Sundeep Sahni and Nadin Karadag founded Valeo Health in 2021 to close a critical gap in healthcare – one they had both experienced firsthand. As an AI-driven health-tech company, Valeo Health delivers personalised, preventive care directly to users’ homes, combining on-demand health services, tailored treatment plans and ongoing monitoring, all through a seamless digital experience.
With backgrounds spanning technology and operations, the co-founders set out to reimagine how people access and manage their health. Their vision has struck a chord. Today, Valeo Health serves over 100,000 users across the UAE and Saudi Arabia and has brought on a third co-founder: Ankur Majumder. The company recently secured $12m in Series B funding, bringing total investment to $20m.
We started our conversation by talking about their early days.
Gulf Economist: How did Valeo Health come about?
Valeo Health: The story of Valeo Health began with a purpose rather than a product. We founded the company after personal experiences exposed the flaws in traditional healthcare. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sundeep [Sahni] was admitted to intensive care, an experience which completely changed how he viewed health and its fragility. Meanwhile, Nadin [Karadag] saw the problems of a broken system having grown up watching her mother navigate life with multiple sclerosis. So we didn’t set out just to build a business – we wanted to start a movement that makes healthcare personal and empowering.
GE: So how have things evolved since launching?
VH: Originally, we identified a significant gap in the healthcare system – a lack of personalised, preventive care that is both accessible and convenient. From there, our goal was to address this by creating a platform that offers at-home health services, personalised treatment plans, and continuous monitoring, all integrated through a user-friendly digital interface. Since our launch in 2021, our vision has evolved to encompass a broader range of services, including AI-driven health insights, developing in-app longevity scores, advanced at-home testing like Vo2 Max [maximal oxygen consumption] as well as corporate wellness programs.
Valeo Health has grown rapidly, with our platform now used by over 100,000 individuals across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, now with the addition of third co-founder Ankur Majumder. We have forged partnerships with major entities like Talabat, DEWA, E&, and Red Sea Global. The company has been named one of the Future 100 companies shaping the UAE’s economy.
GE: Tell us about your funding journey.
VH: In our early days, we secured $3m in seed funding. This initial investment was crucial in building our platform and validating our business model. Recently, we raised an additional $12m in a Series B funding round, bringing our total investment to $20m. This funding has been instrumental in expanding our services across the GCC and enhancing our AI capabilities.
GE: A lot of founders have these pivotal moments in their growth journey. Was that the case for you?
VH: For us, it was our selection for Google’s Growth Academy: AI for Health, a global program supporting promising health-tech innovators. This recognition affirmed our technological advancements and opened doors for international collaboration.
GE: What did your involvement with SANDBOX bring to the table?
Participation in the SANDBOX program by Oraseya Capital provided us with strategic support and networking opportunities, enabling us to refine our business model and scale effectively within the UAE’s startup ecosystem.
GE: So what’s next for your company in the short term?
VH: In the next year or two, our focus is to expand further within the GCC and explore new services in chronic disease management, longevity and biohacking. AI-driven personalised healthcare will remain our main mission. Looking ahead five years, success for Valeo Health means becoming a leading provider of personalised, preventive healthcare solutions in the region.
GE: Just to finish, any tips for other founders in the UAE?
VH: Leverage available resources like incubators and accelerator programs, build a strong network, and stay adaptable to market dynamics as they change. While there are challenges when navigating the regulatory landscape, the investment picture in the UAE is strong, with increasing interest in health-tech and AI-driven solutions.
GE: Thanks so much for your time.
*A call-out to early-stage tech founders – are you setting yourself up for success?*
SANDBOX is a highly competitive investment programme which offers $150,000 in funding, mentorship from seasoned experts, and direct exposure to a network of regional and international VCs. Held twice a year in February and September, SANDBOX draws over 1,000 applications per cohort, with only 2% coming through the selection process, making it one of the region’s most sought-after programmes for early-stage tech founders.
SANDBOX is run by Oraseya Capital – a $136m venture capital fund backed by Dubai Integrated Economic Zones (DIEZ). As the UAE’s most active investor, Oraseya Capital backs startups from pre-Seed to Series B from $150,000 to $3m.
SANDBOX is now accepting applications to its 7th cohort commencing September 2025. For more information, go to www.sandboxaccelerator.com.