This summer, we were incredibly lucky to have two Impact Fellows join our CareQuest Innovation Partners team, jumping in headfirst to help drive projects integral to our strategy and success. As they prepare to move to their next adventures, we asked Bethel and Mike to reflect on what they learned, what surprised them, and what they’ll take away from their experience.
What attracted you to CareQuest Innovation Partners? Why did you originally apply for this role?
Bethel: I applied to this role because of my background in digital health in East Africa and because I was looking to work in health care innovation. As a founder, I wanted to work with global innovators in health care, and I knew that CareQuest was going to be the right place for me.
Mike: I was drawn to CareQuest’s unique positioning in the market. They’re filling a noble gap by genuinely focusing on impact over pure returns. As someone passionate about product strategy, I saw an opportunity to help shape how innovative startups are positioned and brought to market. The chance to work at the intersection of innovation, venture strategy, and thought leadership was exactly the kind of challenge I was hoping for.
What did most of your work focus on?
Bethel: I spent most of my time focusing on our SMILE Health alumni engagement strategy and community support. I also assisted in medical-dental integration thought leadership.
Mike: My work centered on market intelligence and thought leadership positioning. I helped conduct research with VCs and enterprise leaders to understand oral health market gaps and their perspectives, analyzing 600+ funding deals and translating those insights into compelling content that continues to position us as a leading voice in oral health innovation.
What surprised you most about working with the CareQuest team, or the oral health industry in general?
Bethel: I was surprised by how well-rounded the CareQuest team is. It was such a collaborative environment where my mentors and supervisors cared about my professional growth. On the oral health industry front, I was surprised by the complexity of the system, including reimbursement for services. I was happy to see the potential impact for oral health care, and as an African founder, it opened my eyes to the possibilities and opportunities of innovating in this space.
Mike: I was surprised by how hungry the market was for fresh perspectives on oral health innovation. When we published our initial market map and article with Second Opinion, VCs and startups reached out to collaborate. It revealed that everyone was building in this space, but no one was telling the story or connecting the dots. That taught me how powerful positioning and market narrative can be.
What are the top one or two takeaways from your experience?
Bethel: I learned that feedback is a gift. The feedback I received from the team has been incredible for my growth both professionally and personally. Also, I learned how important team building is. You can tell the team is happy to work together and tackle challenges as a strong front.
Mike: First, the power of having an incredible team around you. Working with folks like Matt, Katie, Jenn, Julia, and Nandita taught me how much faster you can move when everyone brings their unique expertise to the table. The collaborative approach — from strategy alignment to stakeholder feedback — showed me how the best work happens when you have smart people who genuinely want to see the project (and you) succeed. Second, the importance of timing and market readiness. Sometimes the biggest opportunity isn’t in building something new, but in being the first to articulate what everyone is already thinking.
Bethel Bayu is a physician and entrepreneur from Ethiopia with seven years of experience in digital health, startup leadership, and global health consulting. She has led projects ranging from femtech innovation to Google-funded AI research in African health care systems, and she is currently pursuing an MPH/MBA at Johns Hopkins, specializing in health technology and innovation. In her spare time, Bethel is an aspiring content creator and amateur vegan baker.
Mike King has 6+ years of experience in health care consulting and strategy, previously serving as chief of staff at a digital health startup and leading go-to-market strategy at a boutique strategy consulting firm. He’s pursuing his MBA at the University of Edinburgh, focusing on product strategy and commercialization. Outside of work, Mike enjoys travel and golf, and one of his favorite recent adventures was driving Scotland’s North Coast 500 with his wife and their two golden retrievers.
