Gurgaon-based healthcare training and education firm VIVO Healthcare Ltd has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Springboard Ventures, an investment arm of media house Times Group's holding company Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd (BCCL), according to a press release.
The company will use the funding to strengthen its marketing and distribution reach through access to BCCL’s stable of print publications, television and digital media, it said.
Founded by Shakti Singh and Reena Puri in 2009, VIVO offers job-oriented programmes besides health, safety and life support training plans for corporates, schools and healthcare providers. It also offers ambulance services for select clients.
Singh was managing director of DLF’s hotel division before founding VIVO. An MBA from The University of Chicago, he previously worked with Morgan Stanley Asset Management and Halliburton Co also.
Puri was working with GE Healthcare before starting VIVO.
"We believe that our partnership with Springboard has the potential to transform the healthcare education landscape," said Singh, who is managing director and co-founder of VIVO Healthcare.
“In VIVO, we found the right idea, and the right partners that can create a dominant brand in the healthcare education space," said Rajesh Sharma, director, BCCL and national head, Springboard Ventures.
BCCL, which has interests in print, television, radio and internet, usually invests in firms through its arm Brand Capital. Although sector agnostic, it largely targets firms with consumer facing products or services that require advertising. It uses its ad space in various media properties as a currency to pick stake in small, medium as well as large firms.
Springboard, which is a part of Brand Capital, focuses on co-creating what it calls 'Super Brands' from asset-light business concepts. The investee firms under Springboard include grocery e-tailing venture LocalBanya, lingerie firm Daiki Brands (with brands such as Biara and Peri Peri) and diabetes care firm Lifespan.
