Vikram Bhaskaran, a former creator partnerships lead at Pinterest, was inspired to create Roon, a healthcare platform, after his father was diagnosed with ALS, a rare and terminal neurodegenerative disease. Bhaskaran's experience of struggling to find clear and accurate information about his father's condition online led him to team up with neurosurgeon Rohan Ramakrishna and Pinterest engineer Arun Ranganathan to build Roon.

Roon's mission is to provide clinically accurate complex medical information created by doctors and people living with specific diseases. The platform offers video-based Q&As on thousands of health issues, aiming to replace Googling and legacy healthcare content sites like WebMD and Healthline. According to Dr. Ramakrishna, doctors often answer the same set of questions during patient appointments, but this information is not scalable outside of their own medical practice. Roon invites thousands of doctors to share their knowledge on its platform, providing a valuable resource for patients seeking accurate information.

The platform currently features over 16,000 short videos on various health topics, including ALS, glioblastoma, dementia, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and fertility & family building. Roon plans to expand its coverage to women's health, pediatrics, cancer, neurology, and metabolic health in the coming months. Bhaskaran envisions Roon as a creator platform for doctors, allowing them to share their knowledge and expertise with a wider audience.

Roon's content is created by doctors who want to provide valuable information and share their knowledge. While the company offers an honorarium for participating doctors, some refuse due to conflict of interest regulations. Bhaskaran emphasizes that Roon is not a platform designed to turn doctors into social media stars, but rather a tool to help them save time and deliver better patient care. Doctors can share Roon videos as a pre-appointment or post-appointment educational supplement, enhancing the patient experience.

The startup has raised $15 million at a valuation of $68 million, co-led by Forerunner Ventures and First Mark, and joined by previous investors Sequoia Capital and TMV. Eurie Kim, managing partner at Forerunner, resonated deeply with Roon's offering, having spent over a decade caregiving for her mother who had cancer. Kim believes Roon can empower patients to be more knowledgeable and prepared for appointments, and sees potential revenue streams through advertising, subscription services, or a doctor directory.

As Roon continues to grow, its focus remains on building trust and providing accurate information. According to Kim, business models will become clear once the platform has attracted a critical mass of loyal followers and users. With its clinically accurate content and doctor-driven approach, Roon is poised to revolutionize the way people access healthcare information online.

As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, Roon's innovative approach to healthcare content has the potential to make a significant impact. By providing a reliable and trustworthy resource for patients, Roon can help bridge the gap between patients and healthcare professionals, ultimately leading to better health outcomes.