Even after raising and investing billions in venture capital into the digital health space, quality healthcare remains elusive. And while that sophisticated startup has a fighting chance of getting things right, for entrepreneur Akili Hinson, that means Juno needs to be smarter about the neighborhoods it’s targeting.
Hinson, Juno’s founder and CEO and a physician by trade, is building a health care model that provides in-person care in neighborhoods around the country. The startup’s state-of-the-art healthcare tour is competing against heavyweights like One Medical and Cityblock Health. But that hasn’t stopped investors from leading the way in a recent $12 million Series A startup led by Serena Ventures and NEXT Ventures.
The evidence may be in focus. Hinson said Sitblock Health focuses on patients who are eligible for Medicaid and Medicare, who tend to be the sickest patients in the health care system. One medicare, at the other end of the spectrum, is seen as a type of special membership program, often paid for by employers. Juno wants to be for people who are not in either category, which he thinks is 99% of the population.
“Our approach is to be open access and create more products for people who want more convenience, savings and support,” Hinson said, adding that Juno is more focused on providing family care in moderation. In practice, that means Juno works to provide services from pediatrics to OBGYN. “What that means is, unlike the membership model, anyone can come and get the care … from all walks of life in these neighborhoods.” The company also offers high-security services such as X-rays.
Being truly open access and also offering everything from adult primary care to same-day care comes at a price – ergo why many companies looking to offer a one-stop shop raise nine-figure sums. Juno recently began offering additional plans for $20 to $50 a month for families looking for a more convenient experience, such as evening and weekend appointments or better savings. His challenge is to expand this service beyond brick-and-mortar locations, in a way that delights his newfound patrons.
With new capital under its belt, Juno is looking to expand its team and services to East Atlanta, Greenwood and Inglewood.
We don’t think you should have to click 35 times to understand what your vital signs are or to see your labs at your last appointment,” Hinson said. “Juno’s story is more about technology-enabled care — we don’t even call us a digital health company, we’re a high-tech enabled healthcare service.”
