In 2025, Ismaël Emelien, a former top adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron, made headlines for his pivot from politics to healthtech entrepreneurship. His journey, fueled by frustration with the inefficiencies in policymaking, particularly in preventative medicine, exemplifies the growing trend of public servants stepping into the startup ecosystem to enact faster and broader societal change. From the vantage point of Violetta Bonenkamp, a seasoned European entrepreneur with years of experience building businesses and fostering innovation, Emelien's story uncovers critical insights about navigating the healthtech sector and using frustration as a channel for constructive disruption.
Why Frustration Fuels Opportunity
As Bonenkamp sees it, “Frustration is often the birthplace of innovation. It pushes entrepreneurs to address problems systems fail to resolve and to think differently about solutions.” Emelien’s dissatisfaction with his role in Macron’s government led him to launch Zoī, a groundbreaking startup dedicated to preventative healthcare, an area largely overlooked in many national health budgets.
The opportunity here is immense. According to European health industry reports, only 3% of health budgets are allocated to prevention, despite chronic illnesses accounting for 70-80% of healthcare spending. Emelien’s platform, designed to use data and AI to avert health crises before they occur, is raising the bar for both public and private innovation in healthcare.
From Bonenkamp’s perspective, entrepreneurs have an advantage over governments in addressing such challenges. In healthtech, startups can bypass bureaucratic hurdles, scale faster, and adopt cutting-edge technology without waiting for legislative approval. Frustration with slow-moving systems is a familiar theme for entrepreneurs, but as Bonenkamp noted, it is crucial to turn frustration into focused strategy rather than letting it dissipate into inefficiency.
Lessons from Emelien’s Transition into Healthtech
1. Know Your North Star
Pivoting from one high-stakes industry, politics, to healthtech required Emelien to identify a singular driving mission. For Zoī, this meant prioritizing data-driven preventative care. Entrepreneurs often face a flood of opportunities, but selecting a focused mission ensures consistency across all areas of a startup, from product development to marketing.
For Bonenkamp, this focus on solving impactful issues is a defining characteristic of successful founders. “Find the one problem that consumes your thoughts and emotions, and let it drive your decisions. Narrow down the scope, but keep the solution scalable," she emphasizes.
2. Stand Out in a Saturated Market
Healthtech is booming, with consumer-facing platforms like Oura and Levels leading much of the market. However, Zoī avoids the fad-based traps of wellness startups by anchoring its services in clinical research and AI-based solutions. Its differentiation lies in working alongside doctors and insurers rather than circumventing them.
Bonenkamp stresses that innovation isn’t enough to survive in competitive sectors. She advises founders to continuously ask themselves: “Why is your startup irreplaceable?” Whether it’s an emphasis on R&D or delivering measurable results, standing out requires a long-term commitment to solving pain points that competitors ignore.
3. Empower Systems, Don’t Replace Them
Zoī's approach to complement healthcare systems rather than disrupt them is strategic. Preventative health technology needs the cooperation of insurers, providers, and public health agencies to thrive. Much like Bonenkamp’s work with CADChain redefining intellectual property protection in tech-heavy sectors, Zoī’s partnership-first model ensures its innovation is impactful, scalable, and widely adopted.
How Entrepreneurs Can Enter Healthtech
Emelien’s success story is inspiring for entrepreneurs seeking opportunities in healthtech. Building impactful startups in challenging industries is possible with careful planning and execution. Bonenkamp provides a simple blueprint for aspiring founders:
Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Healthtech Company
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Research and Validate Your Idea
- Look for gaps in the market where systemic inefficiencies exist, like preventative care’s underfunded landscape.
- Use validated market data, such as the chronic disease burden statistics from reliable sources like OECD Health Reports or national health agencies.
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Build an Evidence-Based MVP
- Start small. Create a prototype backed by clinical research or rigorous testing. Ensure that early adopters and health professionals validate its effectiveness.
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Embrace AI and Data Integration
- AI isn’t just a buzzword, it’s transforming healthcare by offering personalized diagnostics and behavioral nudges. Platforms like Convoboss AI exemplify AI integration in business models.
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Establish Partnerships Early
- Collaborate rather than disrupt healthcare systems. Partnerships with insurers or governments can build credibility while helping you scale faster.
