In July 2022, sisters Helena Rapprich and Anina Langhans founded their startup LipoCheck after their father, Dr. Stefan Rapprich, a specialist physician, told them about the long waiting times faced by lipedema patients and asked for their help. Their company is dedicated to supporting women with lipedema, a condition often mistaken for obesity, characterized by uncontrolled fat accumulation, severe pain, and sensitivity to touch. In addition to the physical symptoms, patients also suffer from psychological burdens such as feelings of shame, often waiting a long time for diagnosis and treatment. Their goal is to support these women with specialized solutions and expert knowledge, helping to shorten their journey of suffering.
What solutions do you offer for lipedema patients, and how do they improve treatment?
We see ourselves as a healthcare platform that enables easy access to medical services. We currently have three products on the market, two of which are specifically designed for lipedema patients. Our first product was the LipoCheck app, available through a subscription model, which helps collect initial indications through a symptom tracker and a diary — particularly useful for women who suspect they might have lipedema.
At the same time, we developed a telemedicine service where patients can upload their data and photos via the app and receive an online diagnosis or a second opinion from a qualified physician — for a one-time fee of €38. In addition, we created a dashboard for doctors that allows them to efficiently manage inquiries and generate medical reports with just a few clicks.
We strictly adhere to medical guidelines and work based on the latest scientific findings. This ensures that our solutions are reliable and well-founded for both patients and healthcare professionals.
A compelling concept that quickly caught the attention of health insurance companies as well, right?
Yes, exactly! Early on, we realized that health insurers were lacking a holistic support system for lipedema patients — not just diagnosis, but also medical support afterward. At the beginning of last year, the first health insurance companies proactively approached us.
That’s why we developed LipoAlly — a therapy support program after diagnosis that helps patients with self-management. Since October, we have been working with three health insurance companies and aim to partner with ten more by the end of the year.
Are there comparable offerings for lipedema care on the healthcare market?
No, we are the only ones who digitally cover the entire healthcare journey for lipedema patients — from the initial suspicion to diagnosis and through to self-management. There are individual approaches, but no solution that covers the entire process while working closely with doctors and clinics.
You recently closed a €2.5 million seed funding round. How did you approach fundraising, and what was important to you when selecting investors?
When we decided to raise a larger funding round, I participated in various events and received many introductions — both to business angels, VCs, and family offices. We actually met some of our investors at one of your events — BayStartUP is truly one of the best networks. Through your coaching, we also received very valuable tips for our pitch and great support throughout the fundraising process.
We chose investors who truly understood us and our vision and whom we could trust. We were particularly excited to bring a family office like Prange on board, as they have experience with internationalization, which is extremely valuable for our next steps. The VC TGFS also convinced us because they quickly grasped our business model and already have experience in the healthcare sector. In addition, we gained business angels who not only support us financially but also bring real added value through their networks and expertise.
What will you use the new capital for?
The capital will primarily be used to further develop our platform, expand our telemedicine services, and drive internationalization. One particularly exciting market for us is the United States, where 10% of women are also affected and healthcare pathways are less structured — giving us many opportunities to bring more organization and support. Additionally, U.S. regulations offer more freedom for innovation, such as the use of AI, allowing us to test and implement new solutions more quickly.
Finally, do you have a tip for other founders who are just starting out?
My biggest tip is definitely: “Networking, networking, networking.” I know it can sound a bit cliché, but it truly helped me. Be present, be open, ask questions, listen carefully, and read between the lines. Whether it's with customers, investors, or other founders — show genuine interest and always be approachable. Even if you feel uncertain as a first-time founder, it’s important to actively participate in events and networks. That’s how you can learn a lot and build valuable relationships.