News

SoloHealth closes $8.2M financing round, preps for national rollout

October 20, 2011

Healthcare technology company SoloHealth announced today it has closed $8.2 million in a financing round led by healthcare IT industry veteran and founder of HBOC, Walter Huff. SoloHealth has so far raised nearly $13 million, including an undisclosed amount from Coinstar Inc., owner of redbox DVD kiosks, as well as a $1.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

The news comes as SoloHealth prepares for a nationwide rollout in 2012 of its next-generation health and wellness kiosks, the SoloHealth Station, with the goal of replacing many of the 25,000 blood pressure machines found today in retail locations nationwide.

"We are excited and energized to announce this additional round of funding as we enter into a pivotal and opportunistic time in our business with the planned nationwide rollout of our award-winning SoloHealth Station," said SoloHealth CEO and founder Bart Foster in the announcement. "We've had a tremendously positive response from all the audiences that the SoloHealth Station touches — consumers, retailers, health and wellness marketers, and the healthcare industry. We are quite bullish on our future and our ability to contribute toward a healthier, more efficient American healthcare system.

"The current state of our healthcare system, political environment, technological advancements, and consumer mindset makes it quite literally a perfect time for the introduction of the SoloHealth Station to capitalize on the emerging market," he said.

Currently in select U.S. test markets and retail locations, SoloHealth's next-generation, comprehensive SoloHealth Station will screen vision, blood pressure, weight and body mass index, and provide an overall health assessment free of charge. It also gives consumers access to a database of local doctors. The company plans to provide highly personalized and interactive healthcare opportunities for consumers, advertisers and retailers by placing kiosks in high-traffic retail locations and connecting them to SoloHealth's multiplatform ecosystem across retail, online/digital, mobile and emerging platforms.

SoloHealth executives also announced growth statistics, noting it had tripled its Atlanta workforce since January, adding jobs in IT, sales, finance, operations and HR. The company also plans to hire approximately 50 additional staff during next 18 months including a CFO, marketing director and ad sales executives, effective immediately.

Learn more about healthcare kiosks.