wefight: AI Assistant for Chronic Illness Support

Wefight: Addressing Chronic Illness with AI-Powered Support

Wefight, a startup originating from France, has created a suite of over twelve applications designed to assist individuals managing chronic health conditions. These applications utilize a straightforward chatbot interface, enabling users to pose questions and receive pertinent information regarding their specific illness.

Recent Funding and Investment

The company recently secured $11.6 million (€10 million) in a funding round. Investors included Digital Health Ventures, Impact Partners, and existing stakeholders Investir&+ and BADGE’s business angels.

A Dedicated App for Each Condition

Wefight distinguishes itself by offering a dedicated application for various chronic illnesses. All of these apps are powered by the same core virtual assistant, known as Vik. Currently, more than a dozen applications cater to conditions such as depression, asthma, and various forms of cancer.

How Vik Functions

Vik serves as the primary interface connecting patients with Wefight’s extensive content library. The company has independently developed all underlying technologies, including the natural-language processing capabilities and the framework used for creating new applications.

Information Retrieval and Delivery

When a patient submits a query, the system analyzes its meaning and searches for relevant information within its knowledge database.

The identified content is then delivered to the patient. This content is meticulously crafted by qualified pharmacists, ensuring it is both informative and unbiased. This allows individuals to address their questions without necessarily awaiting a scheduled doctor’s appointment.

Complementing, Not Replacing, Healthcare Professionals

“Vik is not intended to supplant the role of healthcare providers; rather, it aims to bridge a gap in access to information,” explains Benoit Brouard, co-founder and CEO.

Significant User Engagement

The demand for this service is evident in its user base. Over 400,000 individuals have utilized the platform, resulting in 5 million answers provided by Vik. Currently, Wefight employs a team of 70 professionals.

The company actively seeks new users through collaborations with patient advocacy organizations.

The Business Model: Collaboration with Pharmaceutical Companies

Wefight partners with pharmaceutical companies to fund the development of new applications. Successfully commercializing a treatment requires accurate identification of patients suffering from the relevant chronic illness, and Vik functions as a valuable content provider in this process.

Maintaining Content Integrity

“We actively mitigate clinical inertia. When a pharmaceutical company sponsors Vik Asthma, they have no control over the content we produce,” Brouard clarifies. “These companies aim to encourage patients with asthma to consult with a pulmonologist.”

Expanding Patient Access

This approach broadens the potential patient pool for specific medications. While the sales strategy is complex, platforms like Vik have the potential to significantly enhance patients’ quality of life.

Future Expansion Plans

The recent funding will facilitate Wefight’s expansion into new international markets, beginning with a new office in Berlin. With each new market entry, the company recruits local healthcare professionals and establishes connections with local patient organizations.

This meticulous approach ensures the service remains relevant and effective for patients worldwide.