Revolutionizing Healthcare: Doccla Secures $46 Million for 'Hospital at Home' Expansion in Europe

Addressing Bed Shortages with Innovative Technology

Hospitals worldwide are often grappling with bed shortages, an issue that escalates during health crises. Doccla, a pioneering startup, is stepping up to tackle this problem with its 'virtual bed' technology, enabling doctors to manage patients remotely, either after early discharge or without hospital admission. Following its success in the U.K. and Ireland, Doccla has secured £35 million ($46 million) to fuel its expansion across Europe.

Funding and Growth Strategy

The recent Series B funding round is spearheaded by Lakestar, with participation from Elaia and other existing investors. This funding comes two years after a successful $17 million Series A round. Doccla aims to utilize these funds to build local teams in new markets while continuing its partnerships with local health services, including NHS Trusts and Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE).

Supporting Virtual Clinical Trials

In addition to its primary focus on virtual bed technology, Doccla is also enhancing virtual clinical trials for pharmaceutical companies and is exploring the development of a data insights business. The startup's growth was catalyzed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which necessitated keeping more patients out of hospitals and led to a surge in demand for solutions like Doccla’s.

Patient Monitoring and Market Entry

Doccla’s service revolves around monitoring devices provided to patients, along with a mobile app for data collection. This data integrates into electronic health records, allowing doctors to monitor patients remotely. The company adopts a practical approach to market entry, often securing a customer before expanding into a new region, as demonstrated in Germany, with future plans for Austria and France.

Innovations in Pharma Trials

Doccla's technology is also making waves in drug research, reducing the need for patients to physically attend clinics during trials. This shift not only expedites processes but also offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional contract research organizations (CROs).

Competitive Edge

Amidst a growing market for virtual hospital solutions, Doccla differentiates itself with a device-agnostic approach and an intuitive app design. The app features a user-friendly interface and facilitates communication between patients and clinicians through messaging and video calls, even utilizing Doccla’s own clinicians during off hours, setting it apart from competitors.