Air Doctor: the Israeli success story that is revolutionizing travel health
Every problem has its solution
The idea behind Air Doctor was born out of a frustration that one of the founders, Jenny Cohen Derfler, experienced when she found herself traveling abroad without easy access to reliable healthcare. Recognizing that this was a problem that affected millions of travelers each year, the entrepreneurial team decided to tackle the challenge. “Finding a doctor when you’re traveling and don’t speak the local language can be a nerve-wracking experience. We wanted to create a solution that simplifies this aspect of travel for the millions of people who travel each year,” says Jenny Cohen Derfler in an interview. The Air Doctor platform offers an app that allows travelers to connect directly to a network of over 20,000 doctors in over 84 countries, covering a wide range of medical specialties. Additionally, whether for an in-person or online consultation, users can filter their searches by language, specialty, or distance.
Growing to Achieve the Mission
Since its creation, Air Doctor has experienced rapid growth. By 2023, the company had facilitated thousands of medical consultations worldwide, and this number continues to grow with the rise of post-pandemic tourism. Subsequently, in October 2024, the startup closed a $20 million funding round, aimed at strengthening its international presence and expanding its network of doctors. This round of financing brings the company's total funding to $38 million, a very impressive result in the field of healthcare technology. With this round of funding, Air Doctor is aiming for more aggressive international expansion, particularly in Asia, Latin America and Europe. In addition, the startup plans to add new features to its app, including multilingual assistance services and preventive consultation offerings for travelers with chronic illnesses.
An Israeli vision and entrepreneurial spirit
The founders had a perfect sense of the market, understanding early on that travelers, whether on business or on vacation, are increasingly aware of the health risks they may encounter in unfamiliar environments. It's this flair that enables Air Doctor to change the game. It's not about connecting people, it's about offering peace of mind. “Knowing that I can access an English-speaking doctor anywhere, anytime, makes my travels a lot less stressful", says a regular user of the app. The startup perfectly embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of the country often referred to as "Start-up Nation", as it is the fruit of an ecosystem where technological innovation is essential and solutions to global problems are emerging on a regular basis.
Without a doubt, Air Doctor's story is a true success story, combining technology, innovation and vision. But surely, even if this dynamic of success is particularly visible in countries like Israel, other countries, such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, are also undergoing a true transformation and modernization, putting them at the heart of a shared future.
Sources :
https://www.kametventures.com/news/air-doctor-scores-7-8m-to-connect-travellers-with-local-doctors
https://techfundingnews.com/air-doctor-secures-20m-to-expand-global-healthcare-access-for-travelers/
https://startuprise.org/air-doctor-a-multi-million-dollar-enterprise/
