PatientsLikeMe is a company.
PatientsLikeMe has raised $26.0M across 1 funding round.
Key people at PatientsLikeMe.
PatientsLikeMe was founded by Benjamin Heywood (Co-Founder, President, and Chief Privacy Officer).
PatientsLikeMe has raised $26.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Key people at PatientsLikeMe.
PatientsLikeMe is a personalized health network and digital health management platform that connects patients with similar conditions, enabling them to share experiences, track health data, and access peer support and insights.[1][5][7] It serves over 850,000 members across more than 2,800 health conditions, primarily solving the problem of isolated patient journeys by providing real-world evidence, personalized care plans, and community-driven research to improve outcomes and empower proactive health management.[1][4][7] As a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group and based in Boston, Massachusetts, the platform generates value through user-generated data shared with pharma partners like Genentech, while maintaining a "for-profit but not just for profit" model focused on patient-first transparency.[1][4][6]
PatientsLikeMe was founded in 2004 (with sources varying slightly to 2005-2006 for formal launch) by brothers Ben Heywood, Jamie Heywood, and family friend Jeff Cole, all MIT engineers, inspired by their brother Stephen Heywood's 1998 ALS diagnosis at age 29.[2][4][5][6] Motivated by the family's global search for treatments to extend Stephen's life, the founders created a data-sharing platform to connect patients, doctors, and organizations for mutual inspiration and empowerment.[2][6] The first beta community for ALS patients launched in March 2006, quickly expanding to conditions like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's, reaching over 830,000 members by tracking real-world outcomes.[1][4][5] Pivotal early traction included becoming the largest online ALS community, with 10% of new U.S. diagnoses joining monthly.[5]
PatientsLikeMe rides the wave of patient-powered real-world evidence (RWE) and digital health communities, transforming healthcare from provider-centric to patient-driven amid rising chronic disease prevalence and demand for personalized medicine.[1][3][4] Timing aligns with post-2010 expansions in telehealth and big data, amplified by its 2010s growth to 2,900+ conditions and pharma collaborations, influencing ecosystem shifts toward self-learning systems.[4][5] Market forces like regulatory pushes for RWE (e.g., FDA interest) and UnitedHealth Group's backing favor it, as user data accelerates drug discovery and outcomes research, positioning it as a bridge between patients, researchers, and payers in a $4T+ U.S. healthcare market.[1][8]
PatientsLikeMe is poised to deepen integration with AI-driven analytics and expanded digital therapeutics, leveraging its vast dataset for predictive insights and broader pharma trials amid trends like value-based care and women's health tech (e.g., Ella).[1][7] As healthcare digitizes further, expect growth in global memberships and partnerships, evolving its influence from community hub to core RWE infrastructure—ultimately realizing a self-learning system that puts patients at the center, echoing its ALS origins in empowering the isolated.[4][5]
PatientsLikeMe was founded by Benjamin Heywood (Co-Founder, President, and Chief Privacy Officer).
PatientsLikeMe has raised $26.0M in total across 1 funding round.
PatientsLikeMe's investors include Alta Partners.
PatientsLikeMe has raised $26.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $26.0M Venture Round in February 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2021 | $26.0M Venture Round | Alta Partners |
