40 Medical Startups that have Transformed the Digital Healthcare Space

Prior to the pandemic, the healthcare sector was struggling with issues such as the rising patient demands, aging populations, the increase of lifestyle diseases, and the growing costs for delivering care. These pressures forced healthcare. There are healthcare service providers in the US that offer medical answering services to customers and patients through Quicktalk or ULTATEL‘s call forwarding, call recording, live monitoring, and call statistics features that help in streamlining the process of customer call management and CSAT score improvement. providers to come up with new solutions like employing medical answering services to enhance the quality of healthcare services as well as lower their prices.

However, a pandemic hit the world and introduced other challenges, exposed gaps, and vulnerabilities in the healthcare space. Still, it presented new opportunities that have helped health tech startups to showcase their abilities and innovation.

These digital health startups have transformed the industry using powerful technologies such as big data analysis, artificial intelligence, blockchain, IoT connectivity, advanced sensors to create healthcare products and service that benefits both the patient and the provider.

Here are 40 digital health startups that are transforming the healthcare industry by pushing the boundaries of technology and its accessibility in 2021 and beyond. The innovative healthcare startups specialize in mental health, digital pharmacy, and telemedicine, among others.

1.   Doctor on Demand

The California-based startup provides on-demand access to telemedicine or virtual care. So, Doctor on Demand allows patients to contact US-based medical professionals with or without insurance.

Through video conferencing services, a patient can contact various specialists for the diagnosis of urgent medical conditions like conjunctivitis, UTIs, respiratory infections, thyroid issues, obesity, and diabetes.

This became evident when the Covid-19 pandemic started and caused total lockdown in most of the states. The service reported increased use of the virtual visit.

2.   Wellframe

The Boston-based startup is a digital health management platform that links patients to healthcare professionals and offers reminders via its user-friendly smartphone app. Therefore through the platform, a user can schedule appointments, get real-time digital check-ins, customizable instructions, and medication reminders, thus helping them stay on top of their treatment.

3.   Kyruus

The Boston-based startup offers search and scheduling solutions, thus matching patients with healthcare providers. With its search, scheduling, and data management solutions, a patient can get the right care from the right healthcare organization whether they call in, look online or visit the care’s site.

In the end, hospitals, health plan providers, or medical groups are able to reach more patients with Kyruus while patients get better experiences because it helps them get providers who can give them the treatment that they need.

4.   Babylon Health

The London-based platform offers subscription health services across the UK and Rwanda. Its subscribers are able to contact medical professionals in its network via text or video messaging for virtual consultations on various medical concerns.

Through this platform, individuals are able to access high-ranking specialists whom they would otherwise not reach or interact with. This helps to maintain the quality of service high.

5.   ESO

The Austin-based healthtech startup produces software to support the entire healthcare industry including doctors, or emergency service providers.

Through the platform, a healthcare provider can instantly access a patient’s data upon hospitalization. Other services are scheduling, billing, incident logging, analytics, and asset management, in addition to other data capabilities.

6.   Medely

The Los Angeles-based startup was built in 2015 as a labor marketplace for varying terms healthcare jobs. Thus healthcare professionals are able to access high-paying short and long-term healthcare jobs.

Nurses and technicians can access on-demand work with flexibility to work in order to supplement their existing careers. So with the per diem or short-term shifts at healthcare facilities with travel assignments available and automatic earning deposits included can help them to support their lifestyles.

7.   Doximity

The San Francisco-based platform is LinkedIn for physicians because it helps healthcare professionals connect, share their opinions on various topics, or get information about the latest developments in certain fields.

Further, the company created a telemedicine app or a video call app that connects patients with its network of healthcare professionals by disclosing their personal email or phone numbers. So a user can text, call or have a video session with a doctor via this platform.

8.   Tempus

The Chicago-based startup is the largest clinical and molecular data library in the world. With its operating system, Tempus avails data collected from previous patients to doctors and researchers to help them identify and reveal disease patterns and their treatments.

Therefore with this data, doctors can customize cancer treatment for the current patients.

