Hello,Welcome to <keyword id="11894896" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="insider-healthcare" source="Orion">Insider Healthcare</keyword>. I'm <keyword id="11897506" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="healthcare" source="Orion">healthcare</keyword> editor Leah Rosenbaum, and today in healthcare news:<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/firefly-health-wants-to-transform-healthcare-for-small-companies-2021-10">Firefly Health has a new plan to transform health insurance for small businesses</a>;</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/merck-covid-pill-fda-eua-authorization-antiviral-molnupiravir-drug-ridgeback-2021-10">Merck says its COVID-19 antiviral pill is effective and plans to ask the FDA for emergency authorization</a>;</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/americas-frontline-doctors-sells-disproven-covid-drugs-2021-9">A right-wing group duped patients out of millions for fake COVID-19 treatments</a>. </li></ul>If you're new to this newsletter, <a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/insider-healthcare">sign up here.</a> Comments, tips? Email me at <a href="mailto:lrosenbaum@insider.com">lrosenbaum@insider.com</a> or tweet <a href="https://twitter.com/leah_rosenbaum">@leah_rosenbaum.</a> Let's get to it...<hr /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/firefly-health-wants-to-transform-healthcare-for-small-companies-2021-10"></a><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/firefly-health-wants-to-transform-healthcare-for-small-companies-2021-10">How virtual primary-care startup Firefly Health wants to transform healthcare for small companies</a></h3><ul><li>Digital health startup Firefly Health is launching a health plan for small companies.</li><li>The plan is built around its virtual approach to providing primary, mental, and speciality care.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/firefly-health-wants-to-transform-healthcare-for-small-companies-2021-10">Firefly is betting that its roots in care delivery will help it compete in the crowded health-plan market</a>.</li></ul><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/firefly-health-wants-to-transform-healthcare-for-small-companies-2021-10">Check it out&gt;&gt; </a><hr /><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/merck-covid-pill-fda-eua-authorization-antiviral-molnupiravir-drug-ridgeback-2021-10"><div type="image" title="Capsules of molnupiravir, an antiviral drug developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics that could treat COVID-19" height="2001" width="2669" msid="86756763" hostid="261"></div>Merck says it'll ask regulators to authorize the first antiviral pill designed to treat COVID-19 after a trial found it halved the risk of hospitalization or death</a></h3><ul><li>Merck and Ridgeback say they'll apply "as soon as possible" to get their COVID-19 pill authorized.</li><li>The companies said the drug, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-antiviral-pills-results-coming-impacting-the-pandemic-2021-9">molnupiravir</a>, halved the risk of hospitalization or death in a trial.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/merck-covid-pill-fda-eua-authorization-antiviral-molnupiravir-drug-ridgeback-2021-10">If given the OK, the drug would be the first authorized antiviral pill designed to treat COVID-19.</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/merck-covid-pill-fda-eua-authorization-antiviral-molnupiravir-drug-ridgeback-2021-10">Read the whole story&gt;&gt;</a><hr /><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/americas-frontline-doctors-sells-disproven-covid-drugs-2021-9"><div type="image" title="Ivermectin horse paste" height="1666" width="2222" msid="86756764" hostid="261"></div>How a group with right-wing ties duped tens of thousands of Americans into buying COVID-19 drugs that don't work</a></h3><ul><li>America's Frontline Doctors, a group with right-wing ties, has been promoting fake COVID-19 treatments.</li><li>It has referred people to a telemedicine site to procure those treatments for a fee.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/americas-frontline-doctors-sells-disproven-covid-drugs-2021-9">Its patients may have spent $6.7 million for medical advice and $8.5 million for prescriptions</a>, <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/09/28/covid-telehealth-hydroxychloroquine-ivermectin-hacked/">The Intercept reported</a>.</li></ul><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/americas-frontline-doctors-sells-disproven-covid-drugs-2021-9">Dive in&gt;&gt;</a><hr />More stories we're reading:<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/california-will-require-schoolchildren-get-covid-19-vaccine-newsom-2021-10">California will be the first state to require schoolchildren get the COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Newsom announces</a> (Insider)</li><li><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/09/29/1041501387/coronavirus-long-covid-study-plos-medicine">Over a third of patients who get COVID-19 still have symptoms months later</a> (NPR)</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moderna-vaccine-3rd-shot-cvs-cancer-side-effects-2021-10">I got a 3rd Moderna vaccine shot at CVS because I have cancer. I was worried about the side effects, but it was worth it.</a> (Insider)</li><li><a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-we-need-to-upgrade-our-face-masks-and-where-to-get-them/">It's time to get better face masks - here's why and how</a> (Scientific American)</li></ul><hr />-Leah

