Healthcare Technology Featured Article

April 23, 2012

Zeel Gets New Round of Financing for Its Zocdoc-like Alternative Healthcare Locator Service


Zeel, the alternative care equivalent to Zocdoc, which provides locates and provides access to doctors anywhere in the U.S., today announced a new round of financing to push the start-up forward.

Zeel, which finds and offers access to alternative healthcare providers like nutritionists and personal trainers nationwide, initially raised $1.5 million in funding from Matt Ocko of Archimedes Capital, industry analyst Esther Dyson, Ken Cron, and others, according to the press release.

Now, three months later, Prolog Ventures, a life sciences VC firm in St. Louis, will also invest in the company. This new round also includes previous investors Ken Cron, Tim Kendall, and Eric Ober, as well as new investors like Brian Witlin, CEO of Shopwell.com, Ritesh Veera, EIR at IDEO, and FAO Ventures Founder Farooq Oomerbhoy. Terms have not been disclosed, according to the press release.

Ilya Nykin, the co-founder and managing director of Prolog, and Cron, an angel investor and board member of LogMeIn, Computer Associates and Midway Games, will also become part of the startup’s board of directors, the press release states.

Zeel’s portfolio of providers has doubled in size since its launch, from about 1,000 to now about 2,300, spread across 11 different cities, with about half located in New York, according to the press release.

The press release explains that the large number in New York is due to the fact that Zeel is based there and “wanted to reach critical mass in the local market before expanding.” It also points out that between 10 and 12 percent of all health and wellness appointments in the U.S. take place in New York City. The company plans to expand its services to the top 20 metropolitan areas in the U.S.

Zeel allows users to search not only by location, but by price, years of experience and certification, according to the press release, and charges 12 to 13 percent to providers, working out to about $9 per visit, according to the press release. Zeel’s services are typically not covered by insurance.

Zeel.com not only books appointments for users but also provides information on everything from getting rid of wrinkles to whether it’s safe to have acupuncture if pregnant to the best exercises for shoulder pain.

The company notes that it hopes to expand into mobile apps and a loyalty points program in the very near future.




Edited by Rich Steeves
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