Episode 12: "From A Pediatrician to An Entrepreneur" | Dr. Ismail Sayeed, ViOS
May 13, 2020
Dr. Ismail Sayeed is a pediatrician, physician, a two-time amazon author, and the founder of ViOS. ViOS
is a unique healthcare startup that aims to improve the skills and sustainability of private practitioners,
who wish to communicate their values to their communities.
In this episode of the HealthTech Hustle, Dr. Ismail shares about his journey from a pediatrician to an
entrepreneur. He describes why he decided to create a product that caters to both doctors and patients
and what he hopes to accomplish with it.
“In entrepreneurship, there are usually two schools of thought either you solve a pain or you provide a
gain.” -Dr. Sayeed [9:28]
Who is Dr. Sayeed and how did he get into health tech? [1:20]
He used to be a practicing doctor just like both his parents and liked the health system. He got an
internship in various countries and when it got to his residency he decided to specialize as a pediatrician
just like his father. He went to America but he couldn’t see any progress as he wanted to give value to
the community which he couldn’t see there.
He later got a scholarship for two master’s degrees in the UK after his failed ‘American dream’. Things
didn’t look up for him when he returned to Bangladesh even with all his education, he experienced the
same inefficiency in the healthcare system like everywhere he had gone. But he wanted to make a
sustainable income while still making an impact and that is when he came across the physician
entrepreneurship. He failed in his first six businesses but did not give up because he wanted to be an
entrepreneur.
Why should the healthcare industry have entrepreneurship? [7:05]
The health system must include technological innovation and integration that is lacking and the
coronavirus showed us that. He realized that the right person to change the system should be from
within like a doctor and that is what he wanted to do. The middle class was rising quickly in Bangladesh
and he saw this as an opportunity t combine health disruptive concepts using technology as a tool to
bridge the gap between patients and doctors.
What value does ViOS bring to the market? [9:28]
Doctors don’t know how to promote themselves and that is the pain of the medical field. But there are
people in need of a doctor’s skill and that is the patient. That is what ViOS do, connecting doctors with
their patients.
How was the journey of making the ViOS platform? [11:01]
He saw the problem and came up with a solution that could empathize with both the patients and the
stakeholders. It took him years of studying and being a doctor until he had an aha moment, and that’s
when he acted and created a platform.
How did he go about bringing ViOS to the market and creating awareness around it? [13:26]
He figured the most important thing was not the product but the whole process of team building to go
on the journey with him. He also got himself a mentor who advised him to get rid of his selfish mindset
and focus more on providing value.
How does he go about finding his team? [14:52]
He explains how he approached his tech co-founder and the rest of his team and how he met them. He
has led as a leader and created a family that is more than a business.
Did he and his co-founder have any business experience? [18:20]
His CTO is a serial entrepreneur who complimented the business well.
What sort of tools is he leveraging to put his business out there? [19:30]
He spent 7-8 months only on a branding strategy where he created a strong demand even before there
was a product. He wanted to provide value before starting a strategy and answer questions from day
one.
Who was his target audience? [21:28]
He created content that was easily digestible by people. He used online platforms to get out there by
creating content and getting to know his audience even before starting to sell to them.
What were his major obstacles in his journey and how did he overcome? [24:54]
He was business illiterate since he was never taught the value of money. He was also not very versant
with strategy building and he had to be patient with himself as he learned.
How does he know when to learn something and when to start implementing it? [26:54]
He uses the 80/20 rule which is basically using the 20% of your waking life trying to validate your idea,
and the remaining 80% executing. The best judge of your idea is the market, how much are they’re
willing to pay. Learning to stop overthinking.
What advice would he give anyone trying to do what he’s done? [28:51]
Invest in creating a proper growth mindset, get a mentor who can bring you up, be an industry expert,
and learn digital marketing. Form a mental perspective, learn why there’s the pain and think of the
solution.
