Bestcovered Secures RMB 100 Million Series A Funding to Advance Digital Therapeutics for Cognitive Disorders

VCBeat (WeChat: vcbeat) has learned that Shanghai Bositeng Network Technology Co., Ltd. (“Bositeng Tech”), a company that provides digital screening and training interventions for dementia and has achieved successful commercialization, has recently completed an A-round financing of RMB 100 million.

This round of financing was led by GSR Ventures and BioTrack Capital, with existing shareholder Long Hill Capital participating as a co-investor. Lu Xiaoxiang, CEO of Bositeng Technology, stated that the funds will be used to further strengthen the company’s R&D capabilities in healthcare and technology, and to strive for nationwide “universal screening” and “scientific intervention” for dementia in China.

According to the 2021 census data, China's population aged 60 and above was 264 million, accounting for 18.70% of the total population. The elderly population is projected to reach 380 million by 2030, representing 25% of the total population;Among them, there are approximately 19 million patients with dementia and 57 million patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), making the potential market size for dementia, driven naturally by population aging, reach trillions.

Cognitive decline, most typically and widely recognized in the form of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), has become the fourth leading threat to the health of the elderly, following cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and cancer.Currently, there are no effective therapeutic drugs for this disease; the only countermeasure is “early screening and early intervention.”

According to investigations by relevant authorities, 97.2% of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have not consulted a physician; many elderly individuals consider memory decline a normal part of aging and therefore do not give it due attention. Furthermore, 99.2% of patients are unaware of the relationship between cognitive impairment and dementia. More than 85% of outpatients are in the middle to late stages of dementia, at which point the condition is irreversible.

Dementia poses a significant challenge to patients, their families, and society as a whole. Amid China’s rapidly accelerating aging process,Bossten Technology aims to fulfill its mission of “keeping every family free from Alzheimer’s disease” through its self-developed technologies and service capabilities, thereby alleviating the burden on society and the nation.

Bossten Technology, founded in 2016, currently focuses on the prevention and intervention of dementia (commonly known as “senile dementia” or “Alzheimer’s disease”), and has become one of the world’s leading providers of digital solutions for cognitive impairment.

After years of technological application and iteration, Besten Technology, in collaboration with domestic experts in the field of dementia, has leveraged artificial intelligence to develop a cognitive impairment risk assessment tool compatible with smart devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Cognitive Impairment Risk Assessment Tool Developed by Bositeng

According to relevant experts, compared with the traditional approach used in hospital outpatient settings—which relies on one-on-one questionnaire-based assessments supplemented by imaging studies and blood biochemical markers—Bostech’s risk assessment tool significantly reduces the cost and time required for risk detection. Whereas previous methods cost RMB 10,000–20,000 and took several hours or even weeks, Bostech’s solution enables users to complete the assessment in just seven minutes by following prompts on a smartphone or tablet to speak and perform specific movements. This approach accurately predicts an individual’s cognitive status with over 90% accuracy and can forecast dementia at least five years in advance.

Currently, this assessment tool has been clinically tested and applied by several Grade A tertiary hospitals.

To establish a complete medical care loop, in addition to risk assessment tools, the company has also launched digital intervention training products., this scientifically validated 18-week brain intervention training (abbreviated as the BBRT Program) is specifically designed for middle-aged and older adults at risk of cognitive decline, aiming to improve brain health and delay the onset of dementia.

Enrollment testing of selected participants revealed a significant impact of the BBRT program: overall cognitive ability improved by an average of 27%, with the most pronounced gains observed in memory, language skills, and attention.

 BBRT Offers Multi-Dimensional Cognitive Training

Currently, Bositeng Technology’s “Brain Training” mini-program has been launched on the Social Security channel of Alipay. Through collaborations with JD.com, medical examination institutions, insurance companies, and offline community service centers, it has completed online screening and intervention training for over 6 million people.

Alipay Mini Program - Brain Training

Bostech’s digital brain health solution establishes a closed commercial loop encompassing precision customer acquisition, rapid screening, intervention training, and subsequent payment. Meanwhile, the vast amount of data accumulated will support future scientific research on dementia, new drug development, and customized insurance products.

Lu Xiaoxiang, CEO of Bostone Technology, believes that humanity’s two ultimate quests over the past ten millennia of evolution—the vast cosmos and human nature itself—are both pursued through “measurement” to seek “change.”No Measurement, No Change.

Since the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, China has had “weights and measures”; during the Western Renaissance, the thermometer, barometer, and microscope were invented… These are all examples of humanity’s measurement of the physical world.

It was not until 1953, with the discovery of the double-helix structure of genes, that humanity began to measure life. So, can human cognitive abilities be measured?

“The founding of Bositeng Technology was driven by the mission to leverage artificial intelligence to achieve scientific, convenient, and inclusive ‘cognitive measurement’ for humanity, and to integrate cutting-edge digital therapeutics into this measurement framework, thereby establishing a complete healthcare closed loop,” said Lu Xiaoxiang, CEO of the company.

Digital therapeutics are software-based therapies that provide patients with evidence-based therapeutic interventions to prevent, manage, or treat diseases.

