Complement 1: WhiteHat Jr. Founder’s New Healthcare Startup Secures $16 Million to Transform Cancer Care

In an era where digital health is reshaping the landscape of medical care, a new player is making waves — and it comes from a familiar name in the Indian startup world. Karan Bajaj, the founder of WhiteHat Jr., has returned to the entrepreneurial stage with a mission that goes far beyond education. His latest venture, Complement 1, a healthtech startup aimed at improving outcomes for cancer patients through lifestyle medicine, has recently raised $16 million in seed funding.

This round was led by Owl Ventures and Blume Ventures, with participation from notable healthcare-focused angel investors. The capital will be used to expand Complement 1’s services across the United States and continue developing its tech-powered approach to cancer care.

In this blog, we explore the origin, vision, methodology, and future of Complement 1, while examining what makes this startup so timely — and so needed.

The Origin of Complement 1: From Coding to Cancer Care

Karan Bajaj is no stranger to innovation. After founding WhiteHat Jr., a coding education platform that saw massive adoption and was acquired by BYJU’S for $300 million in 2020, Bajaj took a step back from the edtech world. But he wasn’t done building.

In 2024, he teamed up with Trupti Mukker, former CEO of WhiteHat Jr., to co-found Complement 1 in the U.S. Their mission? To reimagine cancer care through personalized, daily coaching rooted in lifestyle medicine.

While conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation remain critical, there’s growing recognition that factors like nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and emotional wellbeing play a major role in patient recovery. Complement 1 seeks to be the “active complement” to traditional treatments — hence the name.

What Complement 1 Offers

Complement 1 doesn’t replace medical treatment. Instead, it integrates into the patient’s journey, offering daily 1-on-1 coaching sessions through what the startup calls “CoActive Coaches.” These coaches guide patients through:

• Nutrition planning
• Physical activity routines
• Stress management and mental health support
• Sleep optimization
• Medication adherence and symptom tracking

The experience is tech-enabled, with AI-powered personalization that adapts to each patient’s evolving needs, health status, and preferences. But the key human element — daily contact with a coach — ensures that support is empathetic, trusted, and consistent.

This high-touch approach is especially vital for patients undergoing treatment for cancer, who often feel overwhelmed by side effects, fear, and fatigue. The startup’s goal is to bridge the gap between medical treatment and quality of life.

Why Cancer Care Needs a Lifestyle Revolution

The World Health Organization estimates that one-third of cancer deaths are linked to lifestyle factors — such as poor diet, sedentary behavior, tobacco use, and excessive stress. Yet, many cancer treatment plans overlook these areas, either due to time constraints, lack of expertise, or system inefficiencies.

Complement 1’s model is based on clinically validated science, with early users reporting significant improvements:

• 37% fewer treatment side effects
• 18% reduction in pain levels
• 27% improvement in sleep quality
• Over 90% adherence to coaching programs

The company’s methodology is grounded in evidence-based practices and developed in collaboration with oncologists, behavioral psychologists, and data scientists. By embedding these practices into daily life through consistent, personalized support, the startup offers an actionable and scalable solution to a longstanding gap in cancer care.

Inside the $16 Million Seed Round

Complement 1’s $16M seed round reflects both investor confidence and rising demand for innovation in healthcare.

Key Investors:

• Owl Ventures: A major player in edtech and healthtech, Owl has backed companies like MasterClass, Degreed, and Byju’s.
• Blume Ventures: An early-stage Indian VC firm with a growing interest in global startups solving critical health and education problems.
• Other angel investors: Industry veterans with a background in healthcare innovation, coaching platforms, and biotech.

According to Owl Ventures Managing Director Amit A. Patel, the investment aligns with the firm’s thesis that “the future of healthcare lies in behaviorally engaging platforms that empower people daily.”

