Minn. telehealth company raises $17 million to expand

Zipnosis, a Minneapolis-based telehealth company that aims to automate the initial steps of how patients are triaged for care, has raised $17 million in a Series A financing round.

The proceeds will allow the 7-yearold company to expand its sales and marketing efforts and bring new products to market. It has about 17 clients, including Fairview Health Services in Minneapolis, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and John Muir Health in Walnut Creek, Calif.

Safeguard Scientifics, a publicly traded venture fund, led the financing round, and was joined by Ascension’s venture capital arm, Ascension Ventures. Existing investors Fairview Health Services, Hyde Park Venture Partners, Arthur Ventures, Waterline Ventures and Omphalos Ventures also provided funding.

Zipnosis bills itself as a virtual-care provider that helps direct patients to the most appropriate care setting. Patients log on to a health system’s website or app and complete a questionnaire about their condition. From there, the health system’s clinicians determine the next steps—whether that’s setting up a phone or video interview or e-prescribing medication.