At Rupa, we are on a mission to bring root cause medicine to every person on the planet.Β π
The world has shifted dramatically since we started Rupa with this ambitious mission just a few years ago. Today, itβs no secret anymore β medicine of the future will be personalized, data driven, and holistic, what we at Rupa call root cause medicine.
Root cause medicine is the next evolution of medicine, one where we aim to identify and solve the true, underlying cause of illness rather than just band-aiding symptoms with medication. The old model of βa pill for every illβ just simply isnβt working.
Root cause medicine addresses why youβre feeling sick, rather than simply treating symptoms.Β
In the United States, 1 in 2 people (literally every other person) is suffering from an unresolved chronic illness, costing our society over $1T annually. The average American gets 12 prescriptions per year, yet we are sicker than ever. Globally, the numbers are even greater.
People are desperate for alternatives and voting with their time and dollars.
The result is inevitable - weβre entering a new era of medicine.
People want lasting solutions, not pills.
Data is front and center (advanced lab testing, sleep tracking, etc.).
People are demanding whole person care (mental health, nutrition, etc.).
Enter Root Cause Medicine. Rather than bluntly treating symptoms with drugs, the next evolution of medicine will identify the root cause of peopleβs health issues and solve them with personalized treatments. This starts with utilizing data to consider the person as a whole β from genetics to nutrition to advanced lab testing and more. β
Today, root cause medicine goes by many names: functional medicine, precision medicine, personalized medicine, systems medicine, integrative medicine, and more. Root cause practitioners look at a personβs health holistically and employ advanced diagnostics to understand everything from genetics to diet, stress and cortisol levels to microbiome, and more.Β
At Rupa, we're building the infrastructure to power this next evolution of medicine. β
β Our first product solves the most difficult part about practicing root cause medicine today: labwork. Traditional bloodwork -- the complete blood counts (CBCs) and metabolic panels (CMPs) weβre used to -- are not the full picture. To get to the root cause, practitioners now rely on cutting edge tools like advanced DNA tests, microbiome tests, comprehensive hormone panels, heavy metals testing, and nutrient profiles. However, many of these tests are developed by independent companies and difficult to discover, access, and order.
Rupa solves this by offering a single sign on where practitioners can order, track, and receive results from many of these labs in one place, turning 15 hours of weekly physician admin work into 15 minutes. Any licensed healthcare practitioner in the USA can sign up and start ordering tests through Rupa in under five minutes. Patients also receive a modern experience, with transparent pricing, SMS orders, and helpful digital instructions.
β In the last couple years, the Rupa platform has grown from supporting just a handful of practitioners in the Bay Area to serving thousands of providers, hospitals, and modern medical clinics in all 50 states across the USA. Our platform has expanded to over 3000 specialty lab tests from over 25 different laboratories - all accessible through a single sign on. Practitioners who utilize Rupa also have access to mobile phlebotomy in all 50 states.Β
β Whatβs even more exciting than our own growth at Rupa, is the acceleration and momentum of the root cause medicine industry as a whole in the last few years.
Additionally, thousands of new specialty diagnostics have flooded the market with both new tests (DNA, microbiome, hormonal, etc.) and new sampling methodologies (saliva, stool, breath, urine, etc.). Google searches for root cause medicine related terms are breakout searches with a 5000% increase over the last five years. The evidence pointing towards a future with root cause medicine at the helm goes on and on. And yet, this is still the infancy of what will be a foundational shift in the way we practice medicine.
At Rupa, we are thrilled to be at the forefront of this exploding root cause medicine movement.Β
β Today weβre excited to announce that weβve raised $20M from Bessemer Venture Partners, First Round Capital, Lachy Groom, SV Angel and other phenomenal partners to grow the company and continue to move healthcare in this direction.Β
Rupa wouldnβt be here without the support of all of our incredible investors, advisors, and early believers. π To our practitioners who still take the time to personally text message me feedback and words of encouragement -- thank you so much for believing in us! π You are true trailblazers, and we feel so lucky to be a small part of the massive difference youβre making in this world.Β
To the patients we work with day in and day out - thank you for sending us messages like these that energize us and remind us of the mission weβre on:Β
βAfter 2 years of feeling extremely sick, 7 doctors, and no answers, I finally found a root cause practitioner. They ordered me tests through Rupa and in a month and half I was feeling better than I had in 2 years. The test results were life changing. No doctor took me seriously or ordered me these tests before.β - D. Nguyen, Scarborough, ME
βI finally have hope after testing through Rupa! This test has validated my GI issues, and I now have proof that there really is something going on with how I process food and the reasons for my GI discomfort. No doctor was willing to listen to me before!β - K. Wilkinson, Mebane, NC
At Rupa, we believe no one should have to spend years navigating 20+ doctors like I did before getting to the root cause of their illness. This investment is a way for us to continue to serve on our belief in the importance of getting to the root cause of illness. We wake up every day thrilled to be accelerating this shift.Β
Weβve had an amazing journey so far, and this is (still) just the beginning. Onwards! π
Love,Β Tara CEO & Co-Founder Rupa Health
P.S. Passionate about root cause medicine and truly having an impact on our chronic illness epidemic?Β Check out open roles or reach out to us:Β [email protected]!Β
β
At Rupa, we are on a mission to bring root cause medicine to every person on the planet.Β π
The world has shifted dramatically since we started Rupa with this ambitious mission just a few years ago. Today, itβs no secret anymore β medicine of the future will be personalized, data driven, and holistic, what we at Rupa call root cause medicine.