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Protect Intellectual Property
- Safeguard innovations with patents, particularly in AI applications in health. Bonenkamp’s work through CADChain illustrates the importance of securing IP in tech-heavy domains.
Common Mistakes in Healthtech
Innovating in healthtech is high-risk and high-reward, but it often comes with pitfalls. Avoid these common mistakes Bonenkamp has seen in her years advising startups:
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Neglecting Scientific Credibility
- In health-related industries, cutting corners hurts credibility. “Never forget, you’re impacting lives,” Bonenkamp warns.
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Ignoring Regulatory Challenges
- Complying with laws and certifications can be daunting, but failing to meet standards jeopardizes long-term growth. Dive into local regulations early to save time later.
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Over Promising Efficiency
- Over-reliance on AI or automation without properly factoring in human expertise leads to trust issues with patients and healthcare partners.
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Skipping Culture Fit
- A passionate team with healthcare knowledge is essential. A tech-minded team without industry professionals may miss key nuances.
Final Thoughts
Ismaël Emelien’s pivot from advising Macron to launching Zoī is a testament to using frustration as a catalyst for meaningful change. He transformed dissatisfaction into a proactive solution for one of society’s most pressing problems, chronic disease prevention. At Zoī, Emelien harnesses AI to deliver evidence-based strategies to consumers and health providers alike, proving that impactful ideas don’t need decades of legislation to succeed when executed with precision.
From Bonenkamp’s perspective, the lessons go beyond healthtech. Entrepreneurs following this path must identify systemic inefficiencies, stand out through collaboration, and address problems fueled by genuine passion. By connecting innovation with actionable strategies, entrepreneurs ensure their startups aren’t merely participants in a sector, they’re leaders.
Intrigued by Ismaël Emelien’s story? Dive deeper into his vision at Zoī’s official website here.
FAQ
1. Who is Ismaël Emelien and what is Zoī?
Ismaël Emelien is a former top adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron who transitioned from politics to healthtech. He founded Zoī, a startup focused on data-driven preventive health to combat chronic diseases more efficiently. Explore Zoī's preventative health approach
2. Why did Emelien leave politics for healthtech?
Emelien left politics due to frustration with the slow pace of executing systemic changes in public health policymaking. His move to the healthtech sector aimed to enact faster and broader societal impact through innovation. Learn why Emelien pivoted to healthtech
3. What makes Zoī different from other healthtech platforms?
Unlike wellness or fad-based platforms, Zoī focuses on clinical research and AI-driven preventive solutions, working with doctors and insurers to integrate with existing healthcare systems. Learn more about Zoī's unique strategy
4. What inspired the shift towards preventive healthcare?
Data shows that less than 3% of EU health budgets are allocated to prevention, despite chronic diseases accounting for up to 80% of healthcare costs. This inefficiency inspired Emelien's focus on preventative care. Read more about the health budget data
5. How does Zoī leverage AI in healthcare?
Zoī uses artificial intelligence for tailored health recommendations, leveraging data science to predict and prevent chronic diseases before they occur. Discover how Zoī integrates AI
6. What is the long-term vision for Zoī?
Zoī aims to bridge the gap between public health bureaucracies and wellness startups by offering scalable, evidence-based healthcare solutions that complement existing healthcare systems. Explore Zoī's vision
7. Why is preventative healthcare a growing trend?
There is increasing recognition that preventative approaches can reduce the burden of chronic diseases, enhancing both individual health outcomes and reducing systemic healthcare costs. Learn more about the shift to prevention
8. What challenges does Zoī face in the healthtech industry?
Zoī must navigate regulatory landscapes, differentiate itself in a saturated market, and ensure scientific credibility to build trust and scalability.
9. How does Zoī collaborate with healthcare providers?
Zoī's strategy emphasizes partnerships with insurers, healthcare providers, and public health agencies to ensure meaningful adoption of its preventative health solutions. Discover Zoī's collaboration-first approach
10. What can entrepreneurs learn from Emelien's journey?
Emelien's pivot shows how frustration can drive innovation when combined with a focused mission, strategic partnerships, and a data-driven approach. Explore lessons from Emelien's transition
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.