South African telehealth platform raises VC funding
Contro, a South African telehealth start-up that focuses on sexual health and confidence treatment services, has announced the close of its oversubscribed pre-seed funding round, raising a total of R10.1 million ($585,000). Investment was raised from four international and local VCs, including Plug & Play, iCubed Capital, WZ Capital and the Jozi Angels Network as well as local and international angels.
Contro launched in June 2021 and currently offers six services including subscription services for birth control, erectile dysfunction treatment and hair loss treatment, as well as once-off treatment for STIs, Thrush and UTIs. Contro’s platform has so far facilitated treatment for over 2,000 individuals across South Africa and continues to grow from strength to strength since its inception. Contro’s team bootstrapped the development of the platform in 2019, wanting to prove product-market fit before seeking outside investment.
Founder Alex Schmid notes, “Our success to date has shown that putting the customer first is key to creating a successful direct-to-consumer business in South Africa. By understanding the barriers to entry and pain points individuals go through when seeking sexual healthcare services, we have been able to build a service that fundamentally makes access cost-effective, discreet and easier than ever before.”
The recent funding provides Contro with the capital to further develop its platform and expand its services, as well as grow its team, with the goal of facilitating targeted growth across South Africa.