Root cause medicine is the next evolution of medicine, one where we aim to identify and address the underlying factors that may contribute to illness rather than just managing symptoms with medication. The old model of βa pill for every illβ just simply isnβt working.
Root cause medicine explores why youβre feeling unwell, rather than simply addressing symptoms.Β
In the United States, 1 in 2 people (literally every other person) is experiencing an unresolved chronic condition, costing our society over $1T annually. The average American gets 12 prescriptions per year, yet we are facing more health challenges than ever. Globally, the numbers are even greater.
People are seeking alternatives and making choices with their time and dollars.
The result is inevitable - weβre entering a new era of medicine.
People want lasting solutions, not just pills.
Data is front and center (advanced lab testing, sleep tracking, etc.).
People are seeking whole person care (mental health, nutrition, etc.).
Enter Root Cause Medicine. Rather than solely managing symptoms with drugs, the next evolution of medicine will explore the root factors of peopleβs health issues and address them with personalized approaches. This starts with utilizing data to consider the person as a whole β from genetics to nutrition to advanced lab testing and more. β
Today, root cause medicine goes by many names: functional medicine, precision medicine, personalized medicine, systems medicine, integrative medicine, and more. Root cause practitioners look at a personβs health holistically and employ advanced diagnostics to understand everything from genetics to diet, stress and cortisol levels to microbiome, and more.Β
At Rupa, we're building the infrastructure to power this next evolution of medicine. β
β Our first product addresses the most challenging part about practicing root cause medicine today: labwork. Traditional bloodwork -- the complete blood counts (CBCs) and metabolic panels (CMPs) weβre used to -- are not the full picture. To explore the root factors, practitioners now rely on cutting edge tools like advanced DNA tests, microbiome tests, comprehensive hormone panels, heavy metals testing, and nutrient profiles. However, many of these tests are developed by independent companies and difficult to discover, access, and order.
Rupa solves this by offering a single sign on where practitioners can order, track, and receive results from many of these labs in one place, turning 15 hours of weekly physician admin work into 15 minutes. Any licensed healthcare practitioner in the USA can sign up and start ordering tests through Rupa in under five minutes. Patients also receive a modern experience, with transparent pricing, SMS orders, and helpful digital instructions.
β In the last couple years, the Rupa platform has grown from supporting just a handful of practitioners in the Bay Area to serving thousands of providers, hospitals, and modern medical clinics in all 50 states across the USA. Our platform has expanded to over 3000 specialty lab tests from over 25 different laboratories - all accessible through a single sign on. Practitioners who utilize Rupa also have access to mobile phlebotomy in all 50 states.Β
β Whatβs even more exciting than our own growth at Rupa, is the acceleration and momentum of the root cause medicine industry as a whole in the last few years.
Additionally, thousands of new specialty diagnostics have entered the market with both new tests (DNA, microbiome, hormonal, etc.) and new sampling methodologies (saliva, stool, breath, urine, etc.). Google searches for root cause medicine related terms are breakout searches with a 5000% increase over the last five years. The evidence pointing towards a future with root cause medicine at the helm continues to grow. And yet, this is still the early stages of what will be a foundational shift in the way we practice medicine.
At Rupa, we are thrilled to be at the forefront of this growing root cause medicine movement.Β
β Today weβre excited to announce that weβve raised $20M from Bessemer Venture Partners, First Round Capital, Lachy Groom, SV Angel and other phenomenal partners to grow the company and continue to move healthcare in this direction.Β
Rupa wouldnβt be here without the support of all of our incredible investors, advisors, and early believers. π To our practitioners who still take the time to personally text message me feedback and words of encouragement -- thank you so much for believing in us! π You are true trailblazers, and we feel so lucky to be a small part of the massive difference youβre making in this world.Β
To the patients we work with day in and day out - thank you for sending us messages like these that energize us and remind us of the mission weβre on:Β
βAfter 2 years of feeling extremely unwell, 7 doctors, and no answers, I finally found a root cause practitioner. They ordered me tests through Rupa and in a month and half I was feeling better than I had in 2 years. The test results were life changing. No doctor took me seriously or ordered me these tests before.β - D. Nguyen, Scarborough, ME
βI finally have hope after testing through Rupa! This test has validated my GI issues, and I now have proof that there really is something going on with how I process food and the reasons for my GI discomfort. No doctor was willing to listen to me before!β - K. Wilkinson, Mebane, NC
At Rupa, we believe no one should have to spend years navigating 20+ doctors like I did before exploring the root factors of their health concerns. This investment is a way for us to continue to serve on our belief in the importance of understanding the root factors of health issues. We wake up every day thrilled to be accelerating this shift.Β
Weβve had an amazing journey so far, and this is (still) just the beginning. Onwards! π
Love,Β Tara CEO & Co-Founder Rupa Health
P.S. Passionate about root cause medicine and truly having an impact on our chronic health challenges?Β Check out open roles or reach out to us:Β [email protected]!Β
The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.
Hey practitioners! π Join Dr. Chris Magryta and Dr. Erik Lundquist for a comprehensive 6-week course on evaluating functional medicine labs from two perspectives: adult and pediatric. In this course, youβll explore the convergence of lab results across different diseases and age groups, understanding how human lab values vary on a continuum influenced by age, genetics, and time. Register Here! Register Here.
Hey practitioners! π Join Dr. Terry Wahls for a 3-week bootcamp on integrating functional medicine into conventional practice, focusing on complex cases like Multiple Sclerosis. Learn to analyze labs through a functional lens, perform nutrition-focused physical exams, and develop personalized care strategies. Register Here.