Cracking the code on patient engagement
And a major new investment in Plethy.
Morning Subscribers!
Today I’m re-posting a discussion I had recently with Raja Sundaram, CEO of Plethy. Plethy has cracked the code on helping injured workers comply with home exercise, in the process super-charging patient engagement in the recovery process.
[the un-finished draft went live last week because I screwed up]
Raja is one of the finest people I’ve had the honor of working with, and one of the most humble. He’s already had an amazingly successful career in technology with a focus on customer adoption.
1. Let’s start with a little backstory—what inspired you to start Plethy, and how has the journey evolved so far?
Well, like a lot of great ideas, Plethy started because we saw a huge gap in care. Patients recovering from musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries—whether from surgery or just daily life—were being sent home with vague instructions like, “Do your exercises and check in later.” That’s just not how recovery works!
So we built the Recupe platform to give patients real guidance and ”live” support from our trained coaches outside the clinic. It’s been quite a journey—we started focused on making it easy for patients and providers, and now we’re at a point where major health systems, self-insured employers, and even the spine surgery world are starting to bring us into the fold. It’s been exciting, exhausting, and totally worth it.
2. For those who might not be familiar, how would you describe what Plethy does in just a few sentences?
At its core, Plethy is focused on supporting musculoskeletal (MSK) recovery by helping patients stay engaged in their care plans outside the clinic. Our platform, Recupe, provides guided support designed to keep recovery on track in a way that’s simple and easy to follow. Think of it like having a physical therapist in your pocket—except with fewer reminders about your posture. Okay, maybe just a few.
For providers and payers, Recupe offers tools to monitor patient participation and recovery progress, helping to support their whole journey. The goal is to make recovery more structured and accessible for everyone involved.
3. You recently received a major investment from Viscogliosi Brothers/Watermark Holdings—what made them the right partner for Plethy, and what excited them about investing in you?
It’s always great when you find a partner who gets what you’re doing. Viscogliosi Brothers (VB) has a deep history—they don’t just invest in healthcare; I would say they invest in the future of movement.
They saw what we saw: patient engagement is the missing piece in MSK recovery. Surgeons do their job brilliantly in the OR, but if the patient doesn’t follow through on recovery, outcomes can suffer. At Plethy, our Recupe team is focused on helping patients stay engaged, and VB recognized how powerful that is.
4. Viscogliosi Brothers/Watermark Holdings is known for being really strategic with their investments—can you talk about their focus and how Plethy aligns with it?
VB doesn’t just throw money around—they back innovations that fundamentally change patients’ lives. They’ve invested in spine implants, orthobiologics, surgical devices… and now they’re investing in what happens after the procedure—helping ensure that recovery is as effective as the surgery itself.
That’s where Plethy fits in. Our Recupe platform helps complete the recovery cycle, making sure patients have the ability to heal the way surgeons intended. It’s like having the best car in the world but never checking the tires—without follow-through, performance suffers. We’re the “tire check” for MSK recovery.
5. They’ve backed some well-known MSK companies—who else is in their portfolio, and how does Plethy complement that mix?
VB has been behind some groundbreaking MSK innovations—spine implants, joint preservation technologies, and surgical tools that have changed the industry. Their portfolio is full of companies pushing the envelope in orthopedic care.
What’s been missing? Patient engagement. Even with the most advanced surgical tools and treatments, post-op adherence plays a significant role in patient outcomes. That’s where Recupe fits in, our platform focuses on supporting patients throughout their recovery journey, providing tools designed to help keep them engaged and on track after surgery.
Spine Solutions: Focused on developing innovative spinal implant technologies.
Spine Next: Specialized in spinal devices and solutions.
Paradigm Spine: Known for its work in spinal implant technologies.
Centinel Spine: Focused on spinal devices and solutions.
Companion Spine: Specialized in spinal devices and solutions.
Spine BioPharma: Focused on developing non-surgical treatments for spinal conditions.
Woven Orthopedics Technologies: Developed orthopedic solutions.
Reminder - tomorrow is April Fools….