9.   Prognos

The New York-based registry contains up to 16 billion records for nearly 185 million patients. With the help of multi-sourced clinical diagnostic data, the AI platform aggregates, normalizes, and avails clinical interpretation. Thus with the HIPAA compliant infrastructure, the platform is able to predict the onset of a disease, develop therapy needs, make clinical trial opportunities available, disclose risks and care gaps.

Indeed with such resources, patients can get the best treatments as early as possible and improve clinical studies.

10.  Grand Rounds

The San Francisco healthcare assistant uses data science to link employees with the right specialist or doctor in its network. Through its program, employees of self–insured companies such as Home Depot and Walmart can find in-network providers ad navigate their benefits.

It recently added more telehealth services to help physicians access members’ plans and coverage information which they can use to develop better care plans.

11.  Hinge Health

The San Francisco-based digital clinic is dedicated to joint and back pain. Through its groundbreaking nerve stimulation technology, wearable motion sensors, and unlimited health coaching, the digital platform helps users manage various musculoskeletal (MSK) care starting from prevention to post-surgery.

So you can receive its one-on-one health coaching, medical resources, and videos to manage your acute to chronic pain at reduced costs as well as improve the quality of your life.

12.   Kernel

The Los Angeles-based startup enables patients to access brain imaging devices remotely as a result of its neuroscience as a service (NaaS) platform. The company uses non-invasive brain recording technologies like Flux and Flow.

Using Flux technology, a device can detect magnetic fields that neural activity generates. That means it detects magnetic fields caused by neutrons activities in the brain. Flow, on the other hand, evaluates the flow of blood as neural activity representative, or simply put, it measures blood flow through the brain.

Kernel is working towards eliminating brain surgery and invasive, expensive hardware used when monitoring how the brain is working by either medical practitioners or researchers.

13.  Paige

The New York-based Paige is a notable startup that uses AI to study and fight cancer. The company applies AI to advance cancer research and care, thus accelerating the discovery and transforming cancer treatment.

So through its platform, pathologists can leverage computational pathology products immediately they are availed for clinical use.

14.   HealIX

The Cambridge-based startup uses AI to develop new drugs and treatments for uncommon diseases. Through technology, the innovative healthcare startup examines the wide range of drugs available in the market to repurpose them for the treatment of rare diseases.

Its HealNet contains a huge database of rare diseases and unique documented interactions between patients, rare diseases, and previously used drugs.

15.  BenevolentAI

The London-based platform uses AI to pair patients with proper drug treatments. Thus the startup helps determine the better treatment to cure diseases that seem to be unresponsive to treatments.

Also, the platform was used in the development of therapies for incurable diseases like Parkinson’s disease, motor neuron disease, sarcopenia, glioblastoma, and more.

To add to its over 20 drug programs, BenevolentAI wants to diversify to other areas of expertise like agriculture, advanced materials, and energy storage.

16.   Cognetivity

The London-based startup was founded in 2013 and reinvented dementia detection using Integrated Cognitive Assessment (ICA), a five-minute test.

Through this platform, a patient is able to discover the early signs of dementia by taking a free, simple test on their iPad. The test contains different images, and patients are asked to identify them as fast as possible.

The performance on the test indicates whether they are at risk of developing dementia so that they can begin treatment before the start of the measurable symptoms, thus save costs of treatment.

17.   Freenome

The San Francisco-based biotechnology health startup was founded in 2014 and combines biology, medicine, and machine learning to help medical professionals detect cancer in its foundational stages through a simple blood test.

The Multiomics platform improves the discovery of early onset of cancer, thus helping doctors optimize therapies. So through tools, knowledge, and expertise, doctors and patients can manage cancer, therefore, maintain a healthier life.

18.   Verge Genomics

The San Francisco startup uses AI to support pharmaceutical companies in their R&D. They help them pick drugs with the highest success rate so that their investments in research are not wasted in the event that FDA fails to approve the proposed medication.

In short, Verge Genomics streamlines the medical trial process using their innovative approach so that the $1.3 billion invested in R&D as well as on seeking FDA approval before the drug hits the market doesn’t go to waste. With its help, big pharma are able to abandon trials that are unlikely to succeed early enough as well as proceed with those that have a higher approval rate.

