Doctor on Demand, a consumer-facing telemedicine service founded by TV personality Dr. Phil and his son, has raised $21 million in Series A funding.
The company offers on-demand physician consults through a desktop or mobile app. A consult, usually about 10 minutes in length, costs $40.
The eight-month-old startup has gained significant visibility through on-air promotions, which is how it caught the attention of new investor Richard Branson. The funding from Sir Branson, Venrock and Shasta Ventures brings Doctor on Demand's funding to $24 million.
Doctor on Demand also recently signed its first major corporate customer, Comcast. Unlike many other telemedicine services, Doctor on Demand charges employers per use, not per employee, which Comcast believes will help keep healthcare costs down. "With the rising expenses and continual changes in the U.S. healthcare system today, we are always looking at new ways to offer our employees the highest quality care at an affordable cost," said Shawn Leavitt, senior vice president of global benefits at Comcast and NBCUniversal..
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