German healthtech startup Exakt Health, which offers the first-of-its-kind digital sports physiotherapy certified as a medical device, has closed a €2.2 million in seed financing. The round was led by Barmenia Next Strategies, which invested in HealthCaters, the venture capital unit of Barmenia alongside new investor ESB Invest. Major existing investors – Backbone Ventures and Auxxo (which invested in einwert and DUDE CHEM) also contributed to this round. The other investors include notable business angels such as Maximilian Tayenthal, co-founder and co-CEO of N26, and HR expert Cornelia Oelling, founder and HR consultant.
Funds utilisation
Exakt Health plans to use the new funding to expand its offering. In addition to digital programmes to treat and prevent running injuries, the company will launch intelligent, AI-based running training plans in the coming weeks. It will be a good addition for runners looking for personalised training that dynamically adapts to their progress and physical condition. The company will also conduct extensive clinical studies to provide ongoing medical validation of its expanded offering.
Dr. Jan Seidel, Managing Director of Barmenia Next Strategies said: “The founding team of Exakt Health convinced us with their many years of experience and the scientifically sound approach of the app. The effectiveness of the physiotherapy app shows us how digital solutions can shape modern, patient-centered healthcare. We are proud to be part of this success story.”
“We will use the new funding to significantly expand our services. Our vision is to develop the most comprehensive app for runners, combining physiotherapy and the latest training science. This will give all runners access to the most advanced training methods without having to worry about running injuries such as overtraining. With the launch of our running training plans, we are setting a new standard and aim to grow our user base from 200,000 to over one million in the next 18 months”, added Exakt Health CEO and co-founder Philip Billaudelle.
AI-based running plans
Effective prevention of running injuries requires personalised training plans that take into account a runner’s condition and progress. To date, the existing offering on the market has been inadequate for amateur runners: Personal running coaches or physiotherapists, who create individual training plans and provide personal support for ongoing questions and adjustments, are very expensive.
On the other hand, pre-packaged running plans on the other hand are static and cannot be adapted to runners’ actual ability and fitness. They also do not take into account possible pain, injury, under- or over-adaptation, illness, or training breaks, which in the worst case can lead to new injuries and chronic conditions.
Founded in January 2021 by former N26 employees Philip Billaudelle, Lucia Payo, and Maryke Louw, Exakt Health’s new AI-based running plans address the limitations of traditional static plans. These plans dynamically adapt to each user’s fitness level, injury risks, and progress. The use of AI helps to digitally replicate the coaching of professional trainers, offering all runners, from beginners to pros, an individual and balanced plan.
Improved insurance service
Since the beginning of September, 300,000 customers of German private health insurance Barmenia can benefit from the new offering. Exakt Health can be used as a free component of their health insurance. The partnership gives Exakt Health expanded access to a large group of insured people, while Barmenia can offer its policyholders an improved service. Collaborations between Exakt Health and other health insurance companies are already in the works.
