Chennai – In a strategic move aimed at deepening its digital oncology footprint, Apollo Hospitals has quietly acquired Onco.com, a Bengaluru-based healthtech startup backed by Accel and Rainmatter. The transaction, concluded in December 2024, is expected to bolster Apollo’s cancer care offerings with enhanced patient navigation, personalized treatment planning, and digital-first engagement models.
Although financial terms were not disclosed, the acquisition has now been confirmed by sources close to the matter, and a formal announcement is expected following Apollo’s ongoing demerger of its digital and pharmacy units.
From Startup to Strategic Asset: The Rise of Onco
Founded in 2016 by Rashie Jain and Dr. Amit Jotwani, Onco.com emerged as a pioneering internet-based cancer care aggregator. The platform bridged patients with globally trained oncologists, offering remote guidance and connecting them with appropriate treatment centers, labs, and specialists.
At its peak, Onco claimed:
- Over 25,000 monthly organic visitors
- More than 1,000 unique patient leads each month
- A strong digital presence across its app, website, and social channels
The startup had raised $13 million in funding and established itself as a trusted digital oncology brand in India.
“Onco had strong clinical credibility and organic reach. Apollo saw value in building upon that foundation,” noted a person familiar with the deal.
Strategic Value for Apollo’s Oncology and Digital Vision
The acquisition aligns with Apollo’s broader ambitions in digital health and oncology. With the upcoming demerger of Apollo HealthCo, which includes Apollo 24|7 and pharmacy distribution units, the healthcare major is reorganizing its digital assets under a new entity — Apollo Healthtech.
“Post-acquisition, Onco.com is expected to be absorbed into Apollo’s larger oncology and digital care strategy under Apollo Healthtech,” the source added.
For healthcare executives, this deal underscores a critical trend: integrated hospital chains acquiring healthtech startups to fast-track innovation in patient-centered care models, particularly in complex care areas like oncology.
Industry Perspective: Lessons for Healthtech and Hospital Collaboration
This move reflects the increasing convergence between traditional care providers and agile healthtech startups. Rather than building platforms from scratch, hospital chains are now acquiring proven, patient-validated platforms to expand digital service lines faster.
This acquisition:
- Gives Apollo an established digital patient funnel in oncology
- Enhances its decision-support tools via Onco’s virtual oncologist network
- Strengthens patient navigation, triaging, and treatment coordination
Such integration models also pave the way for AI-driven care delivery and tele-oncology solutions, which are expected to define the next wave of oncology transformation.
Leadership Transitions Post-Acquisition
Following the acquisition:
Dr. Amit Jotwani, a clinical oncologist and co-founder, has returned to full-time clinical practice at Medicover Hospitals in Hyderabad.
Rashie Jain, Onco’s co-founder, has moved on to launch her second venture — Marvix AI, a GenAI-driven clinical documentation platform headquartered in the US.
Takeaway for Industry Stakeholders
For pharma companies, digital health strategists, and oncology decision-makers, this acquisition demonstrates the strategic value of digital patient engagement platforms in driving scale and personalization in chronic care. Oncology, being a multi-touchpoint, long-cycle treatment area, is ripe for such tech-driven enablement.
As Apollo integrates Onco into its infrastructure, industry watchers will be keen to see how the model scales — not just as a content or lead-gen asset, but as a full-stack digital oncology service line embedded within hospital workflows.