Always keep in contact with your network of connections. You never know how they can help in one way or another.”
The medical industry has a special place in Thorsten Hagemann’s heart. Not only has he dedicated his career to advancements in preventative medicine and microbiome research, he suffered through a devastating loss that has given him a deeper, even more personal connection to the industry. At a young age, Thorsten Hagemann’s brother passed away, and his interest in the medical profession began.
Thorsten Hagemann has over 17 years of experience working within the healthcare industry and as a healthcare professional. After spending time at different mid-size pharma companies and several different clinical practices in Europe, Thorsten turned his interests towards preventive medicine and care.
This newly-ignited industry was the perfect fit for Thorsten’s interests of teaching others how to take care of themselves through prevention. This career choice, along with a passion for giving back to the community instilled in him through his parent’s own lives and careers, ultimately led Thorsten to start his own company, MedAdvise Ltd. Thorsten Hagemann’s main goal in founding this company is to give powerful information to the public that can dramatically change the way they view healthcare and how they take care of themselves.
MedAdvise Ltd. serves as a consultancy company that helps to educate patients on how to combat and prevent illnesses through what is termed as “functional” medicine. In pursuing this, Thorsten has learn a great deal about the functions of the immune system. Some of Thorsten’s most exciting research has revolved around the human microbiome, or the collection of bacteria that lives within the gut. Thorsten Hagemann, and many others within the medical community, has been captivated by the notion that in catering to the microbiome through the right diet, exercise regimen, and lifestyle, a person’s health can flourish and prevent harsh illnesses and disease.
After founding MedAdvise Ltd., Thorsten Hagemann began yet another exciting journey by co-founding AliveBiome, which highlights Thorsten’s work with microbiomes. AliveBiome works in partnership with several renowned microbiome-focused companies to help build the right mix of nutrients and supplements to feed the human gut. In doing this, the body becomes healthier, the mind becomes stronger, and your life becomes more balanced. Thorsten and his colleagues are excited to see where their microbiome research takes them.
In addition to his medical career, Thorsten Hagemann is also an avid cyclist, having participated in several international races that required intense training. Through his physical activity as a cyclist and in knowing the benefits of a healthy microbiome, Thorsten is certainly one who practices what he preaches. For more information on Thorsten’s preventative medicine career, please visit ThorstenHagemann.com.
Where did the idea for MedAdvise and AliveBiome come from?
One of my companies, MedAdvise, was born out of the demand for expertise at the cross section of clinical, translational experience integrated into drug development.
My other company, AliveBiome, which I helped to co-found, was developed from the idea of how important prevention and day-to-day nutrition is for a healthy life and for your well-being in later life. Nutrition is something we all have to look after and have to do. It’s a great opportunity to influence our health by little changes on a daily basis. This is so important, medicines will continue to control symptoms and provide solutions when something went wrong but we have the ability to prevent this to happen in the first place.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
There is lot of communication with clients, suppliers, and catching up with the background information to do. The key is to keep the support lines ongoing and communicate production processes with customers, consumers and manufacturers.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Hard work, and luck. I am very grateful for those people around me who support the ideas but also those who are bringing the financial support to the table. I am totally grateful to those who listen, jump onto ideas and support it.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
The ability of digital health to provide us with instant advice and support. But also that it provides the ability to support those who are detailed in nutrition, exercise and beyond. The developments within digital health have been the result of much labor, but has also opened many doors for further research and action as well – and that will always be exciting.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I always take time to “turn off” at least once every day. Everyone needs that extra time integrated within their lives. You are doing your entrepreneurial skills a disservice if you are burned out.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t worry – it will work out.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on?
Good things come to people who do good.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Always keep in contact with your network of connections. You never know how they can help in one way or another.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
I’ve used a lot of sources for local funding, and angels, as many entrepreneurs do. What I would tell people, however, is that you shouldn’t try to go “big” on the first thing or idea. Take everything one step at a time.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
I found myself getting too tempted to be spread too thin in the early hours. I overcame this by being strict with myself and following my own advice of turning off and recharging every now and then.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
To go to a ball to support Age UK, a charity working towards providing a better life and care for our older generation. Fantastic night with friends, great fun.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I use Hootsuite all the time just to keep in contact with all of the ongoing social media tasks I have in a day. It’s incredibly helpful for organization and productivity.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
Tim Jackson – “Prosperity without Growth: Economics for a Finite Planet”. This book struck a chord with me as it surrounds a hot button issue: We have to look after our planet – for our children.
What is your favorite quote?
Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it. – Mary Shelly.
Connect:
Thorsten Hagemann on Linkedin:
Thorsten Hagemann on Twitter: twitter.com/healthybiome
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.