Cancer care startup Oncare raises $1 million in a seed round

Oncare, a startup specializing in cancer care, has raised $1 million in a seed round of funding led by Huddle Ventures, with participation from other prominent investors such as TRTL Ventures, Cloud Capital, and DeVC.

The startup plans to use the capital raised to scale its operations and expand its reach to patients needing affordable cancer treatments.

Extending services to 10 new centres

Oncare aims to extend its services to 10 new centres across Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, and Jaipur over the next two years.

Apart from geographical expansion, the startup plans to invest in marketing initiatives to raise awareness about its cost-effective cancer care solutions. It also intends to expand its team to support its growing operations.

Who are the founders?

Oncare was founded in 2023 by Deepak Kumar and Amar Sneh with a vision to offer affordable, high-quality cancer treatment in India.

The startup is collaborating with hospitals that have 50-100 beds to establish dedicated oncology wings. This partnership model has enabled Oncare to reduce cancer treatment costs by up to 40%, offering a more affordable alternative to the expensive treatments in corporate hospitals, which can cost more than Rs 10 lakh.

Oncare’s impact and services

In its initial 10 months of operation in South Delhi, Oncare has helped over 2,500 patients by guiding them through treatment plans.

Additionally, the startup has completed more than 500 treatment sessions. Oncare also provides on-call nursing support for patients to help manage the side effects and anxiety often associated with cancer treatments, reducing the need for hospital visits.

"The increasing burden of cancer in India is staggering, and unfortunately, many families are forced to make tough decisions due to the exorbitant costs of treatment. At Oncare, we aim to alleviate this burden by providing affordable, high-quality cancer care. This funding will help us expand our services to more patients, ensuring that every family can access the care their loved ones need without financial ruin," said Deepak Kumar.

Rising cancer burden in India

The need for affordable cancer care in India is becoming more critical. According to a report by Apollo Hospitals, the number of annual cancer cases in India is expected to rise from 1.39 million in 2020 to 1.57 million by 2025.

This increasing cancer burden, coupled with high treatment costs and a shortage of specialized oncology centers and professionals, has made cancer care inaccessible to many. Oncare aims to address these challenges by providing affordable treatment solutions.