Dr Sayeed answers the rapid-fire round of questions. [36:06]
Subscribe to the podcast:
Apple Podcasts
https://apple.co/2x0G3Um
Spotify
https://spoti.fi/3dVzK4X
gain.” -Dr. Sayeed [9:28]
Who is Dr. Sayeed and how did he get into health tech? [1:20]
He used to be a practicing doctor just like both his parents and liked the health system. He got an
internship in various countries and when it got to his residency he decided to specialize as a pediatrician
just like his father. He went to America but he couldn’t see any progress as he wanted to give value to
the community which he couldn’t see there.
He later got a scholarship for two master’s degrees in the UK after his failed ‘American dream’. Things
didn’t look up for him when he returned to Bangladesh even with all his education, he experienced the
same inefficiency in the healthcare system like everywhere he had gone. But he wanted to make a
sustainable income while still making an impact and that is when he came across the physician
entrepreneurship. He failed in his first six businesses but did not give up because he wanted to be an
entrepreneur.
Why should the healthcare industry have entrepreneurship? [7:05]
The health system must include technological innovation and integration that is lacking and the
coronavirus showed us that. He realized that the right person to change the system should be from
within like a doctor and that is what he wanted to do. The middle class was rising quickly in Bangladesh
and he saw this as an opportunity t combine health disruptive concepts using technology as a tool to
bridge the gap between patients and doctors.
What value does ViOS bring to the market? [9:28]
Doctors don’t know how to promote themselves and that is the pain of the medical field. But there are
people in need of a doctor’s skill and that is the patient. That is what ViOS do, connecting doctors with
their patients.
How was the journey of making the ViOS platform? [11:01]
He saw the problem and came up with a solution that could empathize with both the patients and the
stakeholders. It took him years of studying and being a doctor until he had an aha moment, and that’s
when he acted and created a platform.
How did he go about bringing ViOS to the market and creating awareness around it? [13:26]
He figured the most important thing was not the product but the whole process of team building to go
on the journey with him. He also got himself a mentor who advised him to get rid of his selfish mindset
and focus more on providing value.
How does he go about finding his team? [14:52]
He explains how he approached his tech co-founder and the rest of his team and how he met them. He
has led as a leader and created a family that is more than a business.
Did he and his co-founder have any business experience? [18:20]
His CTO is a serial entrepreneur who complimented the business well.
What sort of tools is he leveraging to put his business out there? [19:30]
He spent 7-8 months only on a branding strategy where he created a strong demand even before there
was a product. He wanted to provide value before starting a strategy and answer questions from day
one.
Who was his target audience? [21:28]
He created content that was easily digestible by people. He used online platforms to get out there by
creating content and getting to know his audience even before starting to sell to them.
What were his major obstacles in his journey and how did he overcome? [24:54]
He was business illiterate since he was never taught the value of money. He was also not very versant
with strategy building and he had to be patient with himself as he learned.
How does he know when to learn something and when to start implementing it? [26:54]
He uses the 80/20 rule which is basically using the 20% of your waking life trying to validate your idea,
and the remaining 80% executing. The best judge of your idea is the market, how much are they’re
willing to pay. Learning to stop overthinking.
What advice would he give anyone trying to do what he’s done? [28:51]
Invest in creating a proper growth mindset, get a mentor who can bring you up, be an industry expert,
and learn digital marketing. Form a mental perspective, learn why there’s the pain and think of the
solution.
Dr Sayeed answers the rapid-fire round of questions. [36:06]
Subscribe to the podcast:
Apple Podcasts
https://apple.co/2x0G3Um
Spotify
https://spoti.fi/3dVzK4X
Connect with me:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RodneyHuJR
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_jrboii_
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RodneyHuJr
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodney-hu-ab7a0a16a/
You can learn more about Dr Ismail Sayeed:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RodneyHuJR
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_jrboii_
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RodneyHuJr
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodney-hu-ab7a0a16a/
You can learn more about Dr Ismail Sayeed:
Website: https://www.viosapp.com/
Free eBook: https://www.viosapp.com/ebook
Free startup playbook: https://www.viosapp.com/freebook
Twitter: @DrIsmail_VIOS
Free eBook: https://www.viosapp.com/ebook
Free startup playbook: https://www.viosapp.com/freebook
Twitter: @DrIsmail_VIOS