Start-up secures US$5.5m to tackle chronic pain

The US medtech company JOGO Health has raised over US$5.5m to “transform” the treatment of chronic pain and neuromuscular disorders.

Chronic pain affects a higher proportion of women than men around the world. However, women are less likely to receive treatment.

Research shows women generally experience more recurrent pain, more severe pain and longer lasting pain than men.

JOGO’s wearable technology and app use the brain’s natural neuroplasticity to provide non-invasive, drug-free relief for conditions, including chronic lower back pain, stroke recovery, migraines and incontinence.

The investment round, led by Hourglass Ventures, is hoped to help JOGO expand and improve the treatment of chronic pain and neuromuscular disorders for millions worldwide.

“The conviction of our investors is phenomenal,” said Siva Nadarajah, president and co-founder. “This round will enable us to meet growing demand.”

The funding, Nadarajah said, would support JOGO’s commercial launch, putting JOGO on track to become the first line of treatment for chronic pain and other neuromuscular disorders, impacting one in five people globally.

Due to high demand, the co-founder said JOGO is opening the round to public retail investors via a Regulation CF community investment round on Wefunder, inviting retail investors to join alongside firms like Mayo Clinic Ventures, the venture arm of the world-renowned hospital.

The community investment round is open to everyone via Wefunder, with a minimum investment of US$100.

Sanjai Murali, co-founder and CEO, said: “We believe healthcare is too important to be controlled by a few. “JOGO is founded on the vision of ‘by the world, for the world,’ and opening our investment round to retail investors on Wefunder is a crucial step towards realising this vision.”