17 Feb Rethinking cancer care – the ruby care story
We had the opportunity to sit down with Łukasz and Silvia, the driving forces behind Ruby Care. Their journey is rooted in personal experience—Łukasz’s own battle and recovery that revealed gaps in our healthcare system, and Silvia’s commitment sparked by a genuine conversation about breast cancer care. Together, they’re building a future where patients receive holistic support, from medical advice to emotional and nutritional care, all through technology designed with real needs in mind.
Łukasz what inspired you to start Ruby Care? Were there any personal experiences or moments that really pushed you to focus on cancer care?
I never imagined myself building a startup in oncology, but the universe had other plans. Even after my own experience, I didn’t immediately see this as my path or the problem I needed to solve. That changed when I embarked on my true healing journey and saw firsthand how many aspects of our healthcare system are broken. Over the years, different pieces started coming together. I gained deep startup experience, having co-founded two startups before, built digital products in healthcare, got deeply involved in the longevity space, and experimented with countless ways to stay healthy. At some point, the vision became clear: a holistic cancer clinic of the future.
Silvia, what was it about the company that attracted you when you joined? How did you two come together to shape the vision for Ruby Care?
I met Lukasz by chance while discussing a breast cancer idea with him and Vision Health Pioneers Incubator. Our conversation naturally led to him introducing Ruby Care and eventually inviting me to join. What attracted me most was the immense value placed on ensuring Ruby Care genuinely helps and supports cancer patients. Moreover, what also struck me was the importance Lukasz placed on making sure he and I were aligned in terms of culture and company values, embedding them as fundamental pillars of the company.
Łukasz, how did your role change when Silvia joined the team, and Silvia, how did you contribute your own insights and skills to build on the company’s existing vision?
Silvia and I are very complimentary – we operate and navigate the world very differently but we share the same fundamental values. Oncology is a tough space, it’s not for everyone. What I found unique about Silvia was that she enjoys researching diseases, particularly cancer.
You both come from different backgrounds—how do you think your unique skills and experiences complement each other in building Ruby Care?
There are countless examples of how we complement each other. Silvia brings an incredible level of empathy and a natural skill for building relationships, while I tend to be more structured and focused on business outcomes. Both skill sets are crucial. Silvia is a fantastic operator who gets things moving quickly, while I focus on the broader strategy and planning. It’s not that one of us lacks the other’s strengths; our skills simply mesh together, creating a natural flow in how we get things done.
Lukasz why don’t you like the word pivot? What did you adjust in your product? What made you make these decisions?
“Pivot” is a big word in the startup world—it implies a major shift in direction. But in the early days, you don’t have a fully formed direction yet—you’re still figuring it out. So it’s natural to take a few turns, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a pivot.
What’s been the standout achievement or milestone for Ruby Care so far, and in what ways has the incubator helped accelerate the company’s progress?
We could call it a close collaboration with Sächsische Krebsgesellschaft (SKG), probably the most innovative cancer organization in Germany. Vision Health Pioneers is not just a network of mentors – it’s a gateway to healthcare experts who become your first supporters. Dr. Hardy Kietzmann arranged an in-person meeting with the SKG president. Jan Kunde connected us with a certified Onkolotse, a patient navigator who then opened doors to other specialists. Thomas Hagemeijer introduced us to an oncologist who later became one of our Medical Advisors. And the list goes on.
As you look toward the future, what are the next big steps for Ruby Care? How do you see the company growing in the next year, and what impact do you hope to have on cancer care?
We ultimately want to build a holistic cancer clinic of the future. We want to offer the experience where patients log in from anywhere and feel supported on every front – from medical consults through emotional resilience, specialized nutrition to real-time symptom tracking – all seamlessly orchestrated by the newest technologies. Over the next year, we’re focusing on expanding our specialist network and refining our AI engine to anticipate and address patient needs as early as possible. We want to make it easier for patient navigators, nutritionists, and mental health professionals to join Ruby Care so that no patient ever has to hunt for help again.
Ruby Care isn’t just another startup; it’s a response to the broken parts of our healthcare system. With a focus on building a network of specialists and refining an AI engine to better predict patient needs, Łukasz and Silvia are taking tangible steps toward a more integrated cancer care model. Their work is a testament to what happens when personal experiences and professional expertise come together for a cause that matters. Follow their journey here on Linkedin!