The rush to digital is reshaping the health insurance market. Incumbents are making investments in digital to defend their positioning while a new crop of entrants is looking to disrupt the industry with technical savvy. Vericred has positioned itself at this crossroads with its data exchange and technology platform for insurers with a robust of APIs to reduce administrative and medical costs while also leading to revenue growth. The company’s infrastructure platform allows insurers to deliver digital experiences and services, improve sales tools, manage member relations, and more. The company views itself as providing the pipes that are powering the new digital insurance economy to meet the needs of consumers, brokers, employers, and employees alike with smart solutions. AlleyWatch caught up with CEO and Cofounder Michael Levin to learn more about the adoption of digital within the insurance and benefits industry, the company’s strategic plans, latest round of funding from investors that include Aquiline Technology Growth, Echo Health Ventures, MassMutual Ventures, Guardian Strategic Ventures, Riverside Acceleration Capital, FCA Venture Partners, and First Health Capital Partners
The AlleyWatch Startup Daily Funding Report: 5/7/2021
The latest venture capital, seed, pre-seed, and angel deals for NYC startups for 5/7/2021 featuring funding details for BigBrain, Material Bank, and much more.
The 15 Largest Global Startup Funding Rounds of April 2021
Everything you need to need to know about the largest global startup funding rounds of April 2021; broken down by industry, stage, investors, and more…
VAST Data Raises $83M, Tripling its Valuation in the Last Year
Storage technologies are beginning to overtake traditional HDD and hybrid solutions thanks to decreased cost, increased performance capabilities, and increased reliability. As computing needs become more sophisticated, data centers are evolving to meet the growing demand for infrastructure that’s natively designed to handle AI, ML, and large-scale applications. VAST Data offers managed software and storage solutions that allow enterprises to adopt all-flash architecture for their data center needs in a turn-key, reliable solution. The pandemic accelerated digital transformation for many organizations, increasing the demand for data solutions, and VAST was able to close out 2020 at an impressive $100M annual run rate (ARR). AlleyWatch caught up with Founder and CEO Renen Hallak to learn more about the company, future plans, and latest round of funding led by Tiger Global.
The 14 Largest US Tech Startup Funding Rounds of April 2021
Everything you need to need to know about the largest US startup funding rounds of April 2021; broken down by industry, stage, investors, and more…
The Death of Search Engine Optimization
Google has always been a staple of any good digital marketing strategy, especially for search engine optimization (SEO), to attract free organic traffic based on the quality of the content on your page. But will it stay this way? George Deeb shares some insight on why SEO may not be viable long-term…
Headway Raises $70M to Make Mental Healthcare Accessible With its National Network of Therapists
The lack of access to mental health services in the United States is a root cause that’s deepening the mental health crisis the country presently faces. Ninety-six million Americans have had to wait for more than a week for mental health treatments. 25% of Americans report having to choose between mental health services and daily necessities. Many therapists forgo accepting insurance because of the administrative burden to accept insurance and ongoing claims processing, creating another barrier for access and affordability. Headway is a national network of therapists that that leverages software to empower therapists to onboard their practices into insurance networks, making mental healthcare services, covered by insurance, accessible for patients. Patients can quickly find a provider that accepts their insurance, matched to their preferences on Headway’s site with a full understanding of what it will cost. Therapists are able to expand their practice base while offloading scheduling and billing. AlleyWatch caught up with CEO and Cofounder Andrew Adams to learn more about Headway’s mission of making mental healthcare accessible for the first time at scale, the company’s expansion plans, the latest round of funding from investors that include Andreessen Horowitz, Thrive, GV, and Accel.
The AlleyWatch Startup Daily Funding Report: 5/5/2021
The latest venture capital, seed, pre-seed, and angel deals for NYC startups for 5/5/2021 featuring funding details for Timescale, Recount Media, and much more.
The AlleyWatch April 2021 New York Venture Capital Funding Report
Aggregate statistics for all NYC funding deals by stage of funding (Early, Series A, Series B, and Late) including mention of notable rounds for April 2021.
Owen’s Craft Mixers Raises $7.5M for its Premium Mixer Brand as Interest in Drink from Home Surges
The pandemic has driven fundamental shifts in the business of alcoholic beverages as well as domestic behaviors within the home. With strict at-home orders, Americans began bringing more and more alcohol into their homes to combat stress in some cases and boredom in others; interest in at-home cocktail making rose sharply. Owen’s Craft Mixers is a premium mixer brand that offers an array of flavors and mixes to allow consumers to make the perfect cocktail from the comfort of their home. The mixers are available in 14,000 physical stores including Public, Kroger, and CVS, and online through the company’s website and Instacart. Owen’s Craft Mixers are also available at bars and restaurants, sports venues, and golf courses. This omnichannel strategy led to a 378% increase in sales year-to-date as compared to 2020. Alleywatch caught up with Cofounder and President Joshua Miller to learn more about the company’s impressive traction, future plans, latest round of funding from investors that include Levy Family Partners, Mario Lemieux, Maas Family Office, Lee Brice, Darius Rucker, and Ryan Hurd.
Pawp Raises $13M for its Digital Health Clinic for Pets
The pandemic has increased the adoption of telehealth services and this is no different for pets. According to the American Pets Product Association, Americans spent $99B on their pets in 2020. Yet 81% of pet owners would not be able to cover an unexpected $5,000 out-of-pocket expense for their furry loved one. Pawp is a digital health clinic and telehealth platform for pet owners and their pets that connects them with vetted veterinary professionals in minutes, without needing an appointment. The company also provides an annual $3,000 emergency safety benefit for emergency vet services that’s included within the $19/mo subscription fee. Pawp covers up to six pets in a single household and the subscription providers coverage regardless of a pet’s age, breed, and pre-existing conditions. AlleyWatch caught up with CEO and Cofounder Marc Atiyeh to learn more about how the pandemic not only drove the demand for telehealth vet service but also pet adoptions, the company’s future strategic plans, and latest round of funding led by Lux Capital.