Oska Wellness has raised $5.5M in total. We talk with Greg Houlgate, its co-founder.
PetaCrunch: How would you describe Oska Wellness in a single tweet?
Greg Houlgate: Oska Wellness is a pioneer of technology-driven wellness solutions that help people live more active lives with less pain.
PC: How did it all start and why?
GH: After helping a koala badly burned in a brushfire recover from its injuries, the Australian-born prototype of Oska Pulse found its way to the U.S. When I first discovered it, I was already familiar with the pain-relieving effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy, but was reinvigorated by the technology after seeing significant improvement in the severe edema in my father’s legs after he used the device for just a few days. I became inspired by the possibilities of the tech and knew that other people with chronic pain could also benefit from it, as long as there was access and a portable design. From there, I helped redesign the prototype of the device to be small, lightweight, rechargeable and accessible to the masses.
PC: What have you achieved so far?
GH: Earlier this year, we launched the enhanced Oska Pulse, a revolutionary, drug-free pain relief device that’s clinically proven to reduce inflammation, increase circulation, improve mobility and relieve pain using Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) technology. The device’s enhanced features include 90-minute pain relief sessions and double the battery life for added convenience and ease of use.
This year we have also partnered with integrated healthcare systems Sanford Health, Scripps Health and Kaiser Permanente to introduce healthcare professionals to Oska Pulse and generate awareness of the device as a non-pharmaceutical option for pain management. We have also partnered with the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO), a non-profit organization that aims to advance healthy communities, in order to introduce Oska Pulse to healthcare facilities and pain patients across South Dakota.
PC: How will you use your recent funding round?
GH: We’re thrilled to have raised $5.5 million in a first round of funding as consumers and the medical industry search for drug-free alternatives to manage pain. All investors in the round have strong ties to the healthcare industry and personally use Oska Pulse for pain relief. The new capital infusion is earmarked for sales, marketing, distribution and product development, and will help us better serve the 100 million Americans who suffer daily from chronic pain.
PC: What do you plan to achieve in the next 2-3 years?
GH: In the coming months, we plan to unveil an updated version of our Oska Pulse device that is app-driven, providing big data opportunities for healthcare providers on pain, a marker that has not yet been tracked.
