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Pediatric telehealth messaging startup Summer Health raised an $11.65 million Series A, CEO Ellen DaSilva tells Axios exclusively.

Why it matters: Fewer doctors are going into pediatrics while parents grapple with soaring child care costs and worsening pediatric mental health.

Zoom in: New backer 7wire Ventures and previous investor Lux Capital led the round.

Other existing investors Sequoia Capital, Metrodora Ventures, Box Group, and Shrug Capital participated.

New backer Melinda French Gates' Pivotal Ventures also joined.

How it works: The New York City-based company offers text-message support for questions about primary, urgent, and developmental care ranging from subjects like lactation and sleep to rashes and colds.

Summer's newest feature is its ability to connect parents to the same provider for repeated interactions for more longitudinal care, DaSilva says.

Parents can buy the direct-to-consumer offering for $45 a month. The company also offers its services through some employers.

Summer's providers are a mix of contracted and employed MDs and DOs who specialize in primary care, emergency medicine, or another field.

Flashback: Summer in 2022 collected a $7.5 million seed co-led by Alfred Lin at Sequoia Capital and Deena Shakir at Lux Capital. 

What they're saying: "I have privilege most women in this country don't have and I still find it so challenging to get real, on-demand pediatric support for my kids," says 7wire Ventures partner Alyssa Jaffee.

"Summer Health is meant to feel like it's your best friend who happens to be a medically licensed professional, who can answer that question, treat, and diagnose," says DaSilva.

The big picture: Although children represent roughly a quarter of the U.S. population, they account for less than 10% of national health care spending — so pediatric care hasn't attracted a large portion of investor attention, per a recent Rock Health report.

Plus, kids don't directly consume most health care products; their caretakers do.

Follow the money: Despite that, funding to pediatrics digital health has risen in recent years, the Rock Health report found.

From 2020 to 2023, pediatrics represented an average of 5.1% of annual digital health funding, compared with just 1.7% from 2011 to 2019.

State of play: Several startups focused on family support, children's mental health and overall wellness have drawn venture dollars in recent years.

Pediatric telemental health company InStride Health in March secured an  unlabeled $30 million.

Infant microbiome testing startup Tiny Health in March raised an $8.5 million Series A.

Coral Care in January collected a $1.3 million pre-seed to more easily connect parents to in-network childhood development specialists.

Virtual maternal and family health unicorn Maven Clinic in 2022 raised a $90 million Series E.

Exclusive: Summer Health grabs $12M for pediatric support

The NYC-based company offers text support for urgent care and other areas.

Illustration of a blue teddy bear with orange band-aid on its arm. 

Health tech deals

Pediatric telehealth messaging startup Summer Health raised an $11.65 million Series A, CEO Ellen DaSilva tells Axios exclusively.Why it matters: Fewer doctors are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="going into pediatrics" data-vars-click-url="https://www.npr.org/2024/04/14/1244683914/fewer-doctors-are-going-into-pediatrics-thats-leaving-a-huge-gap-in-hospitals" data-vars-content-id="40f51b36-a1fd-4934-b57e-5cfaf8c1fb03" data-vars-headline="Exclusive: Summer Health grabs $12M for pediatric support" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.npr.org/2024/04/14/1244683914/fewer-doctors-are-going-into-pediatrics-thats-leaving-a-huge-gap-in-hospitals" target="_blank">going into pediatrics</a> while parents grapple with soaring <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="child care costs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/16/child-care-costs" data-vars-content-id="40f51b36-a1fd-4934-b57e-5cfaf8c1fb03" data-vars-headline="Exclusive: Summer Health grabs $12M for pediatric support" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/16/child-care-costs" target="_self">child care costs</a> and worsening pediatric <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mental health" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/29/kids-parents-mental-health-depression-anxiety" data-vars-content-id="40f51b36-a1fd-4934-b57e-5cfaf8c1fb03" data-vars-headline="Exclusive: Summer Health grabs $12M for pediatric support" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/29/kids-parents-mental-health-depression-anxiety" target="_self">mental health</a>.

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Exclusive: Summer Health grabs $12M for pediatric support

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