HealthCaters, an innovative German startup on a mission to revolutionize healthcare with disease prevention tools, announced a €1.2 million seed round led by Barmenia Next Strategies, with the participation of Venpace, DvH Ventures and angel investor Philipp Götting.
With two people dying every minute from preventable diseases in Germany alone, HealthCaters, co-founded by Lilia Kruse, a medical doctor, and Tatyana Eliseeva in 2020, has launched a venture to tackle the challenge of disease prevention. Despite the alarming statistics, traditional healthcare systems don’t place sufficient emphasis on preventing diseases. HealthCaters aims to fill this crucial gap by offering 360° health assessments to give people the power to take control of their health.
Tatyana Eliseeva, co-founder of HealthCaters, said: “Preventive care is no longer a niche market. With the medical system becoming more reactive, people are realizing that proactively taking control of their health is the most effective way to avoid illness and chronic disease. Our goal is to establish ourselves as the go-to health assessment service for modern and health-conscious individuals that fit their busy schedules. We will continue to partner with corporates and health insurers to provide access to preventive healthcare to more people globally.”
Long waiting lists and a lack of preventive health services make it challenging for many people to get the care they need from the modern medical system. HealthCaters is changing the game by making preventive healthcare convenient, fast and affordable. This is achieved through its dual-component product: a medical self-screening station and an AI-powered health coaching app. The screening station allows people to test 27 health indicators, with the support of a virtual health assistant. Results are immediately analyzed in the app, which produces a 360° health assessment and concrete action points rooted in evidence-based medicine.
Lilia Kruse, medical doctor and co-founder of HealthCaters, explained: “Unfortunately, the mindset of treating symptoms instead of preventing disease remains the widespread norm in modern medicine. But health does not begin the moment we enter a clinic, feeling sick. It begins the second we are born and is shaped throughout our lives. People are demanding transparency and knowledge on how to control health outcomes. People no longer want to be spectators in healthcare – they want to be drivers. Now more than ever.”
In the B2B sector, HealthCaters is making a substantial impact by assisting companies such as Barmenia, Cargill, WeWork, and others in monitoring their employees’ health and reducing insurance costs. Using the HealthCaters app, employees can minimize doctor visits and sick days by learning how to proactively manage their health. Feedback indicates this approach is highly appealing to employees, who prefer the simplicity of supported self-management over complex and scarce in-person health check-ups.
Following an explosive demand from private individuals, HealthCaters is just about to open an offline drop-in location with screening stations in Berlin and holds pop-up events in cities throughout Europe. With plans to expand to additional locations, anyone wanting a check-up and a personalized health improvement program will be able to do so within a matter of minutes.
Jan Seidel, Managing Director at Barmenia Next Strategies, added: “Health is the most important resource we have as humans. HealthCaters is on a mission to prevent diseases while helping businesses become more effective and sustainable, reducing costs on insurance, sick leave and staff turnover.”
Current funds will be used for product development and team expansion to make HealthCaters health assessments more accessible in Germany and to expand to other international markets.
