An Investment for Healthy Living A social network that promotes healthier living through group support and motivation attracts a $5 million VC investment.

Social Health: Brad Weinberg, left, and Rajiv Kumar. Photo © David Lang

As classmates at Brown University Medical School in 2006, Rajiv Kumar and Brad Weinberg were bothered by the emphasis on treating disease vs. promoting wellness. As doctors, they routinely encountered patients who struggled with lifestyle modifications like losing weight, quitting smoking and boosting physical activity.

But the patients who were successful typically used their social networks--both interpersonal and virtual--for motivation and moral support. The duo saw an opportunity.