Rose Wang (GEMBA’18)
Founder and CEO
What inspired you to create 1104 Health?
1104 Health was born out of personal experience. I was a full-time caregiver for my husband after he was diagnosed with cancer. Despite moving quickly, seeking care across multiple health systems in the DC area, and having strong educational and financial resources, we were never informed about a pivotal clinical trial that was actively recruiting patients exactly like him.
I was both cancer-naive and health-system-naive, and I quickly experienced how fragmented and opaque cancer care can be. Physicians are under immense time pressure, and there are few incentives or systems in place to help them stay current on clinical trials. After my husband passed away nine months later, I spent a year grieving and reflecting on what had gone wrong. The more I examined the experience, the clearer it became that this wasn’t an isolated failure. It was a systemic one. I ultimately decided to channel that grief into building a solution. That decision became 1104 Health.
Tell us more about the 1104 Health platform. How does it simplify the complex and often overwhelming process for patients looking to enroll in clinical trials?
1104 Health is built for doctors, not directly for patients. That distinction is intentional. About 80 to 85 percent of cancer patients are treated by community oncologists, who often see 30 to 50 patients a day and work long hours, frequently six days a week. They do not have the time to track the rapidly changing clinical trial landscape. Our platform makes it easier for physicians to stay up to date on relevant trials by geography and disease type, identify trials that match specific patient profiles, connect with disease specialists and academic researchers, and manage referrals and care coordination more effectively.
We also support academic researchers, particularly those working in personalized medicine and niche patient populations defined by specific biomarkers or gene mutations. One of the biggest challenges researchers face is finding eligible patients. By connecting them with the physicians who treat the majority of cancer patients, we help expand access to clinical trials beyond major academic centers. Most patients rely on trusted physicians to guide clinical trial decisions. Patient awareness alone is not enough. Our focus is on equipping doctors with the right tools and information at the right time.
Looking ahead, what’s the next major milestone for 1104 Health, and what’s your long term vision for the company’s impact on cancer care?
We have successfully launched in the DMV region. Our next milestone is expanding into two additional major regions, with New York identified as our most immediate next market. Long term, the vision is a nationwide footprint across the United States, including both major metropolitan areas and rural or underserved regions where access to clinical trials is often limited. Ultimately, we aim to reduce fragmentation in cancer care and ensure that patients have equal access to clinical trials regardless of where they live.
What initially led you to GAIN?
I am a proud Hoya and a graduate of the McDonough School of Business. I heard about GAIN from multiple sources over the course of about a year and was encouraged to apply by Andrew Willis, one of our early investors. I also spoke with several leaders across the Georgetown entrepreneurial ecosystem, including Ben Zimmerman, Jeff Reid, Peter Mellen, and members of the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Alliance.
What stood out to me was the strong alignment around mission and values. GAIN investors believe in building companies that can generate returns while also creating meaningful impact, which deeply resonated with me.
How has the GAIN network or broader Georgetown ecosystem supported you as you have built and scaled 1104 Health?
We are still early in the partnership, but the support has already been meaningful, particularly in raising visibility, making introductions to investors and partners, and helping connect the dots as we prepare to scale. This kind of support is especially valuable in the pre-scaling phase, when relationships and credibility matter just as much as capital.What is your favorite memory from your time on the Hilltop?
How has your time at Georgetown shaped you as a founder?
This is my fifth venture, but my time at Georgetown, specifically as part of GEMBA 10, Class of 2018, had a lasting impact on how I build companies. The program emphasized innovation frameworks that I still use today, particularly around building on existing systems rather than trying to replace them entirely.
The global exposure, international travel, and diverse cohort were incredibly formative. I also felt a strong alignment with Georgetown’s Jesuit values, especially the idea of doing good while doing well. Those values were not just taught, they were lived. Father Ron’s presence in every module reinforced that sense of purpose and community. I have stayed deeply connected to Georgetown through volunteering and service, and I feel a strong sense of loyalty to the Hoya community.
What advice would you give to a Hoyapreneur or aspiring Hoyapreneur?
Focus relentlessly on solving the right problem. Do not stop at surface level symptoms. Go deep. You will face doubt, especially if you do not fit the expected background. I heard things like, “You do not belong in healthcare,” or “This should be a nonprofit.” If you know the problem is real, do not let others define what is possible. Anything worth doing is harder than you think. The people who succeed are the ones who keep going.