Excl: Weight loss app ObiNo raises seed funding from healthcare incubator Healthstart

Mumbai-based Manna Healthcare Pvt Ltd, the company behind weight-loss app ObiNo, has raised an undisclosed amount in seed funding from healthcare incubator Healthstart, a top executive of the company informed Techcircle.in.

"The funds will be invested in growing the team as well as upgrading the product, especially the app's user experience to drive higher levels of engagement," said Ritu Soni Srivastav, founder of ObiNo.

While she refused to comment on the quantum of funding, Pradeep Jaisingh, founder and chairman of Healthstart, had earlier told Techcircle.in that the incubator will invest Rs 15-20 lakh each in its investee companies.

The startup was founded in August 2012 as a VAS player providing weight-loss plans to subscribers of Airtel, but later pivoted to a mobile app. ObiNo is a mobile weight-loss coach for Indians, that, unlike traditional calorie-counter apps, works like a real-life coach and has developed proprietary tools like an Indian meal recommendation engine and eDiet plan generator. Presently, the company has seen 9,000 downloads of its Android app.

Targeted at adults between 28 and 36 years of age, it offers a freemium app with paid packages at price-points ranging from Rs 299 to Rs 1,500 per month. According to Ritu, there are 140 million obese people in India.

Prior to joining ObiNo, Ritu was working at Bharti Airtel as DGM, brand marketing and was also in charge of new product development & content of VAS. She had earlier also been part of the tech products division at Radio Today (Delhi) Broadcasting and Radio Mid-Day West India.

(Edited by Joby Puthuparampil Johnson)