As a dietitian, Vanessa Rissetto's main goal is to help people stay healthy.
She also knew that there were some obstacles to this goal. For example, the Black community faces pressing health concerns, in addition to a disproportionate lack of access to care. In the United States, more than 80% of dietitians are white, she said.
“As a Black woman, I wanted to bring more diversity to the industry to expand access to more Americans in need of nutritional care,” she told TechCrunch.
The result was his company Health Culinawhich she co-founded with fellow dietitian Tamar Samuels in 2020. Today, the company is announcing a $7.9 million Series A round, led by Healthworx, the CVC of insurance company CareFirst.
Culina Health connects patients and healthcare providers to a network of registered dietitians who can provide virtual care in areas such as chronic disease prevention, wellness and weight loss.
“Nutrition is vital for longevity and overall health, and it can be very sensitive for many people,” Rissetto said. “We offer each patient personalized solutions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. »
Culina Health, which already works with insurance companies and Medicare, says at least 70% of the U.S. can currently access its platform. He also claims to have served more than 10,000 patients with his Culina Health method, a methodology used to provide personalized patient care.
Others in the space include Nourish, Foodsmart and Berry Street.
“We are approaching this problem as a whole new challenge, requiring a comprehensive, clinically rigorous approach,” Rissetto said, adding that she doesn't think many others are doing the same. “We also stand out for our non-judgmental and culturally respectful care. People seeking nutritional care need to be met where they are, without expecting them to fit a mold.
Rissetto called the fundraising journey exhilarating, exhausting and rewarding. Culina Health met its major investors through word of mouth and eventually through inbound inquiries.
“Culina’s mission was clear and stood out to investors as something unique in the industry and worth the investment,” she said.
Other investors in the company include Collab Capital, Cake Ventures and GW Ventures.
The new capital will be used to expand and improve Culina Health's nutrition counseling. “We will implement new AI platforms to improve care efficiency, ease the burden on our physicians, and strengthen our leadership team with key new hires,” Rissetto continued.
“With this new funding, there are no limits to providing the best possible care to our patients. »
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