By: Helena Somborac

During my junior year of university, I was determined to explore every opportunity in the healthcare space. What started as an interest in foreign affairs gradually shifted toward healthcare business. I’m grateful I remained open to change, as it led to one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic and professional journey so far.

When I accepted an internship in corporate venture capital (CVC)—a field I knew little about—I had no idea how much I would learn. Early on, I began to understand the key differences between traditional venture capital (VC) and corporate venture capital, the latter being the model Healthworx operates under. CVCs operate in partnership with larger, established companies—in this case, CareFirst Inc. (CareFirst). These firms don’t always just seek financial returns; they may also aligned with the strategic priorities of their parent companies. At Healthworx, every investment is made with CareFirst’s broader mission in mind. It’s not just about writing checks, it’s about building partnerships and providing meaningful support.

This summer internship was much more than reviewing memos or sitting in on meetings (though I did plenty of that, too). I had the opportunity to work on high-impact projects that directly supported our portfolio companies.

One of the biggest challenges healthcare startups face is navigating the often-complicated world of health insurance partnerships. I collaborated with both the CareFirst and Healthworx teams to help demystify this process and make it more accessible to startups looking to partner with CareFirst. My goal was to break down the complex healthcare contracting process into something much more digestible.

To do that, I created a straightforward guide that outlined the basics of contracting with CareFirst. This included explanations of different types of vendors and providers, credentialing requirements, and distinctions between common contracting models like fee-for-service and value-based care. By simplifying this information, I aimed to empower our portfolio companies and wider network with the confidence and clarity needed to engage in meaningful conversations with potential partners.

This project taught me what it really means to be a strategic investor. Healthworx brings more to the table than capital – we offer operational support, relationship-building, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges that healthcare startups face. By providing practical tools and sharing our expertise, we help founders move beyond the learning curve and scale faster. The work I contributed this summer is a small example of how we provide value beyond the check.

Through this experience, I also came to understand that in venture capital, the value of support can be just as important as the size of the investment. The most successful partnerships are built on trust, transparency, and shared goals. I saw firsthand how Healthworx’s strategic guidance helps startups avoid common pitfalls and build stronger foundations for growth.

At the same time, I learned that great ideas aren’t enough to make a startup a great investment. Timing, adaptability, team dynamics, and deep understanding of healthcare execution all factor into whether a company is ready to take the next step. Just as investors must bring more than capital, startups must bring more than innovation – they need execution, resilience, and a clear sense of direction.

One of the most exciting parts of the internship was getting to sit in on calls with passionate CEOs and startup teams. Listening to their pitches gave me a front-row seat to the energy, vision, and strategy behind early-stage companies. These conversations go far beyond business plans and financials, they reveal how founders communicate, lead, and how well their teams might collaborate with ours.

This summer showed me that venture capital isn’t just about funding companies – it’s about building partnerships that take real work. My time with the Healthworx team gave me insight into what it means to be a thoughtful, strategic investor. It’s about rolling up your sleeves, getting into the weeds with startups, and doing everything you can to help them succeed.