Former Forward CEO Launches New Healthcare Venture Amid Company Shutdown
Staff Editor Former Forward CEO Launches New Venture Amid Company Closure
Adrian Aoun, the founder and former CEO of healthcare startup Forward, is embarking on a new business venture alongside former Forward executives Jonathan Lesser and Bali Raghavan. This development comes in the wake of Forward’s recent closure, which resulted in the layoff of nearly 200 employees and the shuttering of its locations.
Forward, launched in 2017 with the ambitious goal of revolutionizing healthcare through modern clinics and AI-powered CarePods, had raised over $650 million from prominent investors including Khosla Ventures, Softbank, and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff. However, the company faced significant challenges, including logistical and technical issues with its CarePods. Reports of malfunctioning self-service blood draws and patients becoming trapped inside the pods contributed to a lack of patient interest, ultimately leading to the company’s downfall.
Despite Forward’s closure and the substantial financial losses incurred, Aoun reports surprising interest from investors in his next venture. The focus of this new company and the potential involvement of Forward’s previous investors remain unclear at this time.
Aoun’s ability to quickly attract investor attention following Forward’s closure reflects the Silicon Valley ethos of rapidly moving on to new opportunities, even in the face of past failures. This resilience and willingness to take risks continue to characterize the tech industry’s approach to innovation and entrepreneurship.
As this story develops, further details about Aoun’s new venture and its potential impact on the healthcare technology landscape are expected to emerge.
