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Alpha

Health Tech & Medtech · Palo Alto, United States · Founded 2017

Alpha (formerly Alpha Medical) operates as a virtual primary care platform with a strategic focus on women's healthcare, aiming to address the systemic gaps in the U.S. healthcare system. The company was founded in 2017 by Gloria Lau, who serves as the CEO, and Dr. Mary Jacobson. Lau's journey from Hong Kong to California, coupled with her background in data science at LinkedIn and Google and a Ph.D. from Stanford, exposed her to the inefficiencies of the American healthcare system, motivating her to establish a more accessible model. The company provides virtual healthcare services for over 100 medical conditions, encompassing primary care, mental health, weight loss, and reproductive health. Alpha's service is structured around an asynchronous telehealth model, allowing patients to consult with licensed medical providers, receive personalized care plans, and get prescriptions delivered without requiring real-time appointments. This model is designed to be convenient and affordable, particularly for the 65 million Americans living in primary care deserts. Patients are connected with a dedicated primary care provider (PCP) to ensure continuity of care, a feature central to the company's whole-person care philosophy. Alpha's business model is primarily subscription-based and cash-pay, though some pharmacies may accept insurance for medications. The company has secured $35 million in total funding, including a $24 million Series B round in September 2021, to expand its market share in virtual primary care. Alpha also partners with employers, offering programs like "Ahead with Alpha," a weight management solution that integrates with care for other conditions. This B2B offering underscores the business case for comprehensive women's health, citing metrics like a 45%+ reduction in anxiety scores and a 55% reduction in ER visits for asthma patients after one year. Keywords: virtual primary care, women's health, telehealth, asynchronous care, prescription delivery, femtech, digital health, primary care provider, employer health solutions, chronic care management