A fast-growing startup that fills the gap in the dental workforce will expand to help staff dentist offices across the country.
Kwikly Dental Staffing, an app-based platform that connects dental professionals with offices in need of temporary help, recently raised an undisclosed amount in a Series A funding round. The round was led by Effingham, Illinois-based Heartland Dental and other investors participated.
Minneapolis-based Kwikly Dental will use the funding to expand nationwide, as well as to enhance its technology and services. Kwikly now serves markets in Minnesota, Florida, Arizona, Wisconsin and Texas.
"This successful Series A round marks a new chapter in Kwikly's journey," said Pedram Nastaean, CEO and co-founder of Kwikly Dental Staffing, in a statement. "Our mission has always been to make staffing easier for dental practices, while offering rewarding opportunities for dental professionals. This funding will help us achieve that mission on an even larger scale."
Kwikly Dental was founded by Nastaean and Yom Hirpa in 2016 to address the growing staffing shortages at dental clinics. More than one-third of dental hygienists and assistants are set to retire in the next five years, according to a study by the American Dental Association.
Kwikly's fundraise comes off a year of fast growth. Kwikly's network includes 5,000 dental professionals in 3,000 clinics — more than two times as many professionals and three times as many clinics as a year ago.
The company was named No. 13 on the Financial Times' fastest-growing companies list for 2024, with an annual growth rate of 214% and revenue of $8 million in 2022.
Last year, Kwikly was honored as a Business Journal Health Care Hero and named No. 169 on Inc. magazine's 5,000 list for fastest-growing startups (jumping from No. 491 on the list in 2022). Kwikly Dental Staffing was also recognized by Inc. magazine as No. 24 on its 2023 Midwest company impact rankings list, Midwest Regionals.
In 2021, the company raised $250,000 through Wayzata-based entrepreneur-ran fund Traction Capital.