Virtual primary-care startup Firefly is launching a health plan

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Dapper Labs, the startup behind <keyword id="10881324" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nba-top-shot">NBA Top Shot</keyword>, announced $305 million in new funding Tuesday. </li><li>The round comes from more than 30 pro athletes and venture capitalists, including <keyword id="56589" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Michael-Jordan">Michael Jordan</keyword>. </li><li>With the investment, Dapper Labs plans to expand its platform to other <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> leagues. </li></ul>Dapper Labs, the startup behind virtual trading-card platform <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nba-top-shot-virtual-highlights-for-sale-moments-blockchain-explained-2021-2">NBA Top Shot</a>, has closed a $305 million funding round as the market for digital <keyword id="909478" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="collectibles">collectibles</keyword> continues to boom, the company announced Tuesday.Led by the investment firm Coatue, the round includes Michael Jordan, current <keyword id="6361805" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="NBA">NBA</keyword> players like Kevin Durant, Alex Caruso, Klay Thompson, and Andre Iguodala, and several other professional MLB and NFL athletes. Ashton Kutcher's Sound Ventures, Will Smith's Dreamers VC, 2 Chainz, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nba-top-shot-vc-says-disney-harry-potter-to-join-nfts-2021-3">Venrock</a>, The Chernin Group, and USV are also involved in the round. This batch of funding brings Dapper Labs' valuation to $2.6 billion, a source close to the company told Insider, and comes as the firm's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nfts-david-pakman-vc-nba-top-shot-predictions-crypto-assets-2021-3">Top Shot</a> platform explodes in popularity.Developed in collaboration with the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association, the Top Shot marketplace enables fans to collect and trade officially licensed basketball highlight clips called "moments."Since launching in October, the platform has attracted 802,000 users and logged $483 million in sales, a spokesperson told Insider. The platform sees millions of dollars worth of moments change hands each day, with some exceptionally rare ones selling for $100,000 or more. Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/collectable-ceo-breaks-down-risks-and-benefits-digital-collectibles-nfts-2021-3">NFTs like NBA Top Shot are fueling a trading boom in million-dollar sports cards. The CEO of a fractional sports investing platform breaks down why digital collectibles are the 'perfect intersection of passion and profits.'</a>The new financing brings the total capital raised by Dapper Labs to $357 million and will enable the firm to expand Top Shot to other sports leagues. In early 2020 it announced plans to develop digital collectibles for UFC."NBA Top Shot is successful because it taps into basketball fandom - it's a new and more exciting way for people to connect with their favorite teams and players," Roham Gharegozlou, CEO of Dapper Labs, said in a <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">news</keyword> release. "We want to bring the same magic to other sports leagues as well as help other entertainment studios and independent creators find their own approaches in exploring open platforms."Founded in 2018, Dapper Labs is also behind another collecting game called CryptoKitties and has its own blockchain system called Flow. Top Shot moments are a form of nonfungible tokens, or <keyword id="902592" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="NFTS">NFTs</keyword>, essentially digital deeds that grant someone ownership to a particular piece of media on the web. Although NFTs have existed for years, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-are-risks-of-investing-in-nft-2021-3">market</a> surrounding them has hit a fever pitch in 2021, with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/art-nft-beeple-blockchain-pieces-sell-for-millions-2021-3">numerous digital art pieces</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-bought-beeple-nft-art-buyer-revealed-metakovan-metapurse-2021-3">selling for millions</a>. Do you have a story to share about your experience with NBA Top Shot? Email this reporter at tlevin@insider.com.

