Weight Loss Startup "Found" Raises $100M

BAY AREA, Calif. - Dec. 18, 2021 - PRLog -- The San Francisco-based startup also brought on a new chief medical officer, Dr. Rekha Kumar, and a chief behavioral health officer, Dr. Acacia Parks. Those new hires underscore the element of the platform that CEO Sarah Jones Simmer says sets Found apart from other weight loss-focused startups: its clinicians that can assess medical needs and prescribe medication to aid in weight loss, if needed. Found also employs full-time coaches to advise users virtually.

"At Found, our mission is to dismantle the diet culture and help people find lasting weight loss through the best of modern medicine and personalized support," Jones Simmer said in a statement. "With our latest funding and talented new clinical leaders, we're making meaningful progress toward helping people lead more fulfilling, happier lives through our innovative approach to weight care that drives lasting results."

The funding round was led by WestCap Group, a growth equity firm founded by former Blackstone and Airbnb executive Laurence Tosi, with participation from IVP, The Chernin Group, G9 Ventures, and Able Partners. Existing investors at GV, Define Ventures and Atomic also participated in the round. Angel investors this time include Fidji Simo, CEO of Instacart, and Julia Cheek, CEO of EverlyWell.

Found's pitch to investors and users centers on not only willpower to eat and exercise well, but very importantly: biology.

"There's a lack of knowledge around what is possible when it comes to weight loss," Allen Mask, partner at WestCap said in a statement. "That's part of the reason why most people struggle and lose hope. Now, we know it takes more than willpower — it takes science and support."

"Found takes a thorough, unbiased approach to weight care that I've dedicated my clinical practice to and transforms it into programs that can benefit everyone that may need it," said Dr. Kumar, who was previously the medical director of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and is an associate editor of The Journal of Obesity. "With its scale, Found can play an instrumental role in tackling the obesity epidemic which is why I'm thrilled and honored to join as chief medical officer."

Found is available to people in all 50 states, but has licensed clinicians in 37 states so far. Jones Simmer said in a recent interview that one of her near-term goals for the company is to expand clinician availability to every state in the country.

Since its 2019 launch, Found members have, on average, lost 10 percent of their weight by their sixth month using the application, the startup said. In all, its users have lost nearly 300,000 pounds so far. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM2iL1ojuV0