North Coast Ventures recently made a seed investment in Xploro, an innovative patient education platform leveraging augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and gameplay to enhance healthcare experiences. Our interest in Xploro stems from the critical need it addresses: improving patient education and engagement. Research consistently shows that informed patients experience less anxiety, better health literacy, and improved outcomes. Xploro's unique approach tackles this challenge head-on, providing a personalized, interactive platform that empowers patients and their families.
Xploro initially focused on pediatric oncology, achieving significant reductions in anxiety and increased procedural knowledge among young cancer patients. Now, the company is expanding its reach to serve diverse patient needs across various conditions and age groups.
Founder and CEO Dom Raban brings a deep understanding of the problem, driven by his personal experience supporting his daughter through cancer treatment. Dom's passion, combined with his extensive experience in digital development, has led to the creation of a user-friendly and effective platform that is already making a difference in leading children's hospitals across four continents.
Xploro is rapidly establishing itself as a leading pediatric patient education and engagement platform. Its innovative approach has secured a strong customer base among prominent children's hospitals and healthcare organizations, including Boston Children's Hospital, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Cleveland, Comer Children's Hospital, and the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in the Netherlands.
These institutions leverage Xploro's platform to enhance various key areas, such as:
- Radiology education: Making complex procedures understandable and less intimidating for young patients.
- Pre-operative preparation: Easing anxiety and improving knowledge about upcoming surgeries.
- Pediatric oncology treatment education: Empowering patients and families with critical information about their care journey.
- Emotional support: Providing a comforting and engaging experience during challenging times.
This success is further underscored by Xploro's recent "Excellence in Cancer Patient Education Award" at the International Cancer Education Conference.
While Xploro's sales cycles are typically longer due to the complex nature of healthcare institutions, the high level of customer engagement and subsequent expansion within these organizations demonstrate strong market traction. By focusing on single-department deployments and then expanding upon proven success, Xploro is poised for rapid growth across various departments and specialties within the healthcare industry.
The company's commitment to innovation, combined with its focus on addressing a critical need, aligns perfectly with North Coast Ventures' investment philosophy.
About North Coast Ventures
North Coast Ventures (NCV) is a Cleveland-based early-stage venture capital firm primarily investing in B2B, SaaS companies. With over 470 member investors, NCV is the largest, single-chapter investor group in the country. Since 2006, NCV and its member investors have deployed more than $100M into over 70 high-potential ventures. For more information about North Coast Ventures and its portfolio, visit northcoast.vc.