For many seniors and people with disabilities, the Covid-19 pandemic is creating even more obstacles in daily life. And that extends from finding assistants to help with routine tasks to dealing with insurance companies to help pay for in-home care.
Austin startup The Helper Bees has positioned itself at the intersection between insurance companies and families that need long-term care. Its software and services drive down claim costs, as well as match people with in-home caregivers based on their needs and personalities.
Now, the company is ready for its next stage of growth. It just announced raising a $6 million Series A funding round led by Austin-based Silverton Partners. Meanwhile, several other Austin investors joined the round, including Austin Impact Capital, Techstars and strategic angel investors.
The new money will help The Helper Bees build new partnerships with long-term care insurance companies and add new products and services to help seniors and people with disabilities remain as independent as possible at home.
The Helper Bees was founded in 2015 and launched in 2017 by CEO Char Hu, CPO Eric Corum and CTO Danny Lynch. It previously raised about $1.5 million in seed funding and convertible notes, SEC filings show. The startup noted its revenue grew 8x over the past 12 months, though it didn't provide specific figures. It has 133 employees, 55 of whom are full-time.
The company currently has jobs posted for caregivers in Chicago, Portland, Pflugerville and several other areas.
The startup recently acquired Dimensions, a nurse care management and assessment company. In early March, The Helper Bees launched a virtual home nurse assessment product to help caregivers respond to needs while minimizing the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
Last month, it partnered with insurance company CNA on a project to provide select policyholders with 12-month access to The Helper Bees' new Care Concierge program. That effort gives clients something akin to a case worker who provides personalized guidance on their options and what insurance will cover.
“Delivering transformative care to a vulnerable population that desperately needs it, all during uncertain times is not for the faint of heart,” Hu said in a release. “Our team worked tirelessly integrating the acquisition of the nurse-care management company Dimensions while successfully driving exponential client and revenue growth."
Editor's note: The original version of this story had Corum's title incorrect. It also stated the company was founded in 2017 -- it was founded in 2015 and launched in 2017. The story has been updated.
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