Eric García Ordoñez is the CEO and founder of GooApps®, a tech agency specialized in developing digital solutions for health, sports, and wellness. Since 2014, he has led a multidisciplinary team that has launched over 1000 innovative products. Eric also drives GooApps Ventures, a venture builder focused on creating and scaling startups with strong clinical and regulatory validation.
Company: GooApps®
Could you share the journey that led you to where you are today, and what originally sparked your passion for this field?
Eric García: My journey started over 20 years ago in software development, evolving from being a freelancer into founding GooApps® in 2016. My passion has always been leveraging technology to improve people’s lives, particularly in health, sports, and wellness. Seeing firsthand how digital solutions could significantly enhance patient care and lifestyle motivated me to specialize in these sectors and continue innovating.
Was there a specific turning point or ‘aha’ moment that shaped your approach or fueled the creation of your product/strategy?
Eric García: Absolutely. The ‘aha’ moment came when we recognized the immense challenges health-tech startups faced regarding funding and development. This led us to launch the GooApps Venture Builder and adopt a Code for Equity model, where we support promising startups by providing technological development in exchange for equity. It reshaped our entire approach, positioning us as strategic partners rather than just service providers.
What were some of the biggest hurdles you faced in establishing your authority, and how did you navigate those challenges?
Eric García: Initially, establishing credibility within highly regulated sectors like healthcare was challenging. Navigating regulatory compliance (such as GDPR, MDR, IVDR, ISO 14971, and IEC 62304) required significant investment in specialized talent and knowledge. We overcame these hurdles by building a multidisciplinary team, closely aligning ourselves with clinical and regulatory experts, and fostering strategic collaborations with hospitals and research institutions.
What is the core problem your solution addresses, and why do you believe your approach is uniquely effective?
Eric García: Our solutions address the gap between innovative health-tech ideas and their market implementation. Our unique effectiveness lies in combining deep technological expertise (AI, Machine Learning, VR) with a solid understanding of clinical validation and regulatory requirements. Our Venture Builder and Code for Equity approach significantly lower entry barriers for startups, allowing faster, compliant market entry and scalable growth.
Could you share a compelling example or case study that illustrates how your product/strategy delivers results?
Eric García: A powerful example is the AI & mHealth Challenge 2024, an event we organized that connected healthcare professionals with technology solutions. One of the winning startups received our support through the Venture Builder model, rapidly moving from concept to clinical validation within months, resulting in their solution being integrated into hospital workflows. This case demonstrated clear clinical impact and reinforced our model’s effectiveness.
What sets you apart from others in your industry, and how do you maintain a competitive edge?
Eric García: What differentiates GooApps® is our specialized sector focus (mHealth, SportsTech, WellnessTech) combined with our unique funding and support models (Code for Equity and Venture Building). Additionally, our commitment to regulatory compliance and clinical validation positions us uniquely as trustworthy partners in highly regulated environments, maintaining our competitive edge through constant innovation and deep market insight.
Where do you see your industry heading in the next few years, and what emerging trends should our audience pay attention to?
Eric García: The healthtech and wellness industry is rapidly moving toward hyper-personalization driven by AI, predictive analytics, and virtual reality experiences. Additionally, regulatory compliance will only become more stringent. Audiences should pay close attention to personalized medicine, telemedicine’s continued growth, and digital therapeutics, especially solutions validated by clinical studies and regulatory authorities.
Are there any must-have tools, resources, or habits that have significantly contributed to your success?
Eric García: Adopting agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban), a rigorous commitment to continuous learning, and using collaborative tools like Slack and Jira have greatly contributed to our efficiency. Additionally, regular interactions with the innovation ecosystem (universities, hospitals, and tech communities) have been invaluable in staying at the forefront of trends and technologies.
In your experience, which metrics or indicators best reflect meaningful progress and success in your line of work? *
Eric García: Key metrics we track include successful market entries of our supported startups, regulatory approvals achieved, user engagement and retention rates of our apps, and the tangible clinical outcomes generated by our products. Growth in the valuation of startups we’ve supported through our Venture Builder also serves as a critical success indicator.
What upcoming projects, initiatives, or developments are you most excited about, and how do they tie into your long-term vision?
Eric García: I’m particularly excited about scaling the GooApps Venture Builder and expanding our Code for Equity model internationally. Upcoming projects include leveraging advanced AI-driven analytics to further personalize healthcare solutions and enhancing our collaboration with academic and clinical institutions. These initiatives directly align with our long-term vision of transforming health, sports, and wellness through cutting-edge digital solutions.
If you could leave our audience with one final piece of advice, what would it be? And where can they learn more about you or connect further?
Eric García: My advice is simple: Collaborate strategically, innovate continuously, and always align your solutions closely with real-world user needs. The future belongs to those who can bridge innovation and practicality. To learn more or connect, visit gooapps.net or reach out to me directly through LinkedIn.
