Biography of Sugandha Agarwal: CEO and Founder of Docttocare- Entrepreneur
Biography of Sugandha Agarwal:
Sugandha is the CEO and Founder of Docttocare, as well as an
angel investor supporting tech startups. Based in Bengaluru, Karnataka,
Sugandha has built a strong reputation in the tech and healthcare sectors.
Foundations and Early Career
Sugandha’s career began with internships at the Indian
Institute of Technology, Delhi, where she gained foundational experience in the
field. These early roles laid the groundwork for her later achievements in
technology and business, leading her to become a successful entrepreneur and
influential leader in the healthcare tech industry.
Educational Background
Sugandha completed her Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam Technical University, where she studied from 2008 to 2012. Her technical
background has played a crucial role in her entrepreneurial journey and
investment decisions.
Diverse Professional Experience
Before founding Docttocare, Sugandha Agarwal amassed
significant experience in various roles. From January 2022 to November 2022,
she worked at Pankhuri, focusing on product and partnerships within a
women-centric community platform. Her earlier experience includes a role as a
Business Analyst at Google Maps Street View, where she created over 100 virtual
tours of diverse businesses. She also worked as a Senior Programmer at Oracle
and as a System Engineer at Infosys. Additionally, Sugandha gained early
experience as an intern at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.
Leading Docttocare: Transforming Healthcare Access
Since September 2016, Sugandha Agarwal has been at the helm
of Docttocare as its CEO and Founder. Under her leadership, Docttocare has
emerged as a prominent online healthcare portal in India, specifically catering
to users from non-metro cities. The platform facilitates access to and booking
of surgery appointments with doctors and hospitals in major cities. The
Docttocare app guides users through every step—from finding the right
healthcare providers to scheduling appointments and arranging transportation
and accommodation.
Successful Fundraising and Market Impact
Docttocare has recently made headlines by raising ₹4 crore
(approximately $567,830) in seed funding from M-Power Solutions’ founder. This
funding will support the company's continued growth and expansion, enhancing
its ability to provide accessible healthcare solutions across India. The
platform's ability to simplify and streamline the process of obtaining medical
care is increasingly recognized as it continues to impact the healthcare
landscape positively.
Biography of Sugandha Agarwal: CEO and Founder of Docttocare- Entrepreneur/ Investor/Startup/Launched Docttocare at NASSCOM/Success story Sugandha Agar
Simplifying Healthcare Access
Docttocare is an online platform designed to streamline
healthcare access for its users. Launched in 2018 at NASSCOM Bangalore, it
provides comprehensive information about top doctors, clinics, hospitals, and
diagnostic centers. The platform features virtual tours of healthcare
facilities to highlight their services and ambiance. It also simplifies
appointment booking, ensuring confirmation through call, SMS, or email.
Expanding Healthcare Reach
As a leading online healthcare portal, Docttocare connects
users from smaller cities with medical professionals and hospitals in major
urban centers. The app guides users through the process of finding and
scheduling appointments with a range of specialists, including dentists,
gynecologists, dermatologists, ENT doctors, as well as practitioners of ayurvedic
and homeopathic medicine.
Supporting Doctors with Enhanced Tools
Docttocare also benefits healthcare providers by increasing
their visibility and integrating online payment systems. It allows doctors to
manage patient records from any location, send appointment reminders, and
oversee clinic operations through a dedicated dashboard, making their work more
efficient and accessible.
Growth in the Appointment Scheduling Market
The global market for appointment scheduling software was
valued at $160 million in 2017 and is projected to exceed $360 million by the
end of 2023. Specifically, the market for doctor’s appointment booking software
is set to grow at an impressive annual rate of 16.56% over the next five years,
continuing through 2023. This significant growth reflects the increasing demand
for efficient scheduling solutions across various sectors.
Docttocare and Its Founder
Docttocare, a company founded by Sugandha Agarwal, stands
out with its single female founder. Sugandha, who holds a degree in electrical,
electronics, and communication engineering, has an impressive background with
experience at major companies like Infosys, Oracle, and Google Maps. Before
launching Docttocare, she worked in various capacities, and now, as the founder
and CEO, she focuses on driving partnerships with hospital brands, developing
end-user acquisition strategies, and managing product positioning, while
leaving coding to others.
