ekincare Secures Investment from MSD IDEA Studio to Boost Digital Health in India
Hyderabad, 30th April, 2025 – ekincare, India’s leading AI-powered integrated digital health gateway, announces the raising of a strategic, undisclosed investment led by global healthcare leader MSD (tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA) through MSD IDEA Studio Asia Pacific, an initiative by the MSD Global Health Innovation Fund (MGHIF). The round also saw participation from ekincare’s existing investor, HealthQuad, a venture capital fund focused on healthcare innovation. This investment round will empower ekincare to advance its mission of revolutionizing corporate primary and preventive healthcare through AI-driven, personalized Outpatient Department (OPD) solutions.
Founded in 2015 by Kiran Kalakuntla, Co-Founder & CEO, Srikanth Samudrala, Co-Founder & CTO, Noel Coutinho, Co-Founder & CBO, ekincare has emerged as a leader in integrated digital health solutions. The platform leverages AI, data analytics, and telemedicine to make preventive healthcare more personalized and accessible. Since its inception, ekincare has partnered with over 1,000 companies and built a network of 40,000+ healthcare providers across India.
“Healthcare in India is at a turning point. Lifestyle diseases are on the rise, demand for preventive care is growing, and digital solutions are becoming a necessity. This investment from MSD IDEA Studio, with continued support from HealthQuad, is a visionary step forward for us. Their expertise in medicines, vaccines, and digital health, combined with our AI-driven, customer-centric approach, will help us deliver seamless, personalized healthcare to millions”, said Kiran Kalakuntla, Co-founder & CEO of ekincare.
With this investment, ekincare aims to expand its cashless OPD network and enhance AI-powered analytics to drive better preventive care, chronic disease management, and employee wellness outcomes. Over the last five years, from 2020 to 2025, ekincare has grown its corporate client base tenfold as organizations increasingly recognize the value of preventive health benefits, expanded the range of services and benefits offered by four-fold to address diverse healthcare requirements, increased its network coverage by six times to improve accessibility and reach, and onboarded 11x more healthcare and wellness partners to deliver integrated, end-to-end care solutions. This sustained growth reflects the company’s deep commitment to building a future-ready, scalable healthcare infrastructure that meets the demands of India’s evolving healthcare ecosystem.
“We see strong potential in our investment in ekincare to accelerate the shift toward personalised and preventive healthcare in India by harnessing the power of technology for both individuals and enterprises,” said Saumick Pal, Head of Digital, Data Analytics & Innovation, MSD Asia Pacific. He added, “India’s vibrant start-up ecosystem is not only growing rapidly but also redefining healthcare through bold innovation and entrepreneurial energy. At MSD, we are committed to expanding access to high-quality care, and investments in platforms like ekincare reflect our belief that scalable, tech-enabled solutions can make healthcare more proactive, affordable, and inclusive. We look forward to supporting visionary start-ups like ekincare that are reshaping the future of health in India by making it more accessible.”
HealthQuad, a leading healthcare-focused venture capital fund, has been instrumental in supporting health-tech startups transforming the Indian healthcare landscape. Ajay Mahipal, Partner at HealthQuad, said, “ekincare’s AI-powered platform is at the forefront of digital health innovation. Our investment will support their mission of integrating preventive care into the everyday lives of individuals and enterprises, enhancing affordability and access to quality healthcare.”