In this episode of Blush and Bloom, Gigi Kenneth speaks with Piotr Zając, HealthTech Director at Monterail and the former founder of Untitled Kingdom, about what it takes to build digital health products that work clinically, technically, and commercially. Drawing from more than 15 years of experience and over 75 health products, Piotr explains why founders need to focus on health outcomes before becoming distracted by new technology. He shares some of the most common mistakes HealthTech teams make, including solving the wrong problem, failing to understand who will pay for a product, and asking users to share too much sensitive information before trust has been established. Gigi and Piotr also discuss the growing use of AI and vibe coding in HealthTech. While new tools make it easier to build prototypes quickly, Piotr explains why health products require more care than many other types of software. They explore the importance of security, accessibility, medical input, cultural context, and thoughtful product design when building tools that handle sensitive health information. The conversation also looks at how HealthTech companies collect and interpret data. Piotr shares why more data does not always lead to better care, especially when information from wearables lacks context. They discuss the difference between single data points and longer-term trends, the limits of wearable technology, and the challenge doctors face when asked to review large amounts of patient-generated data during short appointments. They also explore what makes FemTech different from other areas of digital health. Piotr reflects on his experience working with Elvie and explains why privacy, empathy, clinical knowledge, and strong design are especially important when building products related to reproductive health, sexual health, cycle tracking, pregnancy, and postpartum care. Later in the episode, Piotr shares lessons from more than a decade of entrepreneurship. He talks about making difficult decisions, dealing with the loneliness of leadership, building for patients rather than investors, and surrounding yourself with people who bring skills and knowledge you do not have. The episode also includes Piotr’s perspective on the startup environments in Poland, Europe, and the United States, as well as how culture, labour laws, investment priorities, and attitudes towards risk can shape the way companies are built. This episode is for HealthTech and FemTech founders, product leaders, designers, clinicians, investors, and anyone interested in patient trust, wearable data, responsible AI, digital health, and building products that improve people’s lives. Connect with Piotr ZającLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zajacp/HealthTech Pulse newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/healthtech-pulse-7069731560584826881/Monterail: https://www.monterail.com/ Connect with AseleWebsite: https://asele.techApp: https://asele.healthAndroid app: Download Asele on Google PlayInstagram: https://instagram.com/asele.techLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/asele Connect with Gigi KennethLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/gigikenneth Question for listeners:What do you think HealthTech companies should prioritise before asking people to share sensitive health data? This episode is for general informational purposes and does not constitute medical, legal, or regulatory advice.
