Whoop Secures $12 Million in Series B Funding and Launches Whoop Strap for Continuous Athletic Performance Monitoring
1. Samsung S Health App Open to All Android Devices
In July 2012, Samsung launched the S Health app service, which was available exclusively to users of Samsung devices.
But from now on, all Android users can download and use the S Health app. It can track daily activities and help users create training plans to achieve their fitness goals.
Additionally, the app provides a functional dashboard that allows users to quickly browse all statistics and information. This dashboard is fully customizable, enabling users to add or remove targets, programs, screen tracking, and more.
Moreover, the app can manage and utilize the built-in sensors of smartphones to measure heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, UV exposure, and more.
2、UpToDateWolters Kluwer Sets Sights on Digital Health, Aggressively Expanding into the Indian Market
According to Business Standard, Wolters Kluwer, a global leading provider of information, business intelligence, and clinical solutions for the healthcare industry, plans to expand its digital health business in India, with a focus on evidence-based medicine.
Shireesh Sahai, CEO of Wolters Kluwer India, stated, “We will significantly expand our operations in India and acquire related companies, focusing our target audience on hospitals in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.”
Investigations have revealed that many healthcare systems in India are using UpToDate, a medical reference application owned by Wolters Kluwer. These healthcare providers include AIIMS, Ganga Ram Hospital, MAX Hospital, KMC, Tata Memorial Hospital, CMC Vellore, and G.S. Seth Medical College. Moreover, it is the most popular medical application among U.S. medical experts.
According to information published on its official website, UpToDate is used by 13 million healthcare professionals across more than 12,000 regions in 174 countries.
3. Conba Invests RMB 26 Million in Shanghai Xinfangxun to Strengthen Its Position in the Internet Healthcare Industry Chain
On the evening of September 22, Conba announced that, in line with its strategic layout of the internet healthcare industry chain, it plans to inject RMB 26 million into Shanghai Xinfangxun Communication Technology Co., Ltd. Of this amount, RMB 3 million will be allocated to registered capital, representing a 20% stake in Shanghai Xinfangxun’s post-investment registered capital, while the remaining RMB 23 million will be credited to the capital reserve.
According to VCBeat, Shanghai Xinfangxun is a provider of internet-based telemedicine platform solutions and a developer of remote medical monitoring terminals. The company specializes in the integration of mobile internet with healthcare and health management, holding multiple patented technologies in this field. Additionally, it has expanded its business operations to Beijing, Xiamen, Hangzhou, and other cities.
According to our findings, Shanghai Xin Fangxun currently operates primarily under five business models: integrated smart healthcare for home-based medical, nursing, and elderly care management; remote medical monitoring; remote consultations; hospital trusteeship partnerships (including collaborative hospitals within elderly care communities); and health management combined with smart elderly care.
Conba stated that this investment offers industrial synergies with the company’s prescription drug marketing, providing an opportunity to position itself within the internet healthcare industry chain and achieve industrial upgrading.
4. Wearable Fitness Tracker Maker Whoop Raises $12 Million
Whoop, a Boston-based wearable fitness monitoring device company, recently announced that it has secured $12 million in Series B funding and officially launched the Whoop Strap device along with its performance optimization software system. The round was led by Two Sigma Ventures, with other investors including Mousse Partners, Accomplice, Promus Ventures, Valley Oak Investments, and NextView Ventures. This brings the company’s total funding to $22 million.
The company had previously rolled out a beta version of the Whoop Strap to athletes and select teams. This device enables continuous, 24/7 tracking of heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), skin conductance, ambient temperature, and physical activity, while also providing recommendations for improving sleep quality. However, these data are transmitted via Bluetooth to coaches’ smartphones or tablet applications.
Continuous data collection enables coaches to monitor athletes’ physical condition at all times, including during rest periods. The company stated that this is particularly beneficial for athletes’ recovery from injuries.
Furthermore, to facilitate 24-hour monitoring, athletes can charge the device at any time without needing to remove it.
Currently, the product is in use by teams in the NFL, NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball (MLB), and Major League Soccer (MLS), as well as by certain U.S. Olympic teams and all major collegiate athletic conferences.
The company stated that this round of funding will be used to expand its scale and continue developing next-generation technologies.