Donglei Brain Hospital Secures RMB 200 Million Series C Funding from Sequoia China to Accelerate 'One Body, Two Wings' Strategy

VCBeat (WeChat: vcbeat) has learned that Dr. Song Lei Brain Hospital Group (“Dr. Song Lei Brain Hospital”), the first physician group in China to establish its own specialized brain hospital, announced today the completion of a RMB 200 million Series C financing round. This round was exclusively invested by HongShan. Dr. Song Lei Brain Hospital will utilize the proceeds to accelerate the implementation of its “One Body, Two Wings” strategy, building a strategic model comprising physical brain hospitals, full-lifecycle brain health management, and brain science research with platform incubation. CEC CAPITAL served as the exclusive financial advisor for this financing round.

Donglei Brain Hospital was founded by Professor Song Donglei, a former chief physician at Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, who left the public system to establish the institution. It stands as a successful model and industry benchmark for the first doctor group in China to achieve offline implementation of a specialized brain hospital, and is also the most technologically advanced high-level private brain hospital in East China.

Since its inception, Winter Lei Brain Hospital has assembled a team of neurology experts led by Dr. Song Donglei. Leveraging its robust medical expertise and strong reputation for service, Winter Lei Brain Hospital successfully transitioned from an asset-light model to a physical entity, evolving from the Winter Lei Physicians Group established in 2015 to the brick-and-mortar Shanghai Winter Lei Brain Hospital launched in 2019. Currently, in addition to the Shanghai Winter Lei Brain Hospital located in the Greater Hongqiao central district of Shanghai and the Chengdu Winter Lei Brain Hospital (under construction) in Chengdu, Winter Lei Brain Hospital operates more than 20 collaborative bases across the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai region, establishing a specialized network system that integrates a physicians group with physical healthcare facilities.

Since its establishment six years ago, Donglei Brain Hospital has laid a solid foundation in the field of neurology in China. Shanghai Donglei Brain Hospital performs over 2,000 surgeries annually, with Level III and IV procedures accounting for 90% of the total. The hospital has achieved a five-star rating in patient satisfaction surveys, while its infection and mortality rates remain below industry standards. In addition to the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders, Donglei Brain Hospital is actively exploring brain health management as well as research and incubation in neuroscience. In October 2021, its full-lifecycle brain health management project received support from the Shanghai Service Industry Development Guidance Fund.

Song Donglei, Chairman of WinterRay Neurosurgery Group and President of Shanghai WinterRay Neurosurgical Hospital, stated, “HongShan is committed to helping entrepreneurs build enduring, great companies. WinterRay Neurosurgery’s relentless pursuit of quality, brand excellence, technological innovation, and premium service constitutes the essential genetic foundation for becoming a towering enterprise. The participation of HongShan will inject new vitality and momentum into WinterRay Neurosurgery’s development in specialized care, physical infrastructure, health management, and research incubation. Furthermore, as HongShan continues to expand its investments in the healthcare sector, it will foster comprehensive ecosystem synergy with WinterRay Neurosurgery.”

Yang Yunxia, Partner at HongShan, stated, “Healthcare has always been one of the key investment sectors for HongShan. We have been deeply impressed by Donglei Brain Hospital’s core value of ‘patients first,’ as well as its in-depth expertise, professional talent team, and specialized medical service capabilities in the field of neurological diagnosis and treatment. HongShan is committed to supporting Donglei Brain Hospital’s further development to benefit more patients.”

Wang Bin, Managing Director at CEC CAPITAL, stated, “Donglei Brain Hospital is a leading private brain hospital in China, boasting a top-tier expert team represented by Professor Song Donglei, with significant advantages in complex critical-care surgeries and specialized interventional treatment technologies. We are honored to have assisted Donglei Brain Hospital in completing this round of financing, introducing high-quality, long-term brand investors to the company, and facilitating its strategic upgrade from a single hospital to a chain hospital group.”

The capital injection has solidified the development of Donglei Brain Hospital, yet the original aspiration of its team remains unwavering. Donglei Brain Hospital will continue to uphold its mission of “delivering healthcare that touches hearts,” adhere to the core value of “patients first,” provide safety and support to patients, foster growth and happiness among employees, and contribute brightness and promise to the industry.

Shanghai Donglei Brain Hospital is a brain disease diagnosis and treatment, as well as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health management institution, founded by Professor Song Donglei, former Chief Physician of the Department of Neurosurgery at Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Doctoral Supervisor, and renowned neurosurgical expert. It was established with investment participation from Taikang Insurance, HongShan China, DT Capital Partners, Shanghai State-owned Assets Institution Qingfa Group, and others.

Located in the main urban area of Shanghai’s Greater Hongqiao, the hospital covers an area of nearly 20,000 square meters and has a planned capacity of 300 beds. It is currently a direct-billing provider for international medical insurance, a Taikang Health Connect direct-billing partner, a designated tertiary-level medical insurance hospital, a teaching hospital affiliated with Nantong University, and a pilot institution for Shanghai’s International Medical Tourism City initiative.

The hospital specializes in “specialized neurological diagnosis and treatment” and “lifecycle brain health management.” It features a comprehensive disciplinary layout, including neurosurgery, neurology, neurocritical care, neurological rehabilitation, cardiology, and respiratory medicine. The hospital boasts top-tier comprehensive strength in the diagnosis and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases, brain tumors, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, sleep disorders, epilepsy, and spinal cord and spinal column conditions.

HongShan has always been committed to helping entrepreneurs build enduring, great companies by bringing rich global resources and valuable historical experience to its portfolio companies. Over the past 48 years, HongShan has invested in numerous innovative enterprises and leaders shaping industry trends. As “entrepreneurs behind entrepreneurs,” HongShan focuses on investment opportunities in four key sectors: Technology/Media, Healthcare, Consumer Goods/Modern Services, and Industrial Technology. Over the past 15 years, HongShan has invested in nearly 600 companies characterized by distinct technological advantages, innovative business models, and high growth potential.

CEC Capital is a leading investment bank in China’s new economy, focusing on the global TMT, consumer, and healthcare sectors. In addition to its investment banking services, CEC Capital manages one RMB-denominated fund and one USD-denominated fund. The firm has offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, and holds licenses to operate in the U.S. securities market.

The healthcare sector is a key focus area where CEC Capital holds significant competitive advantages, having ranked as the new economy investment bank with the highest number of healthcare industry transactions in China for four consecutive years. Furthermore, CEC Capital boasts the largest, most professional, and most comprehensively integrated healthcare investment banking team in China.