Could texting alone be a viable way for patients to get real medical help and prescriptions? Could we build it lean and bootstrap our way in a space full of billion-dollar incumbents?
Result:
Short answer is yes, in 10 months we hit profitability. We now have 500+ reviews across both app stores with a 4.9 star average rating, and patients seem to love the simplicity of chat and privacy of not showing their face on video.
Our Story:
When I get sick, I usually just text my best friend who's a doctor. One day I asked him... why isn't this experience available to everyone? That's where the idea was born.
How we approached it:
Business model: $24 per visit — no recurring fees, no
insurance required
Ops: started in California, now live in 15 states (TX, FL, NY etc)
Why it worked:
The majority of visits are for simple conditions (prescriptions, refills, minor issues) that don't need video. Texting keeps costs low and frictionless for both sides.
We're Hiring:
Looking for doctors and growth marketers.
Also, if you're curious about how we scaled a healthcare company to profitably from scratch. Happy to share lessons learned in the comments.
InstaCured – Built a "text your doctor" startup, profitable in 10 months · HackerTrans
Could texting alone be a viable way for patients to get real medical help and prescriptions? Could we build it lean and bootstrap our way in a space full of billion-dollar incumbents?
Result:
Short answer is yes, in 10 months we hit profitability. We now have 500+ reviews across both app stores with a 4.9 star average rating, and patients seem to love the simplicity of chat and privacy of not showing their face on video.
Our Story:
When I get sick, I usually just text my best friend who's a doctor. One day I asked him... why isn't this experience available to everyone? That's where the idea was born.
How we approached it:
Business model: $24 per visit — no recurring fees, no insurance required
Ops: started in California, now live in 15 states (TX, FL, NY etc)
Why it worked:
The majority of visits are for simple conditions (prescriptions, refills, minor issues) that don't need video. Texting keeps costs low and frictionless for both sides.
We're Hiring:
Looking for doctors and growth marketers.
Also, if you're curious about how we scaled a healthcare company to profitably from scratch. Happy to share lessons learned in the comments.