact pillars: transformation, access, affordability, or bias reduction.
What’s an overlooked threat founders should plan for?
Policy and regulatory volatility. Founders should factor in delays, Medicaid shifts, and FDA timelines into fundraising and runway plans.
What kind of business models scale in women’s health?
Fit-for-purpose models that work for both Medicaid and commercial payers—especially those that serve providers, not just patients.
How should founders evaluate investors?
Like long-term partners. Ask for founder references, check alignment on mission, and understand their approach in tough times.
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