Roon Secures $15 Million to Expand Medically Vetted Health Information Platform
Roon, a groundbreaking digital health platform aiming to transform how people access reliable medical information, has announced a $15 million Series A funding round. The funding round was co-led by FirstMark Capital and Forerunner Ventures, with participation from existing investors, reaffirming confidence in Roon’s vision for a more accessible and reliable health information ecosystem.
Combating Medical Misinformation with Expert Insights
Founded in 2021 by former Pinterest executive Vikram Bhaskaran, Roon emerged from a deeply personal experience. Bhaskaran found himself struggling to find credible information about loved ones’ health conditions. This firsthand experience fueled his passion to create a platform dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy health information.
Joining forces with former Pinterest colleague Arun Ranganathan (CTO) and neurosurgeon Rohan Ramakrishna (Chief Medical Officer), Bhaskaran built Roon on the principle of bridging the gap between medical expertise and accessible information for all.
“There’s so much medical misinformation… it’s crazy that patients don’t have anywhere to go to answer questions,” Bhaskaran stated in an earlier interview.
Roon tackles this challenge by collaborating with physicians from over 50 esteemed institutions across the country, including Harvard, Stanford, UCSF, Weill Cornell, and Columbia. Their carefully curated content is readily available online, empowering individuals to access expert-vetted information from the comfort of their homes.
A Growing Library of Specialized Health Information
Launched in 2021, Roon has already made significant strides, particularly in women’s health. The platform has become a trusted resource for individuals seeking credible information about conditions like PCOS and endometriosis. It also provides crucial support for families navigating serious illnesses and couples undergoing IVF treatments.
With the new funding, Roon plans to continue expanding its library of health information to cover hundreds of additional conditions. The platform aims to expand its current commitment to women’s health while simultaneously enriching resources for cancer care, neurology, metabolic health, and pediatrics.
Expanding on its initial success in providing specialized information for conditions like glioblastoma, ALS, and dementia, Roon is committed to becoming the go-to source for “medically vetted” information. More than just a repository of knowledge, Roon fosters a sense of community by connecting users with others who share similar health experiences.
This latest funding round follows Roon’s $7.5 million seed funding in 2022, led by FirstMark, TMV, and Sequoia Capital, with contributions from SV Angel, Maveron, and M13.
How does Roon ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content?
## Interview with Vikram Bhaskaran, Founder and CEO of Roon
**Interviewer:** Vikram, congratulations on securing $15 million in Series A funding for Roon. This is a significant milestone for your company. Can you tell us more about what this funding will enable you to do?
**Vikram Bhaskaran:** Thank you! We’re incredibly excited about this next chapter for Roon. This funding will allow us to significantly expand our platform and reach a wider audience.
Our primary focus will be on growing our team of medical experts and content creators. We want to ensure that we continue to provide high-quality, medically vetted information on a diverse range of health topics. We’ll also be investing in technology to improve the user experience and make it even easier for people to find the information they need.
**Interviewer:** Roon’s mission is to combat medical misinformation by providing reliable and accessible health information. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind Roon and why this is such a critical issue?
**Vikram Bhaskaran:** The idea for Roon came from personal experience. I found myself struggling to find trustworthy information about loved ones’ health conditions. The amount of conflicting and unreliable information online was overwhelming, and I realized it was a common problem for many people.
Access to accurate medical information is essential for making informed decisions about our health. Unfortunately, the internet is flooded with misinformation and pseudoscience, which can be dangerous and have serious consequences. Roon aims to be a trusted source of information where people can confidently find reliable answers to their health questions.
**Interviewer:** What sets Roon apart from other health information platforms?
**Vikram Bhaskaran:** Roon is built on a foundation of medical expertise. All of our content is reviewed and approved by a team of qualified doctors and healthcare professionals. We ensure accuracy and reliability are at the core of everything we do.
Additionally, we focus on providing information in a clear and concise way that is easy for everyone to understand. We believe that health information should be accessible to all, regardless of their medical background. [[1](https://www.businessinsider.com/health-startup-roon-raising-funding-sequoia-2024-10?op=1)]
**Interviewer:** Thank you for taking the time to speak with us, Vikram. We wish you and the Roon team all the best in your mission to empower people with credible health information.
