Dietitian and entrepreneur Vanessa Rissetto has made it her mission to increase diversity in the healthcare industry and provide accessible nutrition care to underserved communities. Her company, Culina Health, has taken a significant step towards achieving this goal by securing a $7.9 million Series A funding round led by Healthworx, the venture capital arm of CareFirst.

The funding will be used to expand and enhance Culina Health's virtual nutrition counseling platform, which connects patients with a network of registered dietitians who provide personalized care in areas such as chronic disease prevention, wellness, and weight loss. The platform has already served over 10,000 patients and is accessible to at least 70% of the US population through partnerships with insurance companies and Medicare.

Rissetto, a Black woman, was motivated to start Culina Health due to the lack of diversity in the healthcare industry. She noted that over 80% of registered dietitians in the US are white, which can create a barrier to care for communities of color. "As a Black woman, I wanted to bring more diversity to the industry to expand access to more Americans in need of nutrition care," she said in an interview with TechCrunch.

Culina Health's approach to nutrition care is centered around personalized solutions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Rissetto emphasized the importance of culturally-affirming care, stating that individuals seeking nutrition care should be met where they are, rather than being expected to fit a mold. This approach sets Culina Health apart from other players in the space, including Nourish, Foodsmart, and Berry Street.

The fundraising journey was a challenging but ultimately validating experience for Rissetto. The company met its lead investors through word of mouth and inbound requests, and Rissetto credited the clarity of Culina Health's mission as a key factor in securing investment. Other investors in the company include Collab Capital, Cake Ventures, and GW Ventures.

The fresh capital will be used to implement new AI platforms to improve care efficiency, lighten the burden on physicians, and strengthen the company's leadership team with new key hires. Rissetto expressed her excitement about the potential of the funding to drive growth and improve patient outcomes, stating that "with this new funding, the sky is the limit in providing the best possible care for our patients."

The investment in Culina Health is a significant development in the healthtech industry, highlighting the growing demand for virtual care solutions that address healthcare disparities. As the company continues to expand its platform and services, it is likely to have a profound impact on the lives of thousands of patients who have been underserved by traditional healthcare systems.