This episode, we sit down with Albert Katz, founder and CEO of Flagler Health, a startup revolutionizing musculoskeletal (MSK) care.
With an operating system designed specifically for MSK providers, Flagler uses AI-powered triage tools to reduce readmissions, optimize patient care, and boost clinic efficiency—all while navigating the complexities of the healthcare ecosystem. Albert shares his unexpected journey into healthcare, the tough realities of building a startup, and the challenges of working with physician workflows. He dives into how Flagler partners with medtech giants, differentiates itself from virtual PT players like Hinge Health and Sword Health, and builds sticky, value-driven solutions that clinicians actually use.
Timestamps:
0:01 – Albert’s accidental path from programming and finance into healthcare
1:42 – Scaling a pain and MSK clinic from the ground up at 23
3:15 – Legal limitations in healthcare innovation and the role of provider egos
5:11 – How medtech advancements are outpacing medical education in MSK
6:03 – The Flagler Health elevator pitch: triaging MSK patients with AI
7:49 – Building sticky products through specialization—not broad horizontal plays
11:36 – How early partnerships with Abbott and Boston Scientific created a flywheel
13:27 – Differentiating from Hinge and Sword Health by going bottom-up via providers
23:29 – Flagler’s long-term roadmap: becoming the data-driven enabler of value-based care
28:27 – Honest advice for future entrepreneurs: “It sucks. Don’t do it… unless you must.”