Currently, the major digital therapeutics companies worldwide primarily focus on the mental health sector, such as Akili Interactive for autism and Pear Therapeutics for substance use disorders (including drug and alcohol addiction). These companies have received FDA authorization for their Prescription Digital Therapeutics (PDT).

In the field of Alzheimer’s disease, no company has yet obtained such qualification; Bosstern Technology aims to secure the first FDA digital therapeutic certification in this area.

According to healthcare industry investors,Digital therapeutics represent the finest product of the integration between healthcare and technology, offering even greater potential for innovation in the field of cognition.

On one hand, humans leverage medical technologies to maintain and enhance their cognitive abilities; on the other, they endow artificial intelligence with capabilities such as visual perception and memory, thereby feeding back into and advancing medical technology. These two prominent fields have converged and formed a reciprocal cycle in the screening and intervention of cognitive disorders.

The genetic revolution has already cultivated many great companies, and the new wave of cognitive revolution will give rise to even more dark horses.

It is reported that Bostentech will initiate the application for digital therapeutic registration certificates in the second half of this year. Moving forward, the company will continue to invest in medical and technological R&D as well as business expansion, while strengthening collaborations with research institutions, hospitals, pharmaceutical manufacturers, health checkup centers, insurance companies, and relevant government health authorities. These efforts aim to achieve the goals of “universal screening” and “scientific intervention,” thereby helping every family stay free from Alzheimer’s disease.

Regarding this round of financing, Zhu Xiaohu, Managing Partner at GSR Ventures, stated“Elderly health is a ‘major essential need’ in China. The ongoing genetic revolution can extend human lifespan, while the next wave of cognitive revolution can rejuvenate the human brain. Bostan Technology focuses on Alzheimer’s disease and is the first company to achieve full digitalization and successful commercialization of a closed-loop system integrating ‘screening + intervention.’”

“The company’s products combine scientific rigor with consumer appeal, meeting the health and entertainment needs of the new generation of seniors. As the lead investor in this round, GSR Ventures has strong confidence in the company’s team, products, and business model, and looks forward to the company delivering better services to every senior citizen.”

Liu Kai, Executive Director of BioTrack Capital, stated“As a professional investment institution in the healthcare sector, we are highly optimistic about Bosteng Technology, which focuses on brain science. The company’s products, developed by combining evidence-based medicine with digital technologies, represent an ideal solution for cognitive disorder screening and intervention. This comprehensive suite of digital screening tools and digital therapeutics will fundamentally transform our understanding, detection, prevention, and treatment of such diseases.

“We believe that digital therapeutics companies, represented by Bosstern Technology, have boundless prospects in China as they leverage digital technology to promote inclusive healthcare. Moreover, at a time when China’s social insurance system faces funding gaps and commercial insurance remains underdeveloped, such digital therapeutics offer an alternative approach and solution.”

Jiang Xiaodong, Managing Partner of Long Hill Capital, stated“Bositeng Technology has innovatively introduced digital therapeutics into the screening and intervention of cognitive disorders, rapidly establishing a closed loop from product services to commercialization, demonstrating the team’s exceptional execution capabilities.”

“Aging and holistic health represent the golden tracks for China’s next decade. Digital therapeutics for dementia, primarily serving the silver-haired population, lie at the intersection of these two major sectors. As the lead institutional investor in Bossteng Technology’s first funding round, Long Hill Capital will continue to support the company in seizing this historic opportunity to grow into an industry leader.”

GSR Ventures, established in 2004, has become one of the most successful early-stage venture capital firms globally. It manages both U.S. dollar and RMB funds, with assets under management exceeding $3 billion. The firm focuses on investing in high-tech startups, seeking projects with exceptional teams, substantial market opportunities, core independent intellectual property rights and technologies, and the potential to become industry leaders.

GSR Ventures is an early-stage institutional investor in outstanding startups such as Didi Chuxing, Ele.me, Inke Live Streaming, Qunar, Shanghai Dazhihui, and Xiaohongshu.

BioTrack Capital, established in 2017, is a specialized investment firm dedicated to investing in and incubating outstanding healthcare startups in China. BioTrack Capital invests in innovative biotechnology, advanced medical technologies, and novel healthcare business models in China, leveraging robust capabilities in deal sourcing and value-added empowerment.

The founders and team of BioTrack Capital come from healthcare startups, leading domestic biotechnology companies, multinational pharmaceutical corporations, or renowned professional service firms in the healthcare sector. They possess extensive experience in healthcare entrepreneurship, R&D, operations, and investment, along with deep industry resources and rich sector expertise.

Long Hill Capital, established in 2016, is a new generation of theme-driven venture capital fund. The founding partners of Long Hill Capital come from NEA (New Enterprise Associates), one of the largest venture capital funds in the United States, and were responsible for NEA's investments in China from 2005 to 2015.

In the fields of general health and aging, Long Hill Capital is dedicated to investing in technology-driven business model innovations, aiming to make longevity a gift of life for everyone in China’s rapidly aging society. With offices in Shanghai and Beijing, Long Hill Capital currently manages assets totaling RMB 6 billion. Its limited partners include premier institutional investors such as endowment funds from globally renowned universities and hospitals, foundations, pension funds, and top-tier funds of funds.