We’re looking forward to introducing you to Lars Helgeson. Check out our conversation below.
Lars, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I recently started fostering Boston Terriers. I had to put my special guy, Little Buddy, to sleep back in December. After a few months of grieving and re-centering, I decided to foster a beautiful little lady named Vala, who became a foster fail. She brings so much love and joy to everyone she meets and has opened my heart back up after losing my companion. Now I’m fostering another special needs dog named Samuel who was homeless with partial blindness and deafness. They are so much fun to hike and kayak and adventure with.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi – I’m Lars Helgeson. I started working in web-based software as a service back in 2000 when I launched my first company, an email marketing platform called CoolerEmail. In 2011, we pivoted to an integrated CRM and marketing automation platform called GreenRope. In 2017, we launched Complete CRM, a white-labeled version of our platform. This year, we decided to use our technology to address a specific problem in healthcare. The new business, Easy Aftercare, provides automated, personalized messages and video to help patients through their aftercare and recovery journeys after medical procedures. Our data shows we are improving patient outcomes, saving practices time and money, reducing malpractice liability, and communicating with people how they want to be engaged with.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Giving a presentation at the MIT Enterprise Forum back in 2010, I introduced an audience of 200+ members to the idea of CRM and marketing automation in a single platform. After the presentation and Q&A, I was told by a couple of people who were in the audience that the problem was too hard and that I would never be successful. A senior executive from a would-be competitor even came up and told me that I was headed for certain disaster. I took that experience as motivation to prove them all wrong and focused on building what would become a global platform with thousands of customers and tens of thousands of users. Coming closer to the present day, I have heard several healthcare providers tell me literally that they did not care about the mental health of their patients. After learning that 20% of patients suffer from severe anxiety or depression after a procedure, it was shocking to hear doctors tell me they didn’t care about their patients. This really galvanized the importance of Easy Aftercare. Making the world healthier relies on mental health, and while our procedures are mostly focused on physical recovery, we address the mental health aspect of it and have shown significant improvement to that along with the physical part.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Don’t let people who want to see you fail influence your life choices. Too many times, I have heard people’s doubts about me and my vision detract from my ideas and focus. Being an entrepreneur requires sacrifice, and I’ve heard so many people (none of whom actually owned businesses) tell me that I worked too hard and sacrificed too much for what I’ve built. Once I let go of others’ expectations and judgments, it was freeing in both my personal and professional lives. I am driven by the greater purpose to help people be healthier, and the data backs up the devotion I have to building the business. People naturally resist change, and that is pervasive in healthcare. Even if the healthcare establishment resists making people healthier, we can do our part to improve the way the establishment provides the care that people deserve.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes. Life is too hard to put up facades. You can’t please everyone, but if you stay true to your vision, care for the people around you, and focus on creating value in what you build, no one will ever take that away from you.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Easy Aftercare represents a shift in post-procedure recovery that the world’s medical systems have yet to embrace. We are trying to change how providers care for their patients after they step out of the office. So many patients suffer from complications after they get home that could be caught with better education and compliance. Mental health, especially anxiety and depression, are common and providers don’t ever want to talk about how their patients’ healing is influenced by their state of mind. We want to change the way the entire world sees aftercare. Data shows it’s worth it – aftercare can improve outcomes by up to 30%, which means potentially millions of lives saved.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.easyaftercare.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/easy.aftercare
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/106212917
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/easyaftercare
