Member Article

On-demand care platform launches following 'biggest ever' healthtech seed round

Healthtech startup Cera has launched its on-demand social care platform after attracting the biggest ever seed funding round in Europe’s healthcare sector.

The firm, which raised £1.3m from backers including Just Eat, the World Health Organisation and international banks, has developed a platform which it claims can get a carer to a patient’s door or hospital bed within four hours.

It claims that its Uber-style platform provides a transparent and reliable service, and could potentially save the NHS millions by mitigating the problem of bed-blocking by reducing the number of GP appointments by an estimated 100,000 a year.

Patients or family members can sign up online using a smart device and are then able to to book long-term or emergency appointments, as well as manage any bookings and review care records.

Co-founded by Ben Maruthappu, a 28-year-old doctor, and internet entrepreneur Marek Sacha, Cera is hoping to build a ‘digital doorway’ to the over 65s through its digitally-led services, linking up providers to allow the elderly to live more independent lives while still receiving the care they need.

Speaking about the tech firm’s wider aspirations, Maruthappu said: “As someone who has sought care for a family member, I believe that the best home for seniors is their own. Our aim is to create a digital doorway to the over 65s, and curate services with partners to help them live more independently.

“In addition to rolling out partnerships with councils and hospitals, we are actively looking at other avenues including retail, food delivery and wearables, and how we might be able integrate them with our health-care technology.

“A key challenge in healthcare has been how we can pivot it from reactive, to proactive. With my background as a practising doctor, combined with Marek’s experience in building successful internet companies, we believe we’re in a strong position to take on this worthwhile challenge.”

Cera is currently working on an artificial intelligence (AI) system which allows carers to feed in data about their patient’s conditions, such as whether they have been eating properly, has a fever or other ailments, to help predict and preempt more serious illnesses and further cutting down on GP visits.

Marek Sacha, Chief Executive Officer of Cera, said: “The current care system is broken. The market is served by archaic intermediary agencies, with inefficient operations, underpaid staff and poor quality care. Cera is here to challenge this.

“Through technology and more streamlined logistics, we can transform the service patients receive, use artificial intelligence to advise them on their conditions, while valuing carers and the great work they do.”

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