Navigating Post-Pandemic Healthcare: Cera’s Technological Leap
The global public healthcare landscape is grappling with post-pandemic challenges, particularly in Western countries where aging populations are straining services. This is notably evident in the UK, where the phrase ‘NHS in crisis’ has become a staple in media headlines. In response, private companies are stepping into the breach, leveraging technology to fill service gaps. One such company is Cera, a UK-based in-home healthcare provider and proprietary software platform, which recently secured $150 million through a mix of debt and equity.
- Funding led by BDT & MSD Partners and Schroders Capital.
- Focus on scaling AI-driven healthcare solutions.
- Previous funding of $320 million in 2022.
“We are getting to profitability, plus we have very significantly scaled how we’re using our technology and AI…”
— Dr. Ben Maruthappu MBE, Founder & CEO of Cera
Cera’s platform is highly AI-driven, utilizing proprietary modeling based on its own data, along with elements from Google’s Gemini AI platform and Microsoft’s ChatGPT. This innovative approach has led to impressive outcomes: a reduction in hospitalizations by up to 70%, a 20% decrease in patient falls, and significantly faster hospital discharges. Cera’s app empowers carers by streamlining work planning and symptom logging, transforming unstructured data into predictive insights that enhance patient safety and care efficiency.
- Hospitalization reductions of up to 70%.
- Patient fall reduction by 20%.
- Hospital discharges up to five times faster.
With over $407 million raised to date, Cera is competing against UK rivals like Home Instead and Bluebird Care, which rely on non-proprietary apps. In the US, similar companies include Signify Health and CVS Health, both acquired by CVS Health, as well as Honor with $625 million raised so far.
“We’re taking pressure off the NHS and supporting it to have more capacity… We’re a much more comprehensive health care at home provider.”
— Dr. Ben Maruthappu MBE
Cera’s expansion into additional services such as nursing, physiotherapy, and mental health further solidifies its position as a comprehensive home healthcare provider. The company’s AI-driven model is heavily reliant on data collected during patient visits, which has resulted in one of the largest home healthcare data sets globally.
- Predicting 80% of falls a week before they happen.
- Reducing falls by over 20% thanks to AI algorithms.
- Predicting 83% of hospitalizations a week in advance.
“Cera has achieved strong growth through a demonstrated ability to leverage technology to deliver exceptional care.”
— Rob Platek, Partner at BDT & MSD
Cera claims to be the UK’s largest ‘HealthTech company,’ serving around 30 million people with 10,000 carers and nurses across over 150 local governments and two-thirds of NHS Integrated Care Systems. An independent analysis by U.K. consultancy Faculty suggests that Cera’s AI-led model saves the UK healthcare system £1 million daily. By focusing on technological innovation while maintaining high-quality care standards, Cera aims to avoid pitfalls encountered by other health startups like Babylon Health.
