Zipnosis, a Minneapolis-based telemedicine company that aims to automate the initial steps of how patients are triaged for care, has raised $17 million in a Series A financing round.
The proceeds will allow the 7-year-old company to expand its sales and marketing efforts and bring new products to market. It currently has about 17 clients, including Fairview Health Services in Minneapolis, the University of Alabama-Birmingham and John Muir Health in Walnut Creek, Calif.
Safeguard Scientifics, a publicly traded venture fund, led the financing round, and was joined by Ascension's venture capital arm, Ascension Ventures. Existing investors Fairview Health Services, Hyde Park Venture Partners, Arthur Ventures, Waterline Ventures and Omphalos Ventures also provided funding.
Zipnosis bills itself as a virtual-care provider that helps direct patients to the most appropriate care setting. Patients log on to a health system's own website or app and complete a questionnaire about their condition. From there, the health system's clinicians can determine the next steps—whether that's setting up a phone or video interview or e-prescribing medication.
Patients who need to be seen in person get a ZipTicket, which helps expedite the check-in process at the doctor's office or clinic.
The platform also integrates with the health system's electronic health records.
Zipnosis currently offers care for 90 urgent-care conditions and plans to expand into chronic conditions.
The company fared well compared with others looking to finance their efforts. The median seed and Series A round in 2015 was $3.1 million, according to a report from incubator firm StartUp Health.
