Latham & Watkins Advises Cerula Care in $3.7M Funding.
Cerula Care, an innovative company focused on oncology behavioral health and care navigation, has successfully completed a Seed funding round, raising an impressive $3.7 million, which was oversubscribed. The funding round was led by Esplanade Ventures, with additional contributions from Amplify Capital, BrightEdge (the innovation and impact investment division of the American Cancer Society), DigiTx Partners, SpringTime Ventures, and Mike Pykosz, former CEO and co-founder of Oak Street Health. This influx of capital will enable Cerula Care to expand its services to additional practices and enhance its patient-facing technology.
Supriya Laknidhi, Cerula Care's co-founder and CEO, shared her thoughts on the mission behind the company: “When someone is going through one of the scariest moments of their life – being told they have cancer – they get an oncologist focused on eradicating the cancer. However, the whole journey truly changes someone's outlook on life, and no one is currently focused on improving the patient's mental health. Cerula Care exists to help everyone going through the cancer journey have a better quality of life and ensures one coordinated team with their oncologist.”
The investment by Esplanade Ventures further strengthens Cerula Care’s growth prospects. Ella Seitz, Managing Partner at Esplanade Ventures and a board member of Cerula Care, emphasized the company’s potential: "At Esplanade Ventures, we invest in and empower founders that are solving meaningful gaps in healthcare and have a proven ability to execute. Having supported family members in their cancer journey, Cerula Care's vision and mission resonated with us instantly, and we are incredibly proud to partner with Supriya and Kyle. As a platform purpose-built for cancer patients, Cerula Care and its co-founders are uniquely positioned to become leaders in the cancer behavioral health space and transform the challenging journey for millions of patients."
Cerula Care is the first integrated behavioral health company dedicated to supporting oncologists and their patients. The company offers a range of virtual services, including Care Management, Coaching, and Psychiatry, to help manage mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that cancer patients often experience. By providing personalized, accessible care, Cerula Care aims to improve the overall well-being of cancer patients, addressing both their physical and emotional needs during their treatment journey.
The legal representation for Cerula Care in this transaction was provided by Latham & Watkins LLP, with the Emerging Companies & Growth team led by New York partner Peyton Worley and associate Alex Bernstein.
Latham & Watkins LLP is a leading global law firm known for its expertise in corporate, litigation, and transactional law. With over 2,000 attorneys in 14 countries, the firm advises clients across a wide range of industries, including technology, healthcare, finance, and energy. Founded in 1934, Latham & Watkins is renowned for its work with emerging companies, offering legal solutions for startups and growth-stage businesses. The firm’s Emerging Companies & Growth team helps navigate complex legal matters related to business formation, financing, and scaling, making it a trusted partner for innovative companies worldwide.
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