NBA Top Shot maker Dapper Labs just nabbed another $305 million investment from the likes of Michael Jordan and Will Smith

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The stock price of Digital World Acquisition Corp. (DWAC), a special purpose acquisition company, soared this week.</li><li>The company, intends to take President Donald <keyword id="6354862" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="trump" source="Orion">Trump</keyword>'s <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-announces-plans-for-new-social-media-site-in-2022-2021-10" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">forthcoming digital media platform</a> public through a merger, is now worth $2 billion.</li></ul>Shares of the <keyword id="11908250" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="spac" source="Orion">SPAC</keyword> linked to former President Donald Trump's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-announces-plans-for-new-social-media-site-in-2022-2021-10" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">planned digital media platform</a> surged this week, days after revelations of an SEC investigation and an announcement the two companies had lined up an estimated $1 billion from investors for TRUTH social.The stock price of Digital World Acquisition Corp. (DWAC), a special purpose acquisition company, was up about 25% to close out the week, following a sell-off last month. The company's market cap now stands around $2 billion.The spike came after an eventful week for DWAC and Trump Media &amp; Technology Group Corp. (TMTG), which has described aspirations for the TRUTH Social site and accompanying app to serve as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-media-company-pitch-deck-app-social-media-truth-2021-10#heres-the-pitch-deck-trump-is-using-to-promote-his-new-truth-platform-and-media-conglomerate-1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">"a conservative media universe"</a> with "non-woke content."A week ago, the two companies announced they had reached a deal to fund the site, with investors pledging more than $1.25 billion to TRUTH Social, according to a <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/12/04/2346139/0/en/Trump-Media-Technology-Group-Corp-and-Digital-World-Acquisition-Corp-Announce-1-Billion-PIPE-Investment-in-Committed-Capital-to-Fund-Business.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">press release</a>. While the identity of the investors remains unknown, the funding will function as "PIPE" investments, or private investments in public equity.Then, on Monday, it was revealed the deal was being investigated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulators, <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1849635/000119312521348598/d242442d425.htm">according to a report filed with the SEC.</a> The investigation, according to the filing, began in early November. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), a private regulator, also began looking into the partnership in late October following <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-announces-plans-for-new-social-media-site-in-2022-2021-10">the October 20 merger announcement.</a>The company noted that neither FINRA nor the SEC had found any indication of wrongdoing, and the company said it was cooperating with both agencies.Following news of the investment pledge, and apparently despite the SEC probe, hedge fund Saba Captial Management on Thursday <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/now/saba-capital-management-l-p-023803256.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFf3gPnNXf7u8Rg-idrhqQo8GNaQAX1f5sWWrFSc2Dar-8rWuMBwDgQyBXstiJ5swzX3SSIKzWTUat7sMHn3vTX0PATDN_cdi6dE0gvSNtCfOFS9YlGrCsGCom6CoOssHf8YMG6O1uZEQziVEh2t190JHczAt9YUPRCW6KP5nyoM">said it had repurchased a stake</a> in DWAC. Saba and Lighthouse Investment Partners <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-media-merger-hedge-funds-saba-lighthouse-dump-spac-stake-2021-10">pulled their investments</a> in DWAC in October as shares soared following the merger announcment with Trump's company. "Digital World Acquisition Company falls into the meme-stock category, and it's sometimes prone to posting big pricing swings on relatively little news,"<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Finvesting%2F2021%2F12%2F10%2Fheres-why-digital-world-acquisition-companys-stock%2F">the Motley Fool said of the latest share price swing.</a>TMTG said in October that the site and accompanying app is expected to launch in early 2022, following an invite-only beta trial in November.In a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-media-company-pitch-deck-app-social-media-truth-2021-10" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">pitch deck for TRUTH Social</a>, TMTG stated that it aimed to "create a media powerhouse to rival the liberal media consortium and fight back against the 'Big Tech' companies of Silicon Valley who have used their unilateral power to silence opposing voices in America."Critics have noted how little information has been unveiled about the workings of Truth Social. "This is a company purportedly worth $2 BILLION. An unknown investor or investors have kicked in $1 BILLION. But there is little evidence it really exists," journalist Judd Legum <a href="https://twitter.com/JuddLegum/status/1469697419331919874?s=20">said in a series of tweets about the venture.</a>Trump's announcement of the platform came after the former president was permanently banned from several major <keyword id="11895013" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="social-media" source="Orion">social media</keyword> sites for policy violations earlier this year, including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

SPAC that plans to take Donald Trump's media venture public soars in market cap to $2 billion

Anand <keyword id="3790283" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="lunia">Lunia</keyword>, Founding Partner, India Quotient is one of the investors who have seen the good, bad and the ugly of the start-up ecosystem and he’s better for it. 

