The digital health sector is leading the way in transforming healthcare through innovation and technology, creating significant growth and new opportunities. As healthcare systems around the world adopt integrated digital solutions, there is a growing need for accurate data, market knowledge, and practical insights. Successfully navigating this fast-changing field requires strong leadership and deep expertise to utilize these new technologies for better patient care and sustainable business success.
Julien de Salaberry, Founder and CEO of Galen Growth, is an example of such strong leadership. With over 30 years of global experience in healthcare working with top companies like Eli Lilly, Boston Scientific, and GSK, Julien started Galen Growth to become a leading provider of digital health intelligence and analytics. Under his leadership, Galen Growth has become a trusted global source of real-time data and insights, helping investors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders make well-informed strategic decisions in the evolving digital health market. Julien’s dedication to advanced technology and healthcare innovation continues to drive progress and shape the future of digital health worldwide.
Building a Trusted Resource for Health Innovation
Galen Growth was established to address a crucial gap in digital health intelligence. Julien de Salaberry explained, “When we started Galen Growth in 2016, it was born from a simple observation: the digital health ecosystem was flying blind.” Along with his four co-founders, all working in healthcare, they repeatedly encountered the same challenge: market intelligence on health technology ventures was often inaccurate, fragmented, and overly hyped. This made it difficult for meaningful innovation to develop. They were motivated to change this situation.
The original goal was to create a “no hype, no bias” analytics platform that would connect the best health innovators with the organizations that needed their solutions, all based on solid evidence. The company was initially founded in Singapore, where the team was located, with the mission to become the trusted source for digital health insights.
From the very beginning, Galen Growth has focused on empowering healthcare leaders—such as investors, pharmaceutical executives, and hospital administrators—with reliable data to help them make better decisions for patients. Julien emphasized, “That core idea of accelerating innovation through reliable intelligence was our North Star, and it remains so today.”
Driving Healthcare Innovation with Integrity
Julien de Salaberry hopes that anyone connected to Galen Growth would highlight the company’s unwavering mission and core values. Galen Growth’s mission is to drive much-needed change in healthcare by empowering and scaling digital health innovation. As Julien puts it, “We exist to help great health tech ideas find their way to patients, faster.” The organization strives to bridge the gap between the world of technology and real-world healthcare, ensuring innovators can bring practical solutions to the people who need them most. This guiding purpose shapes every project and decision at Galen Growth.
Integrity and objectivity are at the core of the company’s values, summed up by the phrase “no hype, no bias.” Julien explains, “We value evidence over buzz,” emphasizing the importance of credible data over trends. The company is committed to real impact, prioritizing initiatives that improve patient outcomes or healthcare efficiency, and steering away from superficial solutions. As a result, terms like data-driven, trusted, impact, and innovation define Galen Growth’s ethos.
The early years from 2016 to 2018 were spent in stealth mode, developing HealthTech Alpha and assembling a skilled team. Julien says: “We kept our heads down to build the first version of HealthTech Alpha and hire the initial team who could bring it to life.” Gaining credibility was a challenge; the company relied on rigorous data and transparent methods to earn clients’ trust. Scaling the platform from a prototype to an automated, global system required constant improvement and investment in talent.
Expanding internationally, particularly during the pandemic, demanded adaptability and strong leadership. Julien de Salaberry learned the importance of delegation, clear communication, and trust in his teams—lessons that continue to shape Galen Growth’s success today.
Awards & Recognition — Galen Growth
Leadership & Impact
Focused on meaningful change, not personal accolades. Recognized by media, industry, and clients for trusted digital health insights. Quotes from clients: “A game-changer platform”. “Unmatched depth, breadth & granularity of data.” “Essential for identifying forward movers.”
Recent Media Citations
- May–Jul 2025: Multiple outlets — Reports on Consumer HealthTech, FemTech, AI-powered analytics, and funding trends
- Apr 2025: Med-Tech World — $4.5B HealthTech paradigm shift
- Jan 2025: MedTech Spectrum — 2024 Digital Health Trends
- Aug 2024: Milken Institute — Philippine HealthTech data
- Feb 2024: Medika Life — Championing Digital Health Innovation
Community Leadership
Regularly on conference steering committees & accelerator panels, Speaker at J.P. Morgan Healthcare, NYC Innovation Week, HLTH. Highlight: Rang the Singapore Stock Exchange opening bell
Core Recognition
Media citations + industry invitations + client praise = trusted, lasting impact
The Unique Approach to Digital Health Analytics
The digital health analytics market includes several players, but Galen Growth stands out with a unique approach. Julien explains, “We combine unparalleled data depth with a no-nonsense analytical lens.” Its proprietary platform, HealthTech Alpha, is more than a database—it is a comprehensive intelligence resource tracking over 16,000 digital health ventures worldwide and aggregating more than 1 billion data points.
