This start-up doubled the reach of some UK hospitals during Covid — and investors are taking note

This start-up doubled the reach of some UK hospitals during Covid — and investors are taking note

LONDON — The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated a shift toward digital health services, and investors are looking to capitalize on the trend by making big bets in the space. In the U.K., London-headquartered firm Huma announced Wednesday that it's raised $130 million in an investment round led by the corporate venture arms of and . The cash injection was also backed by , and 's investment funds. Founded in 2011 as , Huma's software lets clinicians monitor patients remotely through a mobile app. It also uses a range of wearables and other devices to gather data on things like heart rate and oxygen saturation. The start-up claims it's able to pick up on deteriorations in patients' health status and decide whether they should go to the hospital or not. The company works with Britain's National Health Service and governments in Germany and the United Arab Emirates. Dan Vahdat, Huma's CEO and co-founder, said the firm had offered its services to the NHS pro bono during the Covid-19 crisis. "We made a commitment last year to look after Covid patients pro bono," Vahdat told CNBC in an interview. "We thought that was the right thing to do. We're very fortunate to