19.  Alector

The San Francisco- based startup has been using antibody technology to combat neurodegenerative diseases. Using the technology and current discoveries, Alector generates and validates drugs that have abilities to engage disease-altering targets as well as create new generation therapeutics of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, thus revitalizing the patients’ immune systems to combat neurodegeneration and dementia as well as possibly cure such diseases.

20.  Bay Labs, Inc

The San Francisco-based company is using AI deep learning together with cardiovascular imaging to enhance the management and diagnosis of cardiovascular disease.

Using technology, the most promising AI startup trains healthcare professionals on how to perform and interpret echocardiograms as well as make these training accessible in order to help more patients access a higher level of care in their heart disease treatment.

21.  BioCardia

The San Carlos-based startup was founded in 1999, and pioneers stem cell therapy for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Through its Helix Biotherapeutic Delivery System, BioCardia enables localized delivery therapies based on cells and genes via the skin into the heart muscle.

22.  BioLert Electro Medical Systems

The San Francisco startup founded in 2015 employs smartphone and smartwatch app to assist those suffering from chronic seizures.

Using a patented algorithm, the watch recognizes crucial information about seizure onset and then sends an alert to the user, caregiver, and designated medical professional of the likely event. The app attracts a monthly fee.

23.  GluCase

The San Jose-based company built a smartphone case glucometer to assist diabetic patients in managing their blood sugar. The glucometer case helps users monitor their activity levels and food intake that can alter their blood sugar and then shares the readings with the care team. So the user and caregiver can know when the blood sugar is too high or too low, helps patients take charge of their health as well as prevent medical emergencies.

24.   Kindbody

The new York-based company focuses on the fertility and gynecology healthtech space. The startup makes fertility and IVF treatments accessible and affordable irrespective of one’s social, economic status, and ethnicity.

So, through its mobile clinic or vans, women can get NTI-Mullerian hormone (AMH) test through their blood samples, and based on the result, they are sent to a clinic for further full fertility assessment.

One of its core services is egg freezing which is significantly lower than what the market offers. So through its mobile clinics, Kindbody has brought care to the patients rather than asking them to visit them, and women can get pregnant support via intrauterine insemination (IUI) and vitro fertilization (IVF).

25.  Tia

The San Francisco-based platform offers women health services ranging from primary care, wellness, and gynecology. The female-led startup began to provide both online and offline services in 2016. The virtual care takes place via chat and video, or women can opt for in-person care.

The company’s offerings include prescription refills, same-day appointments, accessible mobile health records, and more.

26.  Meditopia

The Berlin-based startup that was launched in 2017 has created a meditation app that provides sleep improvement, stress reduction, builds mental resilience, and several other benefits.

The company has trained meditation experts, psychologists, therapists, and writers situated in 75 locations that are primarily non-English speaking markets. Since its launch, it has coached over 14 million members through its customized mental wellbeing programs.

27.  Mindstrong

The Mountain View-based startup is dedicated to mental health services which it offers through digital measurement and virtual care.

So through its app-based virtual care, a person with serious mental illness such as obsessive-compulsive disorders, bipolar, and schizophrenia can access psychiatrists and therapists, while the AI-powered symptom measurement technology and remote patient monitoring solutions can show alerts when the person’s mental health is deteriorating.

Mindstrong relies on data generated from phone usage and the timing of keyboard strokes to determine a person’s emotional valence and mental acuity, signs that someone is having problems. Next, the person can access therapists via text-based asynchronous communications, video consultations, or phone.

28.   Headspace

The Santa Monica-based digital health platform offers mindfulness training and guided meditation sessions. The online platform has up to 20 million users who have subscribed for its guided meditations which help them overcome challenges such as anxiety, stress, trouble sleeping, and relationship issues.

With its varying meditation exercises, users are helped to add mediation to their routine. Headspace products can be accessed via the mobile app on Android and iPhone platforms or its website. After accessing ten days of free content, a user can opt for a monthly or annual subscription.