Data alone is not enough; insight comes from analysis. HealthTech Alpha powers specialised methods like Ecosystem Mapping, Competitive Benchmarking, Portfolio Evaluation, and Scouting. For example, if a pharma company wants to identify emerging digital therapeutics in oncology in Asia, HealthTech Alpha can quickly provide a detailed ecosystem map. These frameworks turn vast data into clear, actionable insights.
Its “no hype, no bias” philosophy ensures all analysis is evidence-based and independent. Julien adds, “Clients often say working with us is refreshing because we call it like we see it.” It highlights overhyped trends and flags unproven technologies without hidden agendas.
Finally, the team’s exclusive focus on digital health gives them deep sector knowledge, bridging the gap between technology and healthcare. This combination of precise data, tailored tools, and expert understanding uniquely positions Galen Growth to solve complex digital health challenges.
Collaborating to Accelerate Digital Health Innovation
Strategic partnerships have played a key role in Galen Growth’s success and credibility. Julien de Salaberry emphasizes, “Partnerships are our force multiplier.” The company carefully selects collaborators to accelerate progress across the digital health industry.
Notable partnerships include marquee digital health events like HLTH US and Europe, where Galen Growth co-creates content, presents analyses, and hosts executive roundtables focused on evidence over hype. It also supports founders through accelerators such as DayOne, Barcelona Health Hub, AWS Startups, and Google for Startups, helping ventures strengthen clinical evidence and market strategies.
With PR firm FINN Partners, Galen Growth transforms complex data into accessible stories for healthcare leaders and broader audiences. It collaborates with thought leaders like McKinsey to inform enterprise digital health strategies using HealthTech Alpha data. The company also contributes to global forums such as Prix Galien and the Digital Medicine Society to align science, policy, and market standards.
Beyond direct sales, Galen Growth has confidential partnerships expanding its reach across North America and Europe, embedding HealthTech Alpha into the workflows of pharma, payers, providers, and investors.
Julien de Salaberry states, “Our ethos is connecting stakeholders, so partnerships are central to our growth.” Each collaboration strengthens credibility and demonstrates its unique value in the digital health ecosystem.
Proven Success in Pharma, Women’s Health, and Beyond
The most rewarding aspect of Galen Growth’s journey lies in transforming evidence into tangible outcomes. Recent examples highlight how the company enables clients to move swiftly with confidence, along with feedback received from these collaborations.
Pharma | 12-month competitive intelligence that changed the cadence of decisions.
- A Top 10 pharmaceutical company engaged Galen Growth to monitor five competitors across obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular sectors in the US, EU5, UK, and China. Galen Growth implemented a year-long program incorporating custom alerts, curated lists, shared workspaces in HealthTech Alpha, and bi-monthly briefs. This resulted in a unified fact base that aligned global and country teams, facilitating faster and more confident responses to competitor activities.
“The Galen Growth team and HealthTech Alpha have been invaluable… helping us reorient our approach to actualising impact.” — Head of Strategy & Corp Dev, Global Pharma.
Women’s health | From noise to a market roadmap.
- For a global women’s health leader, Galen Growth assessed digital readiness across South Korea, Spain, the US, China, and Brazil to develop a telemedicine-focused roadmap. The assessment included end-user analysis, therapeutic priorities, and biopharma partnerships, followed by targeted scouting and expert interviews. The outcome was a prioritised country playbook and a vetted pipeline of partners.
Clients attest to the impact of Galen Growth:
“If you need to know which players are the forward movers… then you need HealthTech Alpha.”
“No other platform can match the depth, breadth and granularity of the data… It’s been key to the growth of our business.”
“HealthTech Alpha has become our go-to for identifying innovation aligned to our pipeline—the precision lets us surface the most relevant startups and stay ahead.”
In each case, Galen Growth acts as a trusted navigator, simplifying decisions, uncovering opportunities, and validating data-driven insights to drive client success. This ongoing collection of success stories fuels the team’s passion and commitment as they continue partnering with notable clients in pharma, insurance, healthcare systems, and investment sectors.
Building a Supportive and Authentic Company Culture
Julien de Salaberry places great importance on creating an authentic and supportive work environment, believing that “a company’s culture is its backbone.” From the start, he has encouraged openness, exemplified by weekly all-hands “huddles” where the entire team shares updates and coordinates efforts.
Galen Growth embraces evidence-based decision-making internally, reflecting its external values. Julien de Salaberry explains, “Any team member’s ideas are welcome, and the best idea wins.” Proposals are supported by data or clear reasoning, ensuring meritocracy regardless of position. This approach empowers all employees, from junior analysts to senior leaders, fostering creative problem-solving.
Work–life balance is another priority. The company follows an outcomes-first culture, focusing on impact rather than hours or location. With teams across Singapore, Switzerland, and the US, meeting times rotate, asynchronous communication is encouraged, and time off is protected. Julien notes this diversity “keeps every voice heard” and helps employees stay engaged and balanced.