 

 <div type="embedgroup"> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="58961264" title="Exclusive: Rohan Malhotra , Founding Partner, Investopad Thinks that Building Up Start-ups is Like Managing Sportspeople" rank="1.0" kind="RELATED" publishDate="Jun 02, 2017, 3:55 PM" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div></div> From founding a company to settling down as an early stage investor, Lunia has come a long way. Born and brought up in Ahmedabad Gujarat, Lunia didn’t think about entrepreneurship until he was placed at a job he hated after graduating from <keyword id="56716" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="IIM-Lucknow">IIM Lucknow</keyword>. “The social pressure of doing well got to me and after joining a corporate company as a management trainee, I just quit one day because I was unhappy,” says Lunia who is a free-bird, at heart. When he quit his job and decided to do something different, he couldn’t find a path so joined the banking sector, instead. In 1999, his college friend pitched the idea of starting up and Lunia was tempted to leave the corporate life once again. 

 

 <div type="embedgroup"> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="58964132" title="Exclusive: Rohan Malhotra, Partner, Investopad Supports India- specific Businesses that are not copied from other Markets" rank="1.0" kind="RELATED" publishDate="Jun 02, 2017, 6:55 PM" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div></div>




 Investing in Building Up Prior to launching India Quotient, Lunia co-founded edu-tech startup Brainvisa, which he sold in 2005. After selling the startup, he decided to try his luck as an investor, by playing the role of a partner at Seedfund, one of the first Indian early-stage funds. Even while he was struggling, he invested in food-start-up Faasos back in time when no one thought food start-ups had any future. Lunia said that his journey as an investor is of constant learning, even from their investment portfolio. He started India Quotient with his long time friend <keyword id="1506956" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Madhukar-Sinha">Madhukar Sinha</keyword> in 2012, and never looked back. “The philosophy was to stay away from crowded sectors and stay away from buzzwords floating in the media and <keyword id="6357097" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="venture-capital">Venture Capital</keyword> circles, like mobility, delivery, hyperlocal services, AI etc.,” says Lunia about the current sentiment of India Quotient. 

 

 <div type="embedgroup"> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="58860501" title="Exclusive: Angel Investor Alok Mittal, is Debunking the Myth that IITian-led Start-ups are the only Good Bets in the Ecosystem" rank="1.0" kind="RELATED" publishDate="May 26, 2017, 9:00 PM" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div></div>




 “We believe in going with our gut and constantly questioning what the Indian consumer wants. We don’t believe in the current Venture Captial sentiment which alienates good ideas that have the potential to be say, India’s Facebook. The idea is to go away from the flow and investors need to believe that some ideas can work despite all odds if we let entrepreneurs stick to their guns,” Anand says with much fervour in favour of being hungry and foolish. The ‘average’ entrepreneur is aiming to be a ‘great angel investor’ and he says that his failures and successes have taught him to be frugal, cautious and hopeful; which is what has got him so far.

Exclusive: Anand Lunia, Founding Partner, India Quotient reminisces how he moved on to investing from entrepreneurship

