Ship2B Ventures, through the BSocial Impact Fund supported by Banc Sabadell, Axis, and the European Investment Fund, has partnered with the German startup Vivira to drive a digital solution that enables personalised home treatment for back pain. The investment was made in collaboration with the German impact fund BonVenture.
Back pain: a global health challenge
Back pain has become a significant public health concern worldwide. The World Health Organisation (WHO) identifies lower back pain as the leading cause of disability, affecting an estimated 619 million people globally, with this number expected to rise to 843 million by 2050.
In Spain, according to the Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians (SEMERGEN), back pain is the most common chronic illness, surpassing conditions such as hypertension and osteoarthritis. An estimated 80% of the population will experience some form of back pain during their lifetime. In countries like Germany, back pain is one of the main reasons for work disability and early retirement. Despite the scale of the problem, only 50% of patients needing physiotherapy receive the necessary prescriptions to treat their condition.
The impact of back pain extends beyond individual quality of life; it also affects workforce productivity and places a heavy burden on healthcare systems. There is an urgent need for an accessible, effective, and scalable solution to tackle this issue at its core. This is where ViViRA, a digital therapeutic app, is revolutionising back pain treatment.
ViViRA: an innovative digital solution
ViViRA is a prescription app specifically designed to treat back pain through movement therapy. It provides patients with an innovative and accessible alternative to traditional physiotherapy, allowing them to perform therapeutic exercises from the comfort of their own home. One of the app’s key advantages is that it is fully reimbursed by statutory health insurers in Germany, with an increasing number of private insurers also covering the cost, making it free for patients.
Founder Dr Philip Heimann states: “Since we founded the company, more than 200,000 people have used ViViRA. And since obtaining general reimbursement listing through ‘DiGA’, ViViRA has been the most prescribed digital health app by doctors from 2020 to 2023, according to Germany’s largest health insurers, TK and BARMER. With the investment from Ship2B Ventures and BonVenture, we will continue to increase the number of patients served while introducing additional digital therapies into the healthcare system.”
Dr. Philip Heimann, CEO and Cofounder of Vivira
The process is simple: doctors can prescribe ViViRA, and patients only need a smartphone to start their therapy. This ease of use, combined with health insurance coverage, has made ViViRA a key tool in combating back pain in Germany.
ViViRA’s added value: personalisation and efficiency
What sets ViViRA apart is its ability to personalise each patient’s therapy. The app features an integrated medical algorithm that adjusts daily training sessions according to the user’s pain level and progress. The more regularly patients use the app and provide feedback on the effectiveness of the exercises, the more tailored the therapy becomes, ensuring optimal results. Clinical studies have shown that patients can experience a 54% reduction in pain after just two weeks of use, and a 67% reduction after 12 weeks.
This patient-centred approach, supported by medical professionals, has positioned ViViRA as an effective and accessible solution for millions of people suffering from back pain. Moreover, the app is constantly evolving, with plans to expand and offer digital therapies for other musculoskeletal disorders in the future.
Ship2B Ventures: catalysing impactful solutions
Our role in this project goes beyond a financial investment. At Ship2B Ventures, we believe in the transformative power of technology to address social challenges, and ViViRA is a clear example of this. By investing in this startup, we are driving a solution that not only improves the quality of life for patients but also alleviates pressure on healthcare systems by offering an effective and accessible therapy on a large scale.
Jordi Ferrer, Director of Investments at Ship2B Ventures, highlights: “ViViRA fits perfectly with our impact investment thesis. We are excited to support a digital solution that addresses one of the leading causes of workplace absenteeism and disability worldwide. Furthermore, its ability to scale and reach a wide audience makes it a key project in our portfolio.”
The recent investment by Ship2B Ventures, alongside the German impact fund BonVenture, will enable ViViRA to continue expanding within the German market and, potentially, beyond its borders, offering a solution to a global health issue affecting millions of people.
By providing patients with an accessible, effective, and personalised solution for treating back pain, ViViRA is creating a breakthrough in the digital health sector. With our support, we are confident that it will remain a leader in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, improving the lives of millions around the world.