This is a long post on everything we've seen and observed in 2024 at Rainmatter by Zerodha. If you're an entrepreneur, investor of health enthusiast, this is for you.
1) There is a telemedicine fatigue- The post-pandemic boom in telemedicine has plateaued. While accessibility improved, sustainable consumer engagement still remains a challenge due to weak doctor-patient relationship and lack of differentiation. Patients want emotional and personalised engagement. Most companies are overusing AI in the disguise of scale. Opportunity is to solve for depth (chronic disease management) rather than breadth (generic consultation marketplaces).
2) Overload of premium fitness and wellness Apps- Apps targeting high-income urban users are oversaturated. Most startups overestimate the willingness of users to pay for digital fitness content. Opportunity is to focus on communities, hybrid models (offline + online), or affordable mass-market solutions. India is still not ready for Peloton content. We breathe YouTube.
3) Selling SaaS tools to Doctors- Doctors in India are notoriously price-sensitive. Most SaaS products fail due to limited willingness to adopt technology and low ROI visibility. Maybe companies should emphasise on simplicity and immediate value delivery. Job of a Doctor is to deliver treatment to patients and not learn how to use software. Need to humanise software in primary and secondary health care
4) Longevity buzz- Longevity startups sound exciting but cater to a niche. Everyone loves the idea of a pill or device that adds 50 years to life. But longevity is 80% lifestyle and 20% intervention. Startups chasing the 20% often overpromise and underdeliver. Without a strong clinical base or mass appeal, they will remain limited to aspirational urban elites. Opportunity is in integrating into broader wellness solutions rather than standalone ventures
5) Healthy food & nutrition- Overcrowding of “healthy snacks” and “superfoods” where differentiation is low and margins are squeezed by Quick commerce and logistics. Maybe companies should move beyond buzzwords like “organic” or “keto” and solve for authentic, local, and culturally aligned nutrition. India is a country of a million palates
6) Chronic disease management- Diabetes, hypertension, Weight loss and mental health requires long-term engagement and behaviour modification. While the space is competitive, there is room for solutions that prioritise patient journeys and retention over time. Driving outcome has to be the focus. Everything else is a vanity feature that doesn’t earn trust. Paid marketing will get expensive customers who won’t stick around
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