Kolkata based startup iKure in talks with investors for raising capital

Technology-driven healthcare services startup iKure Techsoft, which received funding from Ratan Tata, emeritus chairman of Tata Sons, two months ago, is currently in talks with a couple of investors for raising further capital for both domestic and international expansions and strengthening its technology solutions. This will be Series A round of funding.

The Kolkata-based startup is hoping to conclude the deal by this fiscal-end. "We are in talks with a couple of investors for raising further funds of around $5 million (around Rs 36.5 crore). We are already talking to some potential investors, both venture (capital) and strategic investors," said Sujay Santra, founder & CEO, iKure. After Ratan Tata invested in the startup in October in his capacity, he is now an equity shareholder of it, which delivers primary healthcare services through a network of clinics, digital technologies and frontline health workers.

iKure has covered over 4,000 villages in seven states in India till date, providing healthcare services to more than 10 lakh patients. The startup aims at creating a network of the technology-enabled hub and spoke healthcare delivery system across the length and breadth of rural India.

Currently, the venture has 160 touchpoints in West Bengal, Jharkhand and Karnataka, and it plans to expand the facilities to around 2000 in the next four years. It has programmatic interventions running in Odisha, while digital health centres are operational in Nagaland. Eight countries in Africa are using iKure's technology solutions and it has recently entered Vietnam. It wants to expand technology solutions in Africa and south-east Asian countries. "We are looking to enter Indonesia, The Philippines and Cambodia," Santra informed.