<ul class="summary-list"><li>VC's new generation is embracing wellness as a counterbalance to the fast-paced life of investing.</li><li>We asked readers and top VCs from around the US to name the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rising-stars-venture-capital-tech-startups-2023-11">best up-and-coming investors of 2023</a>.</li></ul>Silicon Valley's up-and-comers say that their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/a-guide-to-longevity-diet-fitness-drugs-tips-2023-11">wellness hacks</a> are essential to staying on their A-Game in the fast-paced world of venture-capital investing.The average consumer today is more focused than ever on their health, fitness, nutrition, appearance, sleep, and mindfulness. And these <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rising-stars-venture-capital-tech-startups-2023-11">rising stars of the VC world</a> are at the forefront of the trend, with many adopting various <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/salesforce-marc-benioff-comments-on-meditation-sleep-schedule-2023-11">wellness routines</a>.Business Insider asked this year's rising<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rising-stars-venture-capital-tech-startups-2023-11"> </a>stars to name their best wellness hack that keeps them at the top of their game. Some VCs keep it simple with a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/exercise-tips-work-home-routine-2019-5">daily exercise routine</a> including walking, cycling, and martial arts. Others swear by waking up early, journaling, and cutting back on caffeine.As Base10's Luci Foncesa put it: "Health and wellness are incredibly important to me. One of my non-negotiables is daily movement, which, combined with my meditation practice, ensures I show up my most energetic, present, and aware self."<h2>Find ways to get moving</h2>Many rising stars in VC have a relationship with exercise that goes beyond an obligatory hour at the gym or a forced jog around the block. They see it as a daily practice that helps them stay physically fit as well as an enjoyable hobby that improves their mental health."In the past year, cycling has become more than just a hobby; it's a source of peace and balance in my life," Justin Williams, a senior associate at Seae Ventures, told Business Insider. "There's something profoundly calming about embarking on a long ride after a day's work."<div type="image" title="Martial Arts" height="762" width="1200" msid="106454686" hostid="261" sizebytes="75226"></div>Other VCs say they're embracing exercise that ranges from martial arts to power walking to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/fitness/types-of-yoga">hot yoga</a> to bouldering.Fiona Huang, a partner at DCM Ventures, told Business Insider that she's recently incorporated <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meghan-markles-favourite-workout-megaformer-how-to-get-results-at-home-2018-3">Megaformer workouts</a> into her routine, which use a souped-up Pilates reformer machine to add increased strength training benefits."It's an incredibly efficient training method that challenges the body and aligns with my wellness goals," she said.Like Huang, other VCs say efficiency is the name of the game when it comes to picking an effective exercise routine. Many told Business Insider that they combine movement with their work, like QED Investors partner Laura Bock, who bikes to work and meetings around New York, and Founder Collective partner Amanda Herson, who makes it a point to invite founders on walking business meetings.Taylor Brandt, a vice president at Headline, said that she recently started <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/fitness/best-hiit-treadmill-workouts">walking on an inclined treadmill</a> while watching meeting recordings on call transcription software Avoma, which Headline invested in."I can get up to speed on prospective investments while working out – win-win!" she said.<h2>Finding "Om" time</h2>Many venture capitalists on this year's list of rising stars recommended <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/how-to-meditate">meditation</a> as a way to take a break from everyday life and help them stay focused on what's important."This year, I decided to bump up my typical 10 minutes of daily meditation to closer to 30-40 minutes daily," Luci Fonseca, a partner at Base10 Investors, told Business Insider. "It's been a game changer in my ability to focus, control my thoughts and emotions, modulate my responses in stressful situations, and show up for others the rest of the day."Vivien Ho, a partner at Pear VC, is heading to a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/different-types-of-meditation">Vipassana</a> retreat over the New Year's holiday, where she'll spend 10 days in silent meditation.<div type="image" title="journaling" height="1415" width="2120" msid="106454687" hostid="261" sizebytes="133166"></div>And Ashley Paston, a partner at Meritech Capital, sings the praises of meditation along with journaling."It's amazing how taking just 10 minutes out of my day helps set the pace and structure for the rest of the day so well," she told Business Insider.<h2>Keep it simple: sleeping well and eating healthy</h2>For some rising stars in venture capital, basic routines centering on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/how-much-sleep-do-you-need?_gl=1*esrufe*_ga*MTUzODE1MjY4MS4xNjU1MTUzNDc2*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTcwMTI4MTAzNC4zODQuMS4xNzAxMjgzMDAzLjQ5LjAuMA..#:~:text=The%20average%20adult%20needs%207,mood%20issues%20and%20weight%20gain.">good sleep habits</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/scientific-reasons-to-eat-healthy-2016-7">healthy eating</a> help them stay at the top of their game, like Ahmed Mirza, a Techstars investor who's "obsessed" with his 10 p.m. bedtime and 5 a.m. alarm.Amber Atherton, a partner at Patron, is also a fan of the 10 p.m. bedtime, noting that when she stays up later, it's exponentially more difficult to feel rested.Sunset Ventures' Brandon Hoffman takes things a step further with a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/drinking-coffee-daily-may-stave-off-early-death-study-suggests-2022-5">caffeine protocol</a> that supports his morning routine and helps him ensure he's drinking enough water throughout the day."I wake up early and make my first cup of coffee decaf to delay my caffeine intake until about 2 hours after waking up without having to give up the warm drink soon after getting out of bed," he told Business Insider. "Also, I have a large empty cup next to the coffee maker. Anytime that I make a cup of coffee (a few each day), I make sure that I fill that large cup up to the top with water and drink it as a way to allow myself another cup of coffee. This has been my hack to increase my water intake, especially to balance out a diuretic such as coffee."<div type="image" title="pouring kombucha" height="1414" width="2121" msid="106454805" hostid="261" sizebytes="76400"></div>For other investors, supplements are non-negotiables, including Felicis deal partner Tobi Coker, who takes <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/food/unlocking-the-potent-health-benefits-of-daily-apple-cider-vinegar-consumption/articleshow/103802096.cms">a shot of apple cider vinegar </a>first thing in the morning, and Wellington Management's Javier Grevely, who swears by his probiotic and green juice, which contain superfoods like kale and wheatgrass.For Natalie Borowski, an investor at Coefficient Captial whose parents are Eastern European immigrants, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-improve-gut-health-with-food-full-meals-dietitian-2023-3">gut health</a> is of utmost importance, and she grew up with lots of pickled and fermented foods."I've recently been trying to get back to the level of nutrition diversity that I had in my childhood diet." she told Business Insider. "In my Brooklyn apartment, I've been making lots of pickled vegetables, kefir (fermented yogurt drink), and kombucha (this one has not always been successful) based on my mom's and grandma's recipes."

