Last March UK-based menopause startup Vira Health added £9.2m in funding led by Octopus Ventures to invest in product development and internationalization. Other participants in the round included existing investors LocalGlobe, MMC and Amino Collective, and Optum Ventures. Vira Health is the company behind Stella, a menopause-focused digital therapeutic, launched in 2021. When announcing their latest round of funding, the company shared plans to add additional features like telehealth and pharmacy services to its offering with the goal to deliver a complete care pathway for menopause treatment.
And today Vira Health got one step closer to this goal, as the company announced the acquisition of fellow London-based menopause startup Alva for an undisclosed amount. Alva is an online portal where women going through menopause can access evidence-based information as well as a community and can be prescribed HRT (hormone replacement therapy) after an online consultation.
Commenting on the news Vira Health Co-founder Dr. Rebecca Love shared with Tech.eu: “While menopause is increasingly in the news and workplaces are being asked to do more, there are no new products that make treatment fundamentally better. The Alva acquisition allows us to rule out alternative conditions, diagnose their stage of menopause and, when appropriate, recommend the appropriate HRT for their specific symptoms. This complements our behavioural care offer through the Stella app which gives everything needed to manage menopause so they can get on with their lives.”
Vira Health’s signature Stella app is currently focused on behavioural-health and lifestyle interventions. The Alva acquisition now allows Vira Health to now also offer prescription (and OTC) medication and get closer to becoming a one-stop-shop for “all things menopause”.
