Foreign funds back Vietnam healthcare startup: report
Vicare, a website providing information about clinics and doctors in Vietnam and online health consultancy, has secured its second funding round from Japan's CyberAgent Ventures and Singapore's Pix Vine Capital.
 |
Pham Anh Duc, director of the startup, refused to reveal details, merely telling news website Saigon Times Online that the funding would help improve database quality, develop mobile applications and expand manpower.
Since its launch in January ViCare has built up a database of more than 19,000 clinics and 20,000 doctors around the country, the website said. It now records 200,000 visits a month and 3,000 comments and 6,000 inquiries.
The website reportedly received the first funding round from private investors in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in March.
Nguyen Manh Dung, investment manager of CyberAgent Ventures in Vietnam and Thailand, was quoted as saying that the healthcare sector has great potential for growth.
Vicare is addressing issues that are facing Vietnam, like a shortage of healthcare services and equipment as well as doctors, he said.
CyberAgent Ventures launched a second fund worth US$50 million for new and existing investments in Southeast Asia at the end of last year. In Vietnam it has reportedly invested in around 20 startups since 2008.
