Bupa, the health insurance company, has launched a $20 million venture capital (VC) fund to invest in Australian healthcare startups. Bupa Ventures will focus on early-stage investments, from seed funding to Series A, and will support startups across a range of health sectors, including predictive and preventative healthcare, genomics, home care, and remote monitoring. The fund aims to make the healthcare sector more personalized and less fragmented. Bupa APAC CEO Nick Stone said that startups will play a critical role in the future of healthcare and will accelerate innovations that benefit customers and the wider community.
Bupa’s move into venture capital follows its active involvement in the Australian and New Zealand startup ecosystems, including its eco-Disruptive program, which provides funding to innovative startups. The fund will give startups supported by Bupa Ventures access to Bupa’s teams and resources, allowing them to expand their offerings to Bupa’s global customer base across five continents. Applications for investment can be made through Bupa Ventures’ website.