Groningen-based VRelax, a company providing Virtual Reality (VR) solutions to address mental health issues, has successfully raised €1.2 million from Healthy.Capital, Knop Ventures, and CCO Sander Paul van Tongeren.
This funding will be used to accelerate the company’s growth within the Netherlands and support its international expansion, particularly by strengthening its Sales and Customer Success teams.
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Addressing Mental Health with VR Technology
Founded in 2019 by Stefan Vogelzang, Marieke Jongma, Chris Boonstra, Fabian Debats, Jelmer Althuis, and Professor Wim Veling from UMCG, VRelax offers a VR app specifically designed to help people manage mental and physical health issues. The app provides a variety of lifelike VR environments aimed at reducing stress, burnout, anxiety, and physical discomfort, enhancing relaxation and offering distraction during medical procedures.
CEO Stefan Vogelzang highlighted the pressing need for innovative healthcare solutions, stating, “We aim to assist healthcare providers in transitioning to more affordable and accessible care. Our application offers an effective alternative to traditional treatment methods, helping reduce incidents and save both time and money.”
Collaboration and Impact
VRelax’s development involved collaboration with patients, healthcare professionals, and clinicians to ensure the application meets the needs of its users. The app is customizable, scalable, and cost-effective, making it a valuable tool for the healthcare sector. VRelax’s VR solutions are already being used by over 200 mental health institutions, long-term care facilities, and hospitals in several countries, including Sweden, Belgium, England, Ireland, Germany, South Korea, Canada, and the United States.
Support from Investors
Healthy.Capital, an early-stage investment fund focused on transforming healthcare, currently manages €40 million and has invested in 14 startups, including mental health innovator OpenUp and digital therapeutic Clear.bio. Douwe Jippes, managing partner and co-founder of Healthy.Capital, expressed confidence in VRelax’s impact, saying, “We support scientifically validated digital solutions that improve mental well-being and reduce the workload for healthcare workers.”
Knop Ventures, another early-stage venture capital fund, focuses on investments that aim to create a better world. Valerie van den Brink from Knop Ventures emphasized the importance of VRelax’s work, stating, “VRelax’s solution positively impacts both patients and healthcare providers. We look forward to supporting the management team in expanding this impact.”
With this new funding, VRelax is set to further its mission of providing innovative VR solutions to enhance mental and physical well-being, supporting the healthcare sector in delivering effective and accessible care.
