US-based Pomelo Care Secures $46 Mn to Expand Virtual Maternity Care

The funding round was led by First Round Capital and a16z Bio + Health, with contributions from Stripes, SV Angel, Operator Partners, and BoxGroup. 

US-based Pomelo Care, a virtual maternal health provider, has raised $46 million in a Series B funding round. Per the startup, the investment aims to expand its care model and increase its workforce.

The funding round was led by First Round Capital and a16z Bio+ Health, with contributions from Stripes, SV Angel, Operator Partners, and BoxGroup.

This latest round brings Pomelo's total fundraising to $79 million.

Maternal Health Challenges in the US

The United States has some of the poorest maternal health outcomes among developed countries. About 12% of births in the US occur in counties with limited or no access to maternal care. 

Pomelo executives argue that identifying high-risk individuals is possible, but data gaps and workforce shortages hinder large-scale intervention.

In light of the time constraints in traditional care settings, Marta Bralic Kerns, Pomelo's founder and CEO, said, “We find that the OBs just don’t have the time—the relatively short visits with patients, there’s a lot that they need to do in those visits.”

Pomelo’s Offerings

Pomelo offers virtual pregnancy, postpartum, and infant care to reduce risks and improve outcomes. The startup analyzes claims and health record data to identify individual risk factors proactively. It aims to complement existing OBGYN services, with a third of its visits outside traditional office hours.

“Often what matters is timely access to a provider and someone you can see right away… even in-person OBGYN offices usually can’t see their patients the same day,” Bralic Kerns noted.

Currently, Pomelo works with payers representing over 3 million covered lives and provides care in 46 states. All contracts are value-based.

Pomelo screens for social determinants such as nutrition, housing, and intimate partner violence and refers patients to necessary resources. It also assists patients in navigating their benefits. For mental health needs, Pomelo can refer patients internally to its specialists or hand off higher acuity cases to in-person providers or hospitals.

At the ACOG Clinical & Scientific Meeting, Pomelo presented research demonstrating that its telemedicine model reduces leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality in a Medicaid population. 

The model showed a 25% reduction in preeclampsia risk and a sevenfold increase in mental health screening rates. Additionally, it reduced perinatal depression risk by 40%.

Commenting on the same, Vineeta Agarwala, MD, general partner at a16z Bio + Health and Pomelo board member, said, “Pomelo is one among a small set of health tech companies that have earned true scale. This scale is evident in our partnership, which allows us to collaborate with OB providers, labor and delivery wards, and NICUs nationwide.”

Future Prospects

Pomelo’s value-based care model has gained traction among payers who recognize the need for comprehensive support services not covered under traditional fee-for-service programs. 

Kerns observed, “We’ve seen tremendous growth… because they realize that they have to do something, and what they have been doing so far hasn’t moved the needle for them. Ultimately, we exist to improve outcomes and reduce avoidable costs for them.”