Here's how the rising stars of VC keep their wellness on track while hunting down deals 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Claire Zhu and Peter Ovendorf quit their corporate finance jobs in March 2022 to travel the world on a budget.</li><li>After 19 countries, the couple shared their total spending: $48,256, or only $66 per person a day.</li></ul>27-year-old Claire Zhu and 29-year-old Peter Ovendorf have hundreds of thousands of people following their adventures since they quit their corporate finance jobs in March 2022 to travel the world. While fans are invested in what they're doing in the 19 countries they've visited, they're also remarked by how they're doing it.Zhu and Ovendorf recently shared that they spent a total of $48,235 — or just $66 per person a day — over the last year. (For reference, the yearly total for the median rent for a one-bedroom in Manhattan is currently $43,176, <a href="https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/manhattan-ny" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to the rental platform Zumper)</a>.In their budget breakdown, which was posted to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpvCbXvACIG/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter/video/7211186098922442026?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7212744042618144299" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> last week, the couple said the grand total barely exceeded<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter/video/7204168744904428843?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7212744042618144299" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> their original goal of $45,000</a>. Costs included $10,601 on housing, $6,274 on excursions, $9,783 on 34 flights, $9,708 on ground transportation, and $9,614 on food. <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter/video/7179974024309542187" data-video-id="7179974024309542187" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@claireandpeter" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter?refer=embed">@claireandpeter</a> there is actually some sort of method behind this madness!! i can explain the reasoning behind our route if yall are interested <a title="worldtrip" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/worldtrip?refer=embed">#worldtrip</a> <a target="_blank" title="♬ Fred again.. Chanel x A New Error - TH3RD BRAIN " href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Fred-again-Chanel-x-A-New-Error-7150821771141401390?refer=embed">♬ Fred again.. Chanel x A New Error - TH3RD BRAIN </a> </section> </blockquote> Not included in the total were health insurance (which they estimated to be roughly $4,000), phone bills (~$1,000), credit card fees (~$690), and the credit card points and miles they used (amounting to about $9,726). To keep costs low, the couple used <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter/video/7210047591646596395?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7212744042618144299" target="_blank" rel="noopener">five years of accrued credit card points</a> to help pay for housing, including an 18-day stay in Norway. They also booked some paid content jobs, and offered to pet-sit and do household work in exchange for free stays at strangers' homes. In total, Zhu said they were able to <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter/video/7210047591646596395?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7212744042618144299" target="_blank" rel="noopener">finagle 107 nights of "free" housing </a>— including some nights where they slept in airports and on other transportation like buses and trains en route to another destination.<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter/video/7210047591646596395" data-video-id="7210047591646596395" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@claireandpeter" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter?refer=embed">@claireandpeter</a> we found the work exchange on worldpackers, housesitting on aussiehousesitters, and the hotels dot come thing is one free night after booking 10 nights (their fees arw so high tho so its not even that good of a deal). Ive Iinked the CCs so you can read up on them but we use IHG and captial one venture x and chase sapphire preferred mostly <a target="_blank" title="♬ Sunshine - WIRA" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Sunshine-7087902657213384705?refer=embed">♬ Sunshine - WIRA</a> </section> </blockquote> The couple's budget was logged by Ovendorf, <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=5e5ae3c95a91fddf1f9a5e100937851f2b7d584268506e45e45354462fc58759&amp;postID=641c67dfaa8499160f5f36ce&amp;site=in&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fpeter-ovendorf-96047370" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow sponsored">who apparently has an accounting degree</a>, in a meticulous Excel spreadsheet that tracked "every single penny" spent on 1,714 total items, their video stated. For instance, three mangoes in Thailand set them back $1.09 USD. A late-night snack from a gas station in Norway cost them $30.12.Zhu said they're not in any debt and they let their credit card spending and subsequent points naturally build over time."To accumulate points and miles through credit cards leading up to the trip, we did not alter our spending habits in any way, and at no point do we hold credit card debt," Claire wrote in a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpvCbXvACIG/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">March 13 Instagram</a>."We got some sweet COVID deals, but also got stuck with some inflated prices throughout this year," she added.