Suggestions
Stephen Hays
Mental Health Focused Venture Capitalist
Stephen Hays is the founder and managing partner of What If Ventures, a venture capital firm established in January 2020 that focuses on investing in mental health and disruptive healthcare startups. Under his leadership, the firm has invested over $85 million in 73 companies, leveraging a syndicate of more than 4,100 investors. Notably, What If Ventures has seen three portfolio companies exit via IPO and one through acquisition.12
Hays' personal journey significantly influences his professional focus. He has struggled with addiction and bipolar disorder, experiences that led to a transformative recovery supported by his family and the recovery community. This background inspired him to dedicate his investment efforts to startups that provide solutions for mental health and addiction recovery.14
Before founding What If Ventures, Hays was the founder and managing partner of Deep Space Ventures, where he led investments in early-stage tech startups. He also spent over six years as an investment banker on Wall Street, primarily involved in capital raising and mergers and acquisitions.234
Hays holds a degree in Civil Engineering from West Point and an MBA from Vanderbilt University. He resides in Frisco, Texas, with his wife and three children.12 In addition to his venture work, he hosts a podcast called "Stigma," which addresses mental health and wellness topics through conversations with various leaders and entrepreneurs.13
Highlights
6 years sober today 🙏
I'm grateful to be living a life of purpose after almost losing my life to addiction.
It has been a journey of highs and lows from finding faith, to rebuilding my life and creating What If Ventures.
I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my wife, for the recovery community, and the people who have sponsored, mentored and encouraged me along the way.
The following blog post is an update on my journey to date. My goal is for others in recovery, to read this and be hopeful. I also hope this educates people on what sobriety looks like, what stigma looks like, and how we do recover.
Healthcare has outperformed the broader stock market since early July.
Both the broader Healthcare market (XLV) and our Disruptive Healthcare peers that we use to triangulate comps for private market healthcare valuations have vastly outperformed the broader S&P500 since early July.
This is a positive sign for private healthcare companies looking to raise money after Labor Day.
See more analysis weekly here: https://lnkd.in/g9rtZS2c
