Discovered, a startup aiming to convey the weight management clinic mannequin to the plenty, has employed Sarah Jones Simmer as its subsequent CEO, the corporate introduced Thursday.
Jones Simmer beforehand served as chief working officer and chief technique officer for Bumble, a courting app. Discovered additionally employed Headspace’s former vice chairman of product, Alexandre Linares, as its chief product officer.
The ex-Bumble government was impressed to get into the healthcare enterprise throughout her ongoing battle with breast most cancers, she stated.
“The previous 12 months made me rethink every thing. In Could 2020, my world was turned the other way up after I was recognized with Stage 3 breast most cancers.,” Jones Simmer wrote in a weblog publish. “I had spent a 12 months eager about ‘well being’ greater than I had in my total life, and in consequence may admire the distinctive inflection level Discovered was addressing within the bigger well being ecosystem, by tackling one of many greatest health-related points that exists in the present day: weight care and enhancing {our relationships} with our our bodies. I could not move up the chance to be part of it.”
Discovered seeks to assist customers handle their weight via personalized plans that deal with points resembling food plan, train, sleep and stress, and might embrace prescription drugs.
The corporate believes its direct-to-consumer mannequin makes weight care extra accessible and helps individuals overcome the stigma usually related to being chubby or obese, Jones Simmers stated in an interview. Sufferers who need to reduce weight can also face lengthy wait occasions to fulfill with specialists, she stated. “We’re now introducing a way more seamless expertise,” she stated.
Discovered does not have instant plans to partner with health systems, insurers or employers, however it may sooner or later, Jones Simmer stated.
“Comorbidities are undoubtedly one thing we have now a watch on,” Jones Simmer stated. “If we nail this medical care supply mannequin, there will definitely be different choices accessible to us and ways in which we are able to combine it with different therapy.”
Discovered raised $24 million in Collection A funding earlier this 12 months from Alphabet’s enterprise capital funding arm, GV, and enterprise capital companies Atomic and Outline Ventures. The corporate additionally acquired $8 million in beforehand unannounced seed funding, in line with a Discovered weblog publish.
Investment in digital health exploded throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with $19 billion invested within the first half of 2021 alone, in line with Mercom. Telehealth, wellness and cell well being apps have seen the most important beneficial properties 12 months over 12 months and present no indicators of letting up, regardless of a drop off in telehealth visits.