Expanding the Team
Currently, Docttocare has a team of 15 members. The company
is actively planning to expand its team in the near future to support its
growth and enhance its service offerings.
Streamlined Ambulance and Blood Bank Services
Docttocare stands out with its innovative features,
beginning with its instant online ambulance booking service. Users can book an
ambulance swiftly and track its live status, including the estimated arrival
time and travel progress. Additionally, the platform provides a blood bank
facility, allowing users to check the availability of various blood groups at
local hospitals.
Comprehensive Health Report Management
The platform also excels in managing health reports. It
enables users to search, compare, and evaluate their health records and
prescriptions, which can be easily shared with doctors. This feature enhances
the user experience by making it simple to keep track of and manage personal
health information.
Enhanced Doctor Selection and Appointment Flexibility
Docttocare simplifies the process of choosing doctors and
medical centers by offering ratings and reviews, as well as a virtual 3D tour
of hospitals and clinics. This helps users make informed decisions before
visiting a facility. Moreover, the platform includes flexible appointment
management with options for free cancellations and rescheduling, ensuring a
convenient experience for users.
Revenue Model
Docttocare operates on a straightforward commission-based
revenue model. While the services offered to patients are free, the platform
charges hospitals a 10% commission on each appointment booked through the
service.
Funding and Investors
In May 2019, Docttocare secured INR 4 Crore in seed funding
from investor Krishna Kumar Devnally. This initial capital was crucial for
supporting the startup’s early growth and expansion.
User Acquisition Efforts
Acquiring the first set of customers was a significant
challenge for Docttocare. The team initially visited around 20 clinics per day
in Bangalore to enroll them. As they started generating revenue from
appointments, they realized that people in Tier 2 cities were also eager to
access reputable doctors. To address this, they began focusing on these cities,
offering not just medical appointments but also transportation and
accommodation services.
Startup Challenges
Starting Docttocare came with numerous challenges, many of
which Sugandha, one of the founders, did not fully anticipate. Balancing
professional and personal life was a major hurdle, requiring her to prioritize
one over the other at times. Building a team, acquiring initial customers and
partners, and developing selling skills were key obstacles. Although she had
some coding experience, aligning fully with the engineering team took time.
Fundraising presented another significant challenge.
Sugandha encountered bias as a solo female founder, with one prominent angel
investor outright rejecting the deal due to this fact. Despite these setbacks,
Sugandha found strength in overcoming these difficulties, which ultimately
contributed to Docttocare’s growth and success.
A timeline with specific dates and concise explanations for
Sugandha's career and achievements:
Education and Early Career
2008-2012: Completed Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam Technical University.
Internships (Dates Not Specified): Gained foundational
experience through internships at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.
Professional Experience Before Founding Docttocare
Dates Not Specified: Worked as a System Engineer at Infosys.
Dates Not Specified: Served as a Senior Programmer at
Oracle.
Dates Not Specified: Worked as a Business Analyst at Google
Maps Street View, creating over 100 virtual tours.
January 2022 - November 2022: Focused on product and partnerships
at Pankhuri, a women-centric community platform.
Founding and Leading Docttocare
September 2016: Founded Docttocare and became its CEO.
2018: Launched Docttocare at NASSCOM Bangalore, offering a
comprehensive online healthcare platform.
May 2019: Secured INR 4 Crore in seed funding from investor
Krishna Kumar Devnally.
Key Developments and Innovations
Recent (Dates Not Specified): Expanded Docttocare’s services
to include online appointment booking, ambulance services, blood bank facilities,
and comprehensive health report management.
July 2024: Raised ₹4 crore (approximately $567,830) in
additional seed funding from M-Power Solutions’ founder.
Market and Revenue
2017-2023: The appointment scheduling software market grows
from $160 million to over $360 million, reflecting increased demand.
Personal and Professional Challenges
Startup Challenges (Dates Not Specified): Encountered
challenges including balancing work-life, team building, customer acquisition,
and fundraising with gender bias.
Current Focus
2024-Present: Continues to lead Docttocare, overseeing
operations and product development, and engages in angel investing for tech
startups.
