Healthcare IT VC funding at USD 4.6 bn in 2015: Mercom

Venture capital firms invested USD 4.6 billion through 574 deals in healthcare IT companies globally in 2015, registering a marginal decline over last year, a report by Mercom Capital Group said today.
In 2014, VC funding, including private equity and corporate venture capital, stood at USD 4.7 billion by way of 670 deals.
"After an incredible run from 2010-2014, VC funding into Health IT companies levelled off last year," Mercom Capital Group CEO and Co-founder Raj Prabhu said.
"We are beginning to see a slowdown in early stage deals, a sign the sector is beginning to mature. We are also seeing funding trends shift from practice-focused to consumer-focused technologies and products," he said further.

Globally, practice-centric companies raised more than USD 1.5 billion in 171 deals in 2015, down from USD 2.4 billion in 234 deals last year.
Consumer-centric companies grossed about USD 3.1 billion in 403 deals, up from USD 2.3 billion in 436 deals last year, while mobile health companies raised the most funding with more than USD 1.1 billion.
The top VC funding rounds in 2015 include Chinese company Guahao raising USD 394 million, NantHealth's USD 200 million, ZocDoc's USD 130 million, Virgin Pulse's USD 92 million and Practo's USD 90 million.
In the last quarter (October-December), 17 Indian Healthcare IT companies received VC funding, the highest ever in a single quarter, the report said adding that there were also two M&A transactions involving Indian companies.