<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter/video/7211186098922442026" data-video-id="7211186098922442026" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@claireandpeter" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter?refer=embed">@claireandpeter</a> Peter has an important message for you all at the end <a title="greenscreenvideo" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/greenscreenvideo?refer=embed">#greenscreenvideo</a> <a title="greenscreen" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/greenscreen?refer=embed">#greenscreen</a> <a target="_blank" title="♬ Sunshine - WIRA" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Sunshine-7087902657213384705?refer=embed">♬ Sunshine - WIRA</a> </section> </blockquote> All in, the couple said they visited 19 countries in one year: Egypt, Jordan, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Norway, Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, St. Martin, Germany, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Turkey, Georgia, New Zealand, Australia, Philippines, and India. (This excludes a trip back to the US where they said they attended a wedding.)Outside of planning and spending, the couple has also shown followers beautiful images of the places they've visited, like <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter/video/7177372272754281770?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7212744042618144299" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Great Barrier Reef</a> and the Holi in India. However, it's not been entirely enviable. In a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter/video/7207120887831612718?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7212744042618144299" target="_blank" rel="noopener">March 5 TikTok</a>, Zhu counted 44 bed bug bites on her body. On <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter/video/7213382900480232750?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7212744042618144299" target="_blank" rel="noopener">March 22</a>, she received a bad haircut. Getting sick and upset stomachs have been a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter/video/7202305647717829934?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7212744042618144299" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recurring joke</a> on their social media. Sometimes the effort to stay within a budget meant a diet of <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter/video/7210419763292572974?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7212744042618144299" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mostly yogurt and $1 muffins</a> in comparatively more expensive countries such as Norway, she noted.<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter/video/7210419763292572974" data-video-id="7210419763292572974" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@claireandpeter" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter?refer=embed">@claireandpeter</a> have you ever tried these seasonal fruits tho??? <a title="budgettravel" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/budgettravel?refer=embed">#budgettravel</a> <a target="_blank" title="♬ She Share Story (for Vlog) - 山口夕依" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/She-Share-Story-for-Vlog-6722656094272883458?refer=embed">♬ She Share Story (for Vlog) - 山口夕依</a> </section> </blockquote> Zhu said they only ate out when visiting lower-cost countries to stretch their money. For the most part, the couple purchased their meals from grocery stores. The pair, who initially intended to leave their home of Charlotte, North Carolina, for a "corporate gap year" has decided to <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter/video/7206381756046691630?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7212744042618144299" target="_blank" rel="noopener">extend their travels for at least another year</a>, they announced in a TikTok this month. <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter/video/7206381756046691630" data-video-id="7206381756046691630" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@claireandpeter" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter?refer=embed">@claireandpeter</a> we love u guys so much. thank u for being here. <a target="_blank" title="♬ Roses (feat. ROZES) (Sped Up Version) - The Chainsmokers" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Roses-feat-ROZES-Sped-Up-Version-7101115446333540354?refer=embed">♬ Roses (feat. ROZES) (Sped Up Version) - The Chainsmokers</a> </section> </blockquote> In 2023, the couple said they wouldn't be tracking and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claireandpeter/video/7209727298809974058?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7212744042618144299" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sharing their expenses</a> as scrupulously — though they'll still try to stick to a budget."Besides any sponsored or work opportunities, the plan is to still try to maintain a $123 a day average from now until the end of the year," Zhu <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpvCbXvACIG/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told followers</a>."We are trying to sustain ourselves with social media but I have no idea how that's going to work out," she added. "We are so new to this. Honestly, we are just cheap travelers and cheap people at heart."Insider has reached out to Zhu and Ovendorf.

