John Sculley-backed Audax Health nabs $20M to help people take healthier steps

Audax Health, a digital health startup backed by former Apple CEO John Sculley and other technology and health executives, just raised $ 20 million in a Series B round of funding.  The round was led by Navigy Holdings, Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary of Florida’s largest health insurer, and included current board member Jack Rowe, former CEO and chairman of Aetna, Dan Rose, VP of partnerships at Facebook and others.

The round follows more than $ 35 million previously raised from corporate partners Cigna and Cardinal Health, venture capital firm New Leaf Ventures and members of the startups’ board.

The startup, which launched in 2010, is led by 24-year-old founder Grant Verstandig (who Sculley has said could be “the Steve Jobs of consumer health services”). It partners with healthcare insurers and providers to encourage people to make healthier decisions through personalized content, online communities and team challenges. Startups like Keas, WellTok and others offer similar services to employers, health plans and providers.

With the new funding, the company said it plans to invest in product development, build out the company’s mobile and engineering teams and expand partnerships with insurers and providers.

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