What's behind Practo's star-studded galaxy of VCs?

With its high-profile line-up of investors and $125 million in overall investment, Practo is already on a path to high growth, reports Tech in Asia

Tencent, Google Capital, Yuri Milner, Sofina, Altimeter, Sequoia, and Matrix: the line-up of investors in Indian health app Practo is a veritable who’s who in the VC world. Even more impressive than the magnitude of the $90 million series C investment, therefore, is its quality.
 

Not that the quantity is to be scoffed at. With $125 million in all, Practo is now one of the best-funded digital health start-ups in the world.
 

But what’s with the star-studded investor team? 
 

The answer is blowing in the winds of change at Practo. It began in 2009 as a tool for doctors to manage their appointments and patient records: Practo Ray. Four years later, it launched a consumer-facing website and app for patients to connect with doctors. Two years after that, it broadened the scope of Practo to every facet of healthcare, connecting with pharmacists, hospitals, and diagnostic centers, as well as wellness centers for preventive health. And now, with its product well and truly embedded and validated in the healthcare ecosystem, it’s time to strap on the seat belt and take off globally.

 

Practo already has a presence in Singapore and the Philippines. It’s expanding in India too. Although Practo is connected with the healthcare ecosystems in 35 cities, there’s still a large underserved population in second- and third-tier cities.

It’s in managing this rocketing expansion that Practo needs all the help it can get from its marquee investors. Let’s begin with Tencent.

Practo has no plans (as of now) to go to China, says founder and CEO Shashank ND. But it has a lot to learn from China and Tencent about hyper growth. His advice to start-ups in India at the takeoff stage is to learn from Chinese companies, and not repeat the mistakes made by them.
 

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This is an excerpt from Tech in Asia. You can read the full article here.