Shape Up The Nation, a provider of social networking-based online health and wellness services, has raised USD5m of series A funding from Cue Ball Capital and Excel Venture Management, in partnership with management members.
“This new investment reaffirms the exciting opportunity for our Software as a Service health and wellness platform and is a milestone on our path to becoming the leading online hub for wellness activities and programming. Cue Ball and Excel each bring a unique base of experiences and relationships that will augment our already meteoric growth,” says Mike Zani, chief executive of Shape Up The Nation.
Founded in 2006 by Brown Medical School students Rajiv Kumar and Brad Weinberg, Shape Up The Nation marries the power of online social networking technology with the idea that people working together achieve better health and wellness outcomes.
Members of the Shape Up The Nation platform use peer-based motivation tools to succeed in challenges and achieve goals such as losing weight, increasing physical activity, and quitting smoking. Cleveland Clinic, Cargill, Jarden Corporation and National Grid have chosen Shape Up The Nation to power their health and wellness efforts.
In conjunction with the financing, Anthony Tjan, chief executive and general partner of Cue Ball Capital, will join the board and serve as executive chairman. Juan Enriquez, managing director of Excel Venture Management, will also join Shape Up The Nation’s board of directors.
Enriquez says: “Shape Up The Nation’s unique social platform provides the most engaging and effective option for employers and health plans seeking a wellness solution with tangible ROI. We are thrilled to be a partner with Cue Ball and Shape Up The Nation, and it is going to be very exciting to help this company lead a new online wellness movement.”
