Lightspeed Venture Partners and General Catalyst back Berry Health

London-based consumer health startup Berry Health has raised $1.6 million from Lightspeed Venture Partners and General Catalyst to democratise access to healthcare in Africa, starting out with mental health, sexual health and dermatology. Berry Health offers remote diagnosis and treatment for medical conditions.

Angels in the round include Reddit COO Jen Wong, Thirty Madison co-founders Demetri Karagas and Steven Gutentag, New York tech lawyer Betsy Zimmerman, and former US Surgeon General Regina Benjamin.

The company was founded by Fredua Akosa, a British-Ghanaian medical doctor, public health expert and former VC.

“Lightspeed understands what it takes to build a successful technology-based healthcare business in various markets around the world,” said Paul Murphy, partner at Lightspeed. “Our experience and longstanding relationship with Fredua, coupled with his unique insights on the gaps that exist for patients across sub-Saharan Africa, made us extremely excited to partner with Berry Health. We can’t wait for Fredua and the team to bring access to world-class healthcare to patients in Africa.”