Caroline Mitterdorfer, LEVY Health: From Hotel Business to Med-Tech Founder

About this episode

Caroline Mitterdorfer has taken an unusual career path: she transitioned from the hotel industry to the med-tech sector and founded LEVY Health, a startup that combines modern medicine with algorithms to treat infertility. In the Unicorn Bakery Podcast, she discusses her career change, the unique challenges in the women's health sector, and her experiences as a founder.

The Path to Founding

Caroline didn't discover her interest in entrepreneurship overnight. Her journey shows that it's never too late to change industries and start something completely new. The leap from the hotel industry to medical technology was anything but straightforward.

The right timing for founding a company is a question that occupies many entrepreneurs. Caroline shares her thoughts on when she knew it was time to take the plunge and launch LEVY Health.

Career Change into Medicine

Particularly interesting is Caroline's career transition into medicine. Founding a med-tech startup without a medical background requires courage and the willingness to dive deep into completely new subject areas. She explains how she mastered this transition and what steps were necessary to acquire the required expertise.

LEVY Health's Business Model

LEVY Health combines modern medicine with algorithms to help couples who want children. The startup treats infertility with innovative approaches, leveraging the possibilities of digitalization in healthcare.

An interesting detail from the past: Caroline discusses the "fertility loan" and explains whether it still exists. LEVY Health's target audience spans both B2B and B2C markets, with Caroline explaining the exact focus of their product.

Current Status and Team

Caroline provides insights into LEVY Health's current development stage and team size. For many founders, it's interesting to learn how a startup develops during its growth phase and what milestones have been achieved.

Networking and Fundraising as a Female Founder

An important part of the conversation revolves around the role of networking for Caroline. Especially as a founder in a male-dominated environment, contacts and relationships are often crucial for success.

During fundraising, Caroline faced special challenges as a female founder. She speaks openly about the bias of male investors and how she dealt with it. These experiences are particularly valuable for other female founders who encounter similar situations.

Dealing with Criticism and Pride in Achievements

Unfair criticism is part of the founder's daily life. Caroline explains how she and her team handle such situations and what they've learned from them. Despite all challenges, there are also moments of pride – Caroline shares what she's particularly proud of in her founding journey.

Advice for Other Founders

As an experienced founder, Caroline has valuable advice for other entrepreneurs. Her tips are based on real experiences and can help others avoid typical pitfalls.

Finally, she discusses choosing a coach – a topic that's relevant for many founders but often underestimated. The right guidance can be crucial for a startup's success.

Caroline's story impressively demonstrates that successful foundings don't always have to follow the conventional path. Career changers can succeed in completely new industries with the right approach and persistence.