Two registered dieticians co-founded the health tech startup that has provided over 80,000 telehealth nutrition sessions over four years.
As obesity rates soar in the U.S., health tech startup Culina Health is stepping in to bridge a crucial gap in healthcare. With over 80,000 telehealth nutrition sessions completed in just four years, the company founded by registered dietitians Vanessa Rissetto and Tamar Samuels is on a mission to make clinical nutrition care accessible and effective for everyone.
The company, which focuses on providing personalized nutrition support has successfully raised $7.9 million in a Series A funding round. This brings Culina Health’s total capital raised to an impressive $20 million, propelled by its 117% year-over-year growth, strong patient engagement, and remarkable clinical outcomes.
The Series A funding round was led by Healthworx, the innovation and investment arm of CareFirst, further solidifying Culina Health’s unique approach to addressing one of the country’s most pressing public health issues. This investment builds on a 2022 funding milestone that made Culina Health the first and only digital nutrition company backed by a strategic payer. Other investors that participated in this funding round include Rethink Impact, Collab Capital, Collide Capital, Vamos Ventures, Tensility Venture Partners, Cake Ventures, and GW Ventures.
This new infusion of capital is set to drive the expansion of Culina Health’s services, helping the company enhance its offerings to better support dietitians and patients alike. It also paves the way for the integration of new artificial intelligence platforms that will streamline care delivery and improve overall efficiency. Additionally, Culina Health plans to expand its leadership team with key hires to further strengthen its impact in the digital health space.
Meeting the Growing Need for Nutrition Services
The mission behind Culina Health is simple but powerful: to provide high-quality, evidence-based nutrition care for everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances. Culina Health achieves this by offering a nationwide network of registered dietitians. These dietitians provide personalized virtual nutrition care across a wide range of specialties, including weight loss, chronic disease prevention and management, and general wellness.
According to Vanessa Rissetto, one of the co-founders, research indicates that 90% of Americans would benefit from seeing a dietitian, yet only a minuscule 0.02% of the population has ever done so. This statistic highlights a pressing need for accessible, clinically rigorous nutrition care.
Rissetto asserts that nutrition plays a vital role in long-term health, and registered dietitians must be empowered to lead the charge in providing this care. “With a clinical-first, evidence-based approach, Culina Health is uniquely positioned to support patients and providers with the most effective and connected nutrition journey,” she said.
Culina Health partners with major insurers and Medicare to offer its services to 70% of the U.S. population, ensuring that its services are within reach of a broad audience. The company’s proprietary methodology, known as the Culina Health Method™, integrates clinical nutrition protocols with a non-judgmental, culturally affirming approach to care. This methodology has been instrumental in achieving exceptional health outcomes for patients, particularly in chronic disease management.
Proven Impact and Significant Cost Savings
One of Culina Health’s most notable achievements is its success in preventing disease progression. Through the Culina Health Method™, the company has managed to prevent 100% of prediabetes patients from progressing to full diabetes. Additionally, patients have shown significant improvements in A1c levels, cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure, demonstrating the tangible benefits of personalized nutrition care. Beyond the health outcomes, Culina Health also offers remarkable cost savings. On average, the company saves $7,000 per patient per year, which, when scaled, amounts to a staggering $10.3 billion in potential annual savings.
These outcomes were highlighted by Doba Parushev, Managing Partner at Healthworx, who emphasized the potential of Culina Health’s clinically driven nutrition interventions.
“New interventions that engage members, improve health outcomes, and ultimately reduce long-term costs associated with managing chronic conditions are core to the potential of whole-person health,” he said. Parushev noted that Culina Health has created a viable solution that could improve the health of millions while significantly reducing the overall costs of care.
A Vision for the Future of Nutrition Care
Culina Health’s commitment to evidence-based, inclusive, and culturally competent nutrition care sets it apart in the rapidly evolving digital health space. Its approach ensures that patients receive personalized, one-on-one support from registered dietitians, promoting sustainable lifestyle changes rather than quick fixes. The company’s efforts are aligned with the growing recognition of the importance of “Food as Medicine” interventions—using nutrition to prevent and manage chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
With a team of over 90 registered dietitians, the company is committed to making nutrition advice accessible to everyone, accepting all major insurance plans, and offering services to patients across all 50 states. The company also prides itself on providing multilingual support and honoring all body sizes and backgrounds, ensuring that everyone can benefit from expert nutrition care.
The Growing Role of Digital Health
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the growth of telehealth services, and Culina Health has capitalized on this shift by providing virtual, clinically rigorous nutrition care at scale. This approach is particularly crucial as healthcare systems across the world continue to struggle with the rising costs of chronic disease management. By leveraging technology and a network of qualified dietitians, Culina Health is addressing a crucial gap in the healthcare system and providing a sustainable solution to long-term health improvement.
The company’s leadership in this space is indicative of the growing recognition of the role that nutrition plays in overall health and wellness. As more people seek personalized care and effective interventions to manage chronic conditions, platforms like Culina Health will play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of healthcare delivery.
