Vida Health raises $18M To Connect Consumers With Health Coaches

SAN FRANCISCO, United States — Online health coaching platform Vida Health has raised $18 million in a Series B funding round led by Canvas Ventures, with investment from Nokia Growth Partners and Aspect Ventures.

The San Francisco-based startup which launched in 2014 has raised almost $28 million to-date, in a bid to connect people suffering from chronic diseases with digital health coaches. The new funding will enable the company to grow its platform “to serve more consumers who are managing chronic conditions or simply want to improve their health,” according to a statement.

Pairing users with health coaches on a one-to-one basis, Vida offers health and wellness coaching to consumers, as well as enterprise markets. Helping to manage a range of conditions including diabetes, depression and anxiety, individuals can communicate with their coach via text, voice or video calls, to receive personalised health care.

The app also gives users access to educational resources, exercise and diet information and a health tracking service that connects with over 100 different apps and devices including  MyFitnessPal and Apple Health.

“Since launching two years ago, we have seen men and women use the Vida platform to dramatically improve their health and even reverse chronic conditions, like diabetes and hypertension,” Vida co-founder and CEO, Stephanie Tilenius told Venture Beat.

“For many, it’s transformed their lives. The potential to prevent, manage, and reverse chronic health conditions that affect half of all Americans, and reduce our nation’s healthcare burden, is huge,” she added.

Recognising Vida’s potential, Canvas Ventures’ Partner, Rebecca Lynn, told MobiHealthNews her firm, which makes early-stage investments in technology companies, was interested in Vida because it addresses both an enormous market and a dire need.

“Their user engagement rates are the highest I’ve seen in the category,” added Lynn, who is set to join Vida’s Board of Directors.

In addition to it’s direct-to-consumer services, Vida also works with large-scale companies such as eBay and FICO to help boost workplace wellness and cut health care costs. With the market for chronic disease care in the United States worth $2.5 trillion, according to consulting company Accenture, virtual health platforms such as Vida offer a compelling answer.

The 30,000 individuals that have used the platform since it launched, highlight the increase in consumer demand for accessible and on-demand health care services.

“We meet people where they are instead of prescribing a one-size-fits-all approach, which is really attractive to users,” Tilenius told MobiHealthNews.

By taking a holistic approach to health, which is the way humans naturally work, Vida supports them and provides content they can access directly from their device. That’s what has helped Vida achieve high engagement and grow the company, she argues.