Founder, Interrupted: What it really takes to be a woman founder in health tech.

In this episode of Tech It to the Limit, Sarah Harper and Elliott Wilson chat with Elizabeth Boudreau, ex-AWS exec and co-founder of Practical Acceleration. They kick off with a satirical “SnoreSense” pitch, then dive into real talk on building meaningful healthcare tech, covering equity, trust, and designing for life’s seasons. Honest, smart, and full of heart—don’t miss it.

Key Takeaways

• Tech equity starts at the margins. Building inclusive digital health solutions means designing first for the communities most often left out. Not only is it ethical, it's a smart strategy.

• Startups need soul and structure. Elizabeth encourages founders to reject burnout culture and instead design businesses that align with their energy, values, and the season they’re in.

• AI needs boundaries and trust. Success in health tech is about more than algorithms; it’s about solving real problems, with real people, in ways that build confidence and connection.

• Talk to the people you're building for. Your user knows what’s broken. You just have to ask. Assume less. Ask more. Build better.

In this episode:

• [00:00:00] Introduction: July birthdays, post-Pride recovery, and co-host reunion in NYC
• [00:02:37] Startup satire: “Snore Sense” pitch parody AI pillows, shame graphs, and FDA awareness
• [00:08:18] Interview with Elizabeth Boudreaux, Co-Founder of Practical Acceleration
• [00:11:30] What is tech equity? Designing with, not just for, underserved communities
• [00:16:50] AI hype cycle: The danger of black box solutions in healthcare
• [00:18:00] The future of tech that disappears—ambient voice and reconnection at the bedside
• [00:19:55] Women in tech: Navigating leadership, equity at home, and saying yes to the unknown
• [00:26:07] A day in the life of a founder: Lists, calendars, and no such thing as “typical”
• [00:30:04] Redefining success: Building companies that match your life stage
• [00:35:35] Behind the scenes: Putting HIPAA data in the public cloud for the first time
• [00:40:50] Founder advice: Talk to your user, challenge your assumptions, solve real problems
• [00:45:12] Wise Nuggets: Career truths, growth seasons, and the ROI of building slow

Guest

Elizabeth Boudreau is co-founder of Practical Acceleration, a firm that helps health tech companies scale with purpose. A digital transformation leader, she previously drove U.S. healthcare strategy at AWS, launching its first consumer diagnostics product during COVID-19.

With a career built on innovation and inclusion, Elizabeth has led HIPAA-compliant cloud projects, championed techquity, and advised both startups and governments. Her mantra: success isn’t about the grind, it’s about building a life that works.

Resources

Elizabeth Phillips Boudreau

• Practical Acceleration
• Elizabeth Boudreau

Sarah Harper

• Sarah Harper

Elliott Wilson

• Elliott Wilson
• Flying Pig Consulting