Rachel Blank, founder of Allara, was inspired to create a telehealth platform for women's hormone conditions after her own struggles with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Growing up with an OB-GYN father, Blank assumed that most women received excellent gynecological care. However, her diagnosis at 21 revealed that most OB-GYNs are not trained to treat hormonal conditions, leaving her to piece together a treatment plan from various specialists.

This personal experience led Blank to leave her job as a director of strategy at Ro, an online clinic, to start Allara over four years ago. The platform provides comprehensive care for women suffering from hormone conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, and hypothyroidism, offering in one place the type of care that Blank had to search for herself.

The startup's approach seems to be working, particularly for treating young women – the company's average patient age is 30. In 2024, Allara grew its revenue by four times, and has now raised $26 million in Series B funding led by Index Ventures, with participation from GV. This funding comes just 14 months after raising a $10 million Series A.

Allara initially started as a subscription service, with patients paying out of pocket. However, over the last year, the company has formed partnerships with most major health insurance providers, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, and United Healthcare, who now cover Allara's services in 10 states. Blank plans to use some of the Series B capital to expand insurance coverage nationwide.

The platform's comprehensive care, which includes appointments with various specialists, has proven helpful not only for patients but also for doctors, nurse practitioners, dermatologists, and registered dieticians, many of whom are working mothers. They can see patients remotely without having to travel to clinics, making it a convenient and appealing option.

Allara stands out from other startups like Tia, Midi Health, Gennev, and Ro, which primarily focus on infertility or menopause. Instead, Allara tends to see women who are dealing with chronic conditions before they are ready to have children. This young patient population is a key aspect of Allara that attracted Index partner Martin Mignot, who hopes that these patients will stay with the company as they grow older and have other healthcare needs.

Mignot believes that building a relationship with care providers from a young age will lead to long-term loyalty. "If you have a relationship with your care providers since you are 20 or 25, it is very natural to stay over time," he said. This could eventually lead to Allara expanding its offering to infertility and menopause, further solidifying its position in the women's health space.

With its Series B funding, Allara is poised to make a significant impact on the telehealth industry, providing much-needed comprehensive care for women's hormone conditions. As the company continues to grow and expand its services, it will be interesting to see how it shapes the future of women's healthcare.