In this episode of The Healthcare Theory, we’re joined by Dr. Arpit Rao, oncologist and co-founder of Ankr Health, a Y Combinator-backed startup using AI to transform cancer care. Ankr Health provides an AI-driven support and navigation platform for cancer and surgery patients, offering proactive side-effect monitoring, patient education, and continuity tools for clinics.
We explore Arpit’s path from running FDA-level clinical trials to translating those experiences into a startup that predicts treatment-limiting side effects before they occur. He shares how Ankr won early traction—serving multiple clinics and tens of thousands of patients—and also earned recognition by winning Houston’s ION startup showcase. He dives into the company’s first major deal with AstraZeneca and explains how they’ve tailored their solution specifically for pharma partnerships. This conversation reveals how machine learning can improve clinical outcomes, reduce patient drop-off, and help reimagine what precision oncology support can look like in practice.