Roon aims to replace Dr. Google with real doctors sharing vital health information
- Vikram Bhaskaran's personal experience with his father's ALS diagnosis highlighted the gap in accessible medical information.
- Bhaskaran teamed up with a neurosurgeon and a fellow engineer to create Roon, a video resource for reliable health information.
- Roon has raised $15 million and plans to expand its content to include various health sectors, aiming to enhance patient education.
In the United States, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Vikram Bhaskaran was motivated to find better health information when his father displayed early symptoms of ALS, a severe neurodegenerative disease. Working at Pinterest at the time, Bhaskaran spent hours searching for reliable treatment information online and found existing resources lacking clarity and usefulness. This inspired him to partner with his friends, Rohan Ramakrishna, a neurosurgeon, and Arun Ranganathan, an engineer from Pinterest, to create Roon. Roon aims to provide an online platform for accurate medical information delivered through video Q&As featuring qualified doctors and individuals living with various health conditions. Roon's mission is to serve as a credible alternative to the often unreliable information found on general search engines and outdated healthcare content websites. By harnessing expert medical knowledge, Roon wants to bridge the gap between patients and healthcare providers by giving patients access to health information that is usually only available during a doctor's appointment. This shift represents a significant advancement in patient education and engagement regarding health treatments. Since its inception, Roon has attracted thousands of medical professionals to contribute their expertise on the platform. The strategic aim is to expand its content areas significantly, with plans to address women's health issues, including menopause and breast cancer, and branches into pediatrics, cancer treatments, and more specialized fields in the future. Bhaskaran envisions Roon not just as an information hub, but as a creator platform for doctors, allowing them to optimize their time while enhancing patient care. Funding has been pivotal for Roon as it raised $15 million, achieving a valuation of $68 million. This funding was co-led by Forerunner Ventures and First Mark, with additional support from previous backers like Sequoia Capital. The financing will aid in expanding Roon's offerings and refining the platform to better serve both providers and patients. With innovative methods to potentially monetize the platform, including advertisements or subscription services for healthcare institutions, Roon is set to redefine how health-related content is created and consumed.