Photo of Steve Kraus, Partner

Steve Kraus

Partner
Cambridge

Biography

Steve Kraus is a partner at Bessemer in the Cambridge office and a world-renowned healthcare investor. He is the author of Bessemer’s 10 Laws of Healthcare, Benchmarks for Growing Health tech Businesses, and co-host of the podcast Heart of Healthcare. Steve currently sits on the boards of Bright Health Group, Headspace Health, Groups, Qventus, AspenRx, HouseRx, Oshi Health, Folx Health, Mural Health, and Alcresta.

Prior to joining Bessemer, Steve worked for a growth-stage, private equity firm and as a management consultant at Bain & Company. He has also worked on several different political campaigns throughout his career.

He serves as an Observer at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, an advisor to Boston Children’s Hospital and the Harvard Business School’s Center for Entrepreneurship, and on the investment committees of BCBS Massachusetts and Rock Health.

Steve graduated from summa cum laude from Yale University and earned his MBA from Harvard, where he was a Baker Scholar.

Portfolio Highlights

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Getting to know Steve

 

Group photo of five people at a party posed for the camera

Steve’s path to venture capital has been far from linear. Originally, he pursued journalism in college and wrote for several publications, and through those experiences, he honed his interview and due diligence skills. At Bain & Company, Steve was a consultant for a number of healthcare companies and fell in love with this industry where you could “do well by doing good”. He took this passion for making a difference into public service, taking on various roles — including speechwriter — on several political campaigns. During one such campaign, Stevemet long time Bessemer partner, Chris Gabrieli, who recruited him to work at the firm.

Man on a conference stage wearing a unicorn pool floatie

Steve feels most energized when discussing, learning, or writing about healthcare — whether it’s in conversation with a founder, researching a new idea or innovation, or behind the mic sharing thoughts on the industry (as he does as co-host for the Heart of Healthcare podcast). Investing in healthcare has given Steve the chance to help improve clinical outcomes and people’s health and wellbeing more broadly.

Man holding sign that says

Over the past two decades of investing in healthcare, Steve has become a steadfast partner that founders and CEOs can rely on through the highs and lows of building a company. To best support his companies, Steve brings optimism, rational candor, a calm, grounded presence, and a long-term perspective. While Steve takes his work seriously, he’s also able to find fun and gratitude every step of the way.

Posed group photo of seven people in sunglasses in an office

Steve first met Jeff De Flavio, the founder of Groups Recover Together, after Jeff had dropped out of medical school in order to help people with opioid addiction. Steve spent hours visiting one of the first Groups locations, talking with the counselors and their initial members. Fast forward 10 years, the Groups team has helped tens of thousands of members across 125 different locations nationwide receive outcomes-based care. Though the scale and clinical results of Groups are unmatched, what resonates most deeply with Steve are the members’ personal stories on how Groups has positively transformed their lives.

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Steve’s role model has always been his late mom, Eileen Kraus, who was the first woman to lead a major financial institution in the country. Her career, fueled by hard work and a unique blend of emotional and intellectual savvy, influenced Steve’s views and the way he overcomes challenges, champions diversity, and gives back to others.

Portfolio Companies

Indicates Enduring

Artemis Health

ACQUIRED BY: NOMI HEALTH
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Artemis Health

Artemis Health's next-generation data optimization platform enables benefits teams to quantify the impact of their programs, justify new and better programs for their members, and drive their benefits strategy.

Artemis Health was acquired by Nomi Health in January 2022.

ACQUIRED BY: NOMI HEALTH

Founded

2013

Partnered

2019

Roadmaps

Collective Medical

ACQUIRED BY: POINTCLICKCARE TECHNOLOGIES
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Collective Medical

Collective Medical empowers care teams to improve patient outcomes by closing the communication gaps that undermine patient care. Collective Medical was acquired by PointClickCare Technologies in December 2020.

ACQUIRED BY: POINTCLICKCARE TECHNOLOGIES

Founded

2005

Partnered

2017

Roadmaps

Liazon

ACQUIRED BY: TOWERS WATSON & CO.
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Liazon

Liazon is an online benefits store that operates private benefits exchange for businesses. In November 2013, Liazon was acquired by Towers Watson & Co.

ACQUIRED BY: TOWERS WATSON & CO.

Investors

Steve Kraus

Founded

2007

Partnered

2012

Roadmaps

Lumere

ACQUIRED BY: GLOBAL HEALTH EXCHANGE
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Lumere

Lumere (formerly Procured Health) is a software company which provides insights to health care variation and cost reduction. Lumere was acquired by Global Healthcare Exchange in 2020.

ACQUIRED BY: GLOBAL HEALTH EXCHANGE

Investors

Steve Kraus

Founded

2012

Partnered

2012

Roadmaps

Stromedix

ACQUIRED BY: BIOGEN IDEC.
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Stromedix

Stromedix is a biomedical company focused on drugs for fibrosis, organ failure and cancer. In 2012, Stromedix was acquired by Biogen Idec.

ACQUIRED BY: BIOGEN IDEC.

Verastem

NASDAQ: VSTM
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Verastem

Verastem is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel drugs that selectively target cancer stem cells. In January 2012, Verastem went public (NASDAQ: VSTM).

NASDAQ: VSTM

Investors

Steve Kraus

Founded

2010

Partnered

2010

Roadmaps

Verata Health

ACQUIRED BY: OLIVE
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Verata Health

Verata Health is the developer of an artificial intelligence platform intented to improve the prior authorization process for private practices, hospitals, and health systems. Verata Health was acquired by Olive in December 2020.

ACQUIRED BY: OLIVE

Investors

Steve Kraus

Founded

2017

Partnered

2019

Roadmaps

Welltok

ACQUIRED BY: VIRGIN PULSE
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Welltok

Welltok is a enterprise SaaS company that delivers the healthcare industry’s consumer activation platform.

Welltok was acquired by Virgin Pulse in November 2021.

ACQUIRED BY: VIRGIN PULSE

Investors

Steve Kraus

Founded

2009

Partnered

2014

Roadmaps

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