Recently, Stepful announced that it raised a $31.5 million Series B led by Oak HC/FT, with participation from Y Combinator, Reach Capital, AlleyCorp and others. This funding comes less than nine months after Stepful raised its $12 million Series A. The U.S. healthcare system is projected to soon be short of 3.2 million workers, and Stepful aims to help solve this shortage by training hourly workers for steady healthcare jobs.
Key takeaways:
- Carl Madi, a former Uber and Handy employee, co-founded Stepful, an AI-powered online program that trains people for entry-level healthcare jobs like medical assistants and pharmacy technicians.
- Stepful's program takes four months and costs an average of $2,500, significantly less than traditional trade schools or community colleges. The company has grown from 50 students in its first year to an expected 30,000 enrollees in 2024.
- After completing the online coursework, Stepful matches students with one of its 8,000 partner clinics or hospitals for hands-on training. The company also uses AI to send personalized messages to students who are falling behind, and if necessary, a human coach intervenes.
- Stepful recently raised a $31.5 million Series B led by Oak HC/FT, less than nine months after raising its $12 million Series A. The funding will help address the projected shortage of 3.2 million healthcare workers in the U.S.