Finally, celebrating achievements and personal milestones is routine, from ringing a bell for company successes to recognizing individual accomplishments. Julien de Salaberry believes that when employees feel supported and authentic at work, “they do their best work,” creating a strong foundation to face challenges confidently.
Galen Growth: Thought Leadership & Research Impact
- 100+ Reports: Powered by HealthTech Alpha, used by decision-makers for evidence-based insights
- Market Pulse: Quarterly funding & partnership briefs—Q2 2025 saw $12.1B invested, AI leads funding
- Regional Deep Dives: US, Europe, APAC snapshots highlight funding trends and partnership shifts
- Clinical Evidence: 24% of private digital health ventures show proven clinical strength; Europe leads
- Health Systems: Providers drove 26% of global partnerships in 2023, changing adoption and ROI
- AI Impact: AI in pharma R&D and tech-health partnerships growing at 32% CAGR, $19B+ invested
- Equity & Sustainability: Analysis on femtech funding challenges and digital health’s carbon footprint
- HealthTech 250: Annual data-driven shortlist of top early-stage startups to watch, enhanced with AI insights
All content is grounded in comprehensive data—funding, partnerships, regulatory, evidence—helping users prioritize markets, scout partners, and refine strategies.
Galen Growth also leads and participates in industry events, sharing insights and fostering community dialogue. Its mission: not just deliver data, but advance smarter, evidence-driven innovation across digital health.
Leading with Vision Through Challenges and Growth
Julien de Salaberry marks the launch of HealthTech Alpha in 2018 as a defining moment in his leadership journey. Before this, Galen Growth was mainly recognized for research and networking, but the platform set a new standard in digital health intelligence. Facing skepticism about whether a small team from Singapore could build such a resource, Julien persevered. When clients began gaining insights in seconds rather than weeks, he realized the true potential of the company. “It wasn’t just a product launch; it changed how I saw our company’s potential,” he reflects. This milestone inspired him to invest further in technology and data science, emphasizing the importance of scalable solutions and trusting his vision even when the path was uncertain.
Setbacks have also shaped Julien’s leadership. During the digital health market slowdown in 2022, he stayed committed to an evidence-based approach. “I remember working on a Global State of Digital Health report in 2022 and thinking how important it was to cut through the hype,” he says, reinforcing that discipline and integrity matter most in challenging times. Julien’s leadership is guided by mission clarity, transparency, team empowerment, adaptability, and humility. “Being vulnerable enough to say ‘I was wrong’ or ‘this didn’t work’ has been powerful.” These enduring lessons help him lead Galen Growth with authenticity and resilience.
Open Letter to Emerging Leaders
Dear future leaders and fellow entrepreneurs,
If there’s one thing I’ve learned on my journey, it’s this: hold on tightly to your “why.” Building in healthcare—or any complex field—is a long road, and your purpose will fuel you through the toughest times.
Here are a few lessons I wish I’d known earlier: Your network is more than contacts; it’s a force multiplier. Invest in relationships—give first, follow up, be helpful. Always listen deeply to customers—understand their real problems and solve those first. B2B is getting harder; multi-thread deals, prove ROI early, and build momentum with small wins.
AI is rewriting the rules—use it to work smarter, experiment with outreach, and focus on value. Don’t rely on the ecosystem alone—product-market fit matters most. Be intellectually curious: prioritize data over stories and change course when facts change. Be patiently persistent, celebrate small wins, and avoid stubbornness.
Build a team you’d want to follow—hire for grit and judgment, give ownership, and focus on outcomes, not hours. Always keep patients and end-users at the center.
Finally, enjoy the journey. You can’t control everything, but you can control how you show up—curious, prepared, and generous. When it’s tough, lean on your network, your data, and your why.
Sincerely,
Julien de Salaberry
Julien de Salaberry’s Guide to Leading with Purpose
- Lead with Integrity, Not Hype: Julien founded Galen Growth to provide honest, evidence-based insights in the digital health sector. He proved that building a business on integrity and transparency, rather than buzz, earns trust and creates lasting value.
- Use Data to Cut Through the Noise: Julien’s success comes from leveraging his platform, HealthTech Alpha, to turn vast amounts of data into clear, actionable intelligence. He shows that in a crowded market, solid data is your most powerful tool for making smart decisions and staying ahead.
- Collaborate to Multiply Your Impact: Instead of going it alone, Julien sees partnerships as a “force multiplier.” By teaming up with key players in the industry, Galen Growth has expanded its reach and credibility, proving that working together is essential for accelerating innovation.
- Embrace Setbacks and Stay Resilient: Julien’s journey highlights that leadership isn’t just about success; it’s about navigating challenges with discipline and humility. He learned that being adaptable and open to saying “I was wrong” is crucial for growth.
- Build a Culture of Trust: He places great importance on a supportive work environment, where employees feel empowered and valued. By focusing on outcomes and trust, Julien has built a team that is resilient and passionate, a foundation that allows the company to confidently face any challenge.
