This UK-based startup founded by emergency doctor aims to make healthcare accessible, raises €1.3M

UK-based Evaro, a digital health startup that offers AI-powered clinical and drug prescription services for minor conditions, announced that it has secured $1.5M (approximately €1.38M) in a seed round of funding.

The investment was led by Cornerstone VC and Exceptional Ventures, with participation from Catalisi’s investment arm, Syndicate Room and the University of East Anglia. 

The funds will be used to expand Evaro’s services in the B2B market, introducing a plug-and-play product for consumer brands to offer managed medication prescription services.

Evaro’s mission

Evaro is transforming access to minor healthcare by providing a fast, affordable alternative. The company offers direct-to-patient AI-driven consultations and private prescription services. It aims to offer scalable, safe, and affordable care in the UK through a self-service model focused on routine health needs.

Evaro also allows consumer brands to integrate pharmaceutical services through a plug-and-play product, aiming to assist 10 million people in getting quicker treatment for minor health conditions. 

The startup claims to be a pioneer in the emerging pharma-infrastructure-as-a-service category.

Evaro was founded in 2018 by Dr. Thuria Wenbar, an emergency doctor and software developer, along with her husband, Dr. Oskar Wendowski, a pharmacist researcher.

Partnering with consumer brands, Evaro integrates relevant drug offerings into existing product lines, like dermatology treatments for cosmetics companies. This model helps brands expand their services, offering prescription solutions that bypass long NHS wait times, thereby enhancing consumer engagement.

Dr. Wenbar says, “The NHS is in crisis: you can now wait up to four weeks for a GP appointment – made worse by funding cuts and staff shortages. The information overload triggered by AI tools’ broad availability means the risks of patients self-medicating is only getting greater.”

“Our objective is to help people get faster treatments for their minor health issues, safely, as and when they need it. And we’re going to achieve this by turning digital clinics into a viable commercial opportunity for big brands.”

Dr. Wendowski adds, “We’re already helping 350,000 people get access to healthcare as easily and securely as they access online banking. We now want to scale this.”

“Our B2B strategy focuses on empowering brands in sectors such as cosmetics, sex health and travel to venture into the digital health space without the complexities of technology, regulation and fulfilment, thanks to our plug-and-play service. We hope this will help relieve part of the burden of non-urgent appointments from GPs and emergency care.”

AI-driven consultations and prescriptions

Evaro utilises AI and machine learning trained on 13.5 million patient records for AI-driven consultations and private prescriptions. 

Their platform prioritises patient safety with a regulatory-compliant process, including asynchronous consultations, answer manipulation detection, and scrutiny of drug orders for safe dosages—with GP notifications when needed.

Rodney Appiah, Founder and MD at Cornerstone VC, says, “I’m inspired by Thuria and Oskar’s vision to democratise access to healthcare by providing the software needed for brands to meet their customers’ most common healthcare needs, freeing up valuable time for doctors and nurses without compromising treatment.”

“Imagine a world where your favourite cosmetics company can offer prescriptions for acne, eczema and psoriasis or an over 50s company can offer tailored insurance services alongside healthcare services relating to menopause, erectile dysfunction or regular health screenings.

That is what they’re building, together with redefining the standards of safety and efficiency in online healthcare. We couldn’t be more proud to back them,” adds Appiah.

Evaro targets the growing £5.6B UK e-pharmacy market, with plans to expand its medication catalogue to 2,000 treatments, covering 70 per cent of minor health issues. 

The funding also supports obtaining a Care Quality Commission (CQC) license for comprehensive patient care.