A travel vlogger couple shared how they spent only $66 a day while traveling to 19 countries in a year, tracking every single purchase

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/53e8c113eab8ea4729cb91bc-1200-924/q-9.jpg" border="0" alt="Q">QDan Teran and Saman Rahmanian co-founded Q, a mobile dashboard that helps office managers book cleaning and other maintenance services easily.</img></div></div></div>When your day at the office is ending, it's just beginning for another set of workers: the cleaning staff.
Cleaning staffs are often hired by buildings or companies through legacy agreements. There isn't some sort of app to help speed up the scheduling, management, or payment process between the cleaners and the offices who book them.
Often, companies have to hire employees dedicated to office management to oversee the process; they also handle day-to-day issues such as changing lights, fixing Internet problems, and stocking fridges.
<a href="https://managedbyq.com/">Q</a> (named after the Star Trek character and James Bond's Q Branch) is a software and management startup that wants to make it easier for companies to work with cleaning services and other service providers on a routine basis. Its mobile platform allows office managers to book cleanings, leave notes for the cleaning staff, assign tasks to be completed, and pay for the service all in one place. Q buys hours in bulk from cleaning services in the NYC area, then turns around and sells them to offices at a slightly higher price, for $25 an hour. 
When a cleaning is booked through Q, the workers clock in on a Q-provided iPad in the office. They can check off what they've done (vacuumed floors, cleaned desks, etc) so the office manager can see. Offices are required to book at least 4 hours worth of cleanings per week on the platform. Q also has a network of local service providers (electricians, exterminators, etc) that can be booked and payed for through its mobile app. 
Founded by Daniel Teran and Saman Rahmanian, Q launched this past April with 15 customers. The technology is used by companies like Uber, Elite Daily, and Flatiron Health, and Q estimates it will be used by over 100 offices by the end of this summer.
"Right now, no [office manager] really knows what they're paying for," Teran says of hiring a cleaning service. "There's a paper list of things people say they're going to do...We're creating an operating system for offices, providing the products, services and technology to make it easy to run an office."
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/53e8c611ecad045c1535c064-1200-924/q-10.jpg" border="0" alt="q">QQ provides a tablet to all its offices so cleaning services can clock in and clock out and keep track of their tasks without piles of paperwork.</img></div></div></div>Already, Q's looking at an annual run rate of more than $1 million. It recently raised a $775,000 seed round from notable angel investors including Behance co-founder Scott Belsky, College Humor founders Ricky Van Veen and Josh Abramson, Barkbox co-founder Henrik Werdelin, Max Burger and Jay Livingston. Path founder Dave Morin and early Facebooker Kevin Colleran also invested through their fund, Slow Ventures, as well as Panarea Captial's Len Blavatink and Alex Zubillaga.
Teran was the first employee at another New York City-based startup, Artsicle. He and Rahmanian first met at Prehype, a design and incubation shop that builds innovative new ideas for businesses. The pair got the idea for Q when they noticed how terrible communication was between service providers and their apartment buildings. 
"I moved into a condo and we had really terrible service in the building," says Teran. "I started thinking about what building things in maintenance looks like. So we came up with the idea for an iOS dashboard."
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/53e8c9b969beddda48a02e99-1200-800/g-13.jpg" border="0" alt="q">QQ cleaning supplies</img></div></div></div>"We start talking about what the problems were and communication problems with maintenance workers," Rahmanian agrees. "We started off with an iPad in the hallway of the condo, that was our initial product. Then we had interest from office managers. So we set up a bunch of meetings switched from a residential product to office buildings." 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/myclean-2013-7">MyClean</a> is a similar mobile platform for booking residential cleanings in New York, but there didn't seem to be similar widely-used product for local businesses. So Teran and Rahmanian met with 30 local cleaning services to gauge interest and onboarded some of them to Q. 
Q currently has 14 employees including a former Apple employee who leads its tech operations. The team is split between New York and Buenos Aires. 
Eventually, Q wants to expand beyond cleanings to run more like one of its customers - Uber - with on-demand services for anything offices need.
Scott Belsky, an early investor in Uber, sees that promise in Q. "I love businesses that replace the pipes and upgrade the user experience for some aspect of everyday living - I call these 'interface layer' businesses," Belsky told Business Insider via email. "Uber did this for transportation. Shyp [another investment] is doing it for shipping. And Q is doing it for office/space management."
Belsky says that Q might look like just a cleaning service platform right now, but it has the potential to become a lot more than that. 
"I was impressed by the potential for customers to rely on Q for other services such as ordering more office/cleaning supplies, handymen, etc.," he says. "The interface of Q has the potential to revolutionize many industries that operate underneath."

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