Cityblock Health, which spun out from Google's parent company Alphabet in late 2017, raised $20.8 million during its first round of funding, according to Reuters.
Sidewalk Labs, Apple's "urban innovation group," founded Cityblock Health to improve health outcomes for Medicaid and Medicare members living in cities. The startup plans to connect each participant with a personalized care team comprised of physicians, coaches and technological tools to drive preventive healthcare.
"Despite the boom in venture-backed and technology-based innovations, people on Medicaid and other low-income urban populations have been largely left behind," Iyah Romm, CEO and co-founder of Cityblock Health, told Reuters.
The $20.8 million funding round included financing from Sidewalk Labs along with venture capital investment firms Maverick Ventures and Thrive Capital, Cityblock Health announced Jan. 4. Other investors included J. Mario Molina, MD, former CEO of Molina Healthcare, and input from a newly-formed investment firm founded by Andy Slavitt, former acting administrator of CMS.
Cityblock Health works with healthcare providers, insurance companies and community organizations to connect participants with personalized services — such as mental health coverage and social service programs — at no additional cost. The company also hopes to connect participants with community resources like access to affordable housing, CNBC reports.
Cityblock Health plans to launch its services in New York during spring 2018.