29.   Medly Pharmacy

The New York-based joined the digital pharmacy marketplace, although it also has physical pharmacies that assist walk-in patients. So the company offers no-cost prescription delivery service to patients as well as consultation services with pharmacists via its mobile app.

30.  NowRx

The Mountain View-based healthcare startup is a digital pharmacy that delivers prescription medications same hour or same day for free. The technology-enabled pharmacy applies last-mile logistics, proprietary pharmacy software, AI, and robotics to provide same-day delivery at no extra cost.

The large chain retail pharmacies make use of pharmacy management technology to move the industry forward and exceed customer expectations in more than 20 cities. This eliminated the lackluster customer experiences in traditional retail pharmacies that require patients to queue in their small, crowded areas even if they are just picking a single prescription.

31.  Cure.fit

The Bangalore-based integrated fitness training and nutrition coaching provider has a chain of fitness centers that offers workout, yoga, and dance both at home and gym under its brand CutFit.

MindFit is its platform for online mental wellness, EatFit platform delivers healthy food such as beverages, snacks, and meals, LiveFit offers live mindfulness and fitness classes, Cutgear is a site where fitness enthusiasts can buy apparel, workout accessories, and equipment while through CareFit platform allows patients to book their doctor consultation or schedule diagnostic test online.

32.  Tricog

The Singapore-based predictive healthtech analytics startup has developed a SaaS model using advanced AI tools to provide 24/7 ECG reporting.

Tricog solutions include preconfigured 12 Channel ECG machine, a communicator with 2G/3G/Wi-Fi access for the cloud as well a SIM card that has a data connectivity service.

The medical center and treating doctor can now get the ECG report through email, mobile, and SMS. Tricog target market is the Indian population that has been dying of critical heart attacks due to poor quality of healthcare services or insufficient access to care.

33.  Pristyn Care

The Gurugram-based healthtech startup founded in 2018 is dedicated to digitizing India’s surgeries such as general surgery, plastic, cosmetic, ENT, vascular, gynecology, urology, head, and neck.

Across the country, patients can call or video super specialist surgeons, schedule paperless hospital admissions and surgeries online, thus minimizing hospital visits during the pandemic.

34.  Medikabazaar

The Mumbai-based healthtech startup is B2B Bazaar for medical supplies. The platform offers high-end medical equipment and devices to more than 70,000 medical establishments and 13,000 suppliers.

The Covid-19 times drove the company to launch products such as MedSmart, MedScan, PPE Kits, and KN95 Masks to help the healthcare fraternity with products that are of high quality and less costly.

35.  Abcellera Biologics

The British Columbia-based biotechnology startup is dedicated to the development of antibody therapeutics in order to improve patient outcomes. Therefore the AI-powered antibody discovery platform looks for antibodies by searching, decoding, and analyzing natural immune systems so as to help its partners develop drugs.

36.  Deep Genomics

The Ontario-based company uses AI, automation, and RNA biology in drug development. The switch from biology to AI during drug development is because it is too complex, but with RNA therapies, medical professionals can precisely target genetic causes, thus combat certain genetic conditions.

37.  IMRIS

The Manitoba-based startup specializes in medical imaging such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) needed that is need during surgical procedures. Through its Hybrid Operating Suites, IMRIS provides clinicians with timely information when performing surgery and interventional procedures, thus positioning patients optimally for the medical procedure.

38.  Synaptive Medical

The Toronto-based startup specializes in the production of medical devices to solve imaging, surgical, and data challenges, thus enhancing the quality of human lives. Therefore, medical professionals can see patients differently from decades before with its robotic digital microscopy with voice-activated control and 3D visualization.

39.  XELPHAhealth

The Nairobi-based digital healthcare solutions startup employs technology to connect patients with medical professionals, thus improve healthcare and lives.

Aphya is its mobile-first EMR solution that is accessible via computers, tablets, or smartphones and provides health information hence enabling active engagement and participation between the patients and providers.

40.  TakeStep

The Egyptian healthtech startup is dedicated to helping people fighting addiction. Thus platform allows individuals struggling with addiction to access professional help and stay connected throughout their recovery process, thus eliminating the likelihood of relapsing.

The company transferred its headquarters to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to help the state combat its addiction crises.