Funding roundup: Element Science raises $145.6M for wearable defibrillators

Business may have slowed for many, but several biotech and digital health startups are still bringing in venture capital dollars. Here are a few biotech and healthcare companies that announced funding rounds this week.

The next several months will be difficult for many businesses, with the economy slowing as people attempt to mitigate exposure during the Covid-19 pandemic.  But for some startups, venture capital funding has still been trickling in since reports of the first outbreak reached the U.S. Here are a few that raised funding this week:

 

Element Science

Funding: $145.6 million series C

Headquarters: San Francisco

Element Science plans to use the funds to complete clinical studies and launch its product, a wearable defibrillator designed to detect and treat arrhythmias in patients with an elevated risk of sudden cardiac death. The company is led by Dr. Uday Kumar, a cardiac electrophysiologist that founded iRhythm Technologies.

Deerfield Healthcare and Qiming Venture Partners USA led the funding round, with participation from Cormorant Asset Management, Invus Opportunities, Third Rock Ventures and Google Ventures.

 

Tempus

Funding amount: $100 million series G

Headquarters: Chicago

With its most recent funding round, precision medicine startup Tempus said it has a post-money valuation of $5 billion. The company was founded in 2015, and is led by Groupon co-founder Eric Lefkofsky.

Tempus offers genomic sequencing to cancer patients, and works with physicians to help them select the best treatment options based on how other patients have responded. With the new funding, it plans to expand its work into other disease types, including diabetes, depression and cardiology.

Investors in the round included Baillie Gifford, Franklin Templeton, NEA, Novo Holdings, and accounts managed by T. Rowe Price.

 

Oura

Funding amount: $28M series B

Headquarters: Oulu, Finland

One of a slew of electronics companies offering sleep-tracking as a feature, Oura is unique in that its wearable rings are primarily focused on sleep. The company said it has sold 150,000 units of the second version of its ring.

Oura plans to use the funding to grow its team of more than 100 employees, support academic research and launch a marketing campaign. Investors in the most recent round include Forerunner Ventures, Gradient Ventures and Square, with Forerunner Partner Eurie Kim joining Oura’s board.

 

Quit Genius

Funding amount: $11 million series A

Headquarters: London

Quit Genius, currently offers programs for smoking cessation, and is developing programs for alcohol- and opioid-use disorders. The digital health startup’s product consists of a breath sensor coupled with coaching services.

The company was originally founded by three doctors from Imperial College London.  Octopus Ventures led the funding round with participation from Y Combinator, Startup Health and Triple Point Ventures.

Photo credit: Abscent84, Getty Images

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