HLTH Forward Podcast
HLTH (Health) Forward is where we hold space for Healthcare leaders, physicians, and key health policymakers to discuss what takes us to move Healthcare Forward. We want to hear challenges, ideas, and out-of-the-box solutions for us to unite our ecosystems further and move the needle towards an innovative, affordable, and all-inclusive healthcare ecosystem.
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HLTH Forward Podcast
Full Spectrum: Color's Bold Vision Against Cancer, CEO, Othman Laraki
In this episode I am in conversation with Othman Laraki, co-founder and CEO of Color. Othman shared his fascinating journey from tech to healthcare, driven by personal cancer experiences in his family. He and his mother are carriers of the BRCA2 gene mutation, which predisposes them to certain cancers.
Color began as a cancer genetics company focused on making testing more affordable and accessible. Over time, they evolved into a full-spectrum cancer solution with a virtual cancer clinic model in partnership with the American Cancer Society. Their innovative approach brings healthcare to people where they are, rather than requiring patients to seek it out.
Key highlights from our conversation:
- Color has served over 7 million people across the US and expects to reach 2 million through their virtual cancer clinic by the end of 2025
- They're addressing the critical issue of early detection, as early-stage cancers now have survivorship rates in the high 90% range
- The company runs a 50-state medical group, combining testing with clinical services and logistics
- They've pioneered a novel AI approach combining OpenAI's frontier models with "large language expert" systems that transform clinical guidelines into programmatic frameworks
Othman shared that cancer rates are increasing among younger populations, making preventive screening and early detection more crucial than ever. He emphasized how friction in healthcare disproportionately impacts less affluent populations, and how Color works to reduce these barriers.
His three key takeaways for the future of healthcare:
- We need a "warp speed mindset" to tackle specific health challenges directly
- Employer-driven, vertical-focused solutions are showing real impact on outcomes and costs
- AI has the potential to transform healthcare more than any other industry by democratizing expertise
Our discussion revealed how technology can make healthcare more accessible while maintaining human connection - Color has operated over 14,000 physical sites in communities across America, bringing services directly to people's lives.
About
Othman Laraki, Chief Executive Officer
Othman Laraki a technology entrepreneur and investor and is CEO of Color Health. Othman was an early Product leader at Google, where he worked on performance infrastructure and client-side software, including the Google Chrome browser. After leaving Google, he co-founded MixerLabs, which was one of Twitter's first acquisitions. At Twitter, Othman was the Vice President of Product, helping create the company's first revenue products and grow the user base from 50 to 200 million users. After leaving Twitter, Othman co-founded Color Health, which he has been leading for the past ten years. Color is a platform for healthcare delivery, providing the technology, infrastructure, and logistics required to distribute large-scale health initiatives to diverse populations. Color works with employers, unions, and government agencies to provide equitable, accessible healthcare services. Color has served tens of millions of people across its programs and most recently has partnered with the American Cancer Society to provide a comprehensive cancer solution for large populations. Othman holds degrees in computer science and management from Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a long-time investor and advisor to leading companies such as Pinterest, AngelList, Slack, Instacart, Gitlab, and others.