This round will help Complement 1 scale across the U.S., especially in partnership with cancer centers, health plans, and employers looking to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

The Role of AI in Personalized Coaching

One of the biggest challenges in lifestyle medicine is personalization. What works for one patient may not work for another. Complement 1 uses an AI-based personalization engine to address this.

Each coaching plan is generated based on:

• Patient’s cancer type and treatment phase
• Health history and lab results
• Lifestyle preferences and goals
• Feedback from daily sessions

This adaptive approach not only improves outcomes but builds long-term engagement, which is notoriously difficult in healthcare programs.

The AI system also alerts coaches and clinicians about concerning trends — such as deteriorating sleep patterns or signs of emotional distress — ensuring proactive intervention.

Why This Matters Now

The timing of Complement 1’s rise is notable. Healthcare systems across the globe are:

• Overburdened: With physician shortages and high burnout.
• Expensive: Cancer treatment is among the most costly.
• Fragmented: Behavioral health, nutrition, and fitness are rarely integrated.
• Reactive: Focused more on treating illness than maintaining wellness.

Complement 1 offers a proactive, integrative model that supports the patient’s entire health journey. It could not only improve outcomes but also reduce healthcare costs through fewer emergency visits, reduced complications, and better treatment adherence.

Moreover, there’s increasing employer and insurer interest in value-based care — where providers are paid based on patient health outcomes rather than volume. Complement 1 aligns perfectly with this trend.

Competitive Landscape

While lifestyle coaching platforms exist, few are as tightly focused on cancer care or offer the same level of daily engagement and clinical validation.

Notable players in adjacent areas include:

• Noom: Focused on weight loss and behavior change.
• Virta Health: Diabetes reversal through lifestyle and coaching.
• Cleo: Family health support for employers.

But Complement 1’s niche in oncology, combined with its real-time coaching model, gives it a strong strategic advantage — especially as oncology spending continues to grow globally.

The Road Ahead

Complement 1’s ambitions are bold. With new funding in hand, the startup plans to:

• Expand operations across the U.S.
• Build deeper partnerships with hospitals and cancer centers.
• Enhance the digital product, making the coaching experience more seamless.
• Publish further clinical results, strengthening its position with payers and providers.
• Explore global markets, starting with India and Southeast Asia.

Bajaj has also hinted that the platform could eventually serve other chronic conditions such as autoimmune diseases and diabetes, where lifestyle plays a critical role.

What Industry Leaders Are Saying

“This is one of the most meaningful startups we’ve seen in years. It’s not just about patient engagement — it’s about transforming lives every day.”
— Dr. Rishi Sood, Oncologist and HealthTech Advisor

“We’re seeing a paradigm shift from hospital-centric to home-centric care. Complement 1 is on the frontier of that change.”
— Trupti Mukker, Co-founder, Complement 1

Conclusion

Complement 1 may still be in its early stages, but its vision is clear — and increasingly necessary. By focusing on the daily lives of cancer patients and offering consistent, human-centered support, the startup is filling a crucial gap in the healthcare system.

Backed by strong leadership, clinical results, and investor trust, Complement 1 is well on its way to becoming a key player in the next wave of patient-centered care.

FAQs

Q1: What is Complement 1?
Complement 1 is a U.S.-based healthtech startup founded by Karan Bajaj and Trupti Mukker. It offers personalized, daily coaching for cancer patients focused on nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress management.

Q2: How does it work?
Patients are paired with a “CoActive Coach” who provides daily one-on-one guidance. The coaching is personalized through an AI-driven platform that adapts to the patient’s condition and lifestyle.

Q3: Who has invested in Complement 1?
The company raised $16 million in seed funding led by Owl Ventures and Blume Ventures, along with participation from several angel investors.

Q4: What kind of results has the platform shown?
Early users have reported fewer treatment side effects, reduced pain, improved sleep, and over 90% adherence to the program.

Q5: What’s next for Complement 1?
The startup plans to scale operations in the U.S., expand its product, build clinical partnerships, and eventually enter other international markets.

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