Looped is redefining how clinics operate by combining patient education, engagement, and payments into one platform. From lowering transaction fees to improving communication, it’s helping clinics boost revenue and deliver better care at the same time. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Looped CEO Sam Patel to gain a better understanding of the company.
Sam Patel’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Patel said:
“My background is as a medical entrepreneur. I have both a medical degree (MD) and an MBA, which I’ve utilized to build 12 different practices over the years. These practices were a hybrid model, combining insurance-based medicine focusing on weight loss and hormones, along with cash-based services related to aesthetics and wellness. After building those practices, I moved on to establish a consulting firm called Astra Culture, which has helped over 2,000 practices globally. Our focus is on improving their operations, enhancing revenue, training teams, and ultimately providing a better overall experience for patients, not just in terms of health, but also their experience within the practice itself.”
“Now, I’ve evolved to become the founder of a software and tech company called Looped. Looped is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform, a white-labeled app designed to help practices increase patient retention, engagement, and revenue through patient education and gamified learning while streamlining payment options and unlocking new revenue opportunities.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Patel shared:
“The idea for Looped came about from patterns I noticed while consulting with over 2,000 practices. What I saw repeatedly was that clinics and practices were so focused on acquiring new patients that they were neglecting their existing ones. They lacked proper systems to re-engage patients, resulting in lost trust due to inadequate education about procedures, financing options, pre-treatment preparation, post-treatment expectations, and general follow-up care.”
“Clinics often focused so much on the initial transaction that they neglected the patient experience afterward, which is actually the most important part. The information provided to patients was outdated and delivered through formats like paper handouts, PDFs, or emails, things people just don’t read anymore. Instead, people are turning to social media, YouTube, and other video-based platforms for information.”
“So, we realized there was a major pain point: clinics weren’t re-engaging patients, trust was low, and patients weren’t being properly educated. The delivery methods were outdated, so we set out to bridge the gap between clinics and patients by providing information in the most convenient and effective way, through a white-labeled app using social-media-style video content. That’s how Looped was born.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Patel reflected:
“The creativity involved in building Looped has been my favorite part. I’m not a tech person, I come from a background in medicine and business, but software and technology is new to me. What’s been exciting is learning alongside the team. We often sit down and admit, “We have no idea what we’re doing, but we’re going to figure this out.” We have knowledge templates, resources, drive, and grit, and that’s all we really need, the rest we can learn along the way.”
“Having to navigate unfamiliar territory has been stimulating and fun. It’s about constant learning and overcoming new challenges, which makes the whole process enjoyable.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Patel explained:
“Looped’s core product is a white-labeled app provided to patients through their clinics. Clinics invest in this platform, and their patients gain free access to a custom-tailored app available on both the App Store and Android.”
“The app guides patients through their care journey. It displays information about procedures and treatments, helps them track their progress if it’s a multi-week process, and provides clear instructions for aftercare. The app also re-engages patients, offering guidance on how to maintain results and teaching them about other available services.”
“All of the information is delivered through social media style videos, not text. It’s verified patient education from experts worldwide, designed to be accessible and engaging.”
“Additionally, there is an e-commerce feature within the app, allowing patients to not only learn about various treatments but also purchase them directly within the app. Nowadays, most clinics don’t have financing options, patients have to pay all up front. With Looped, clinics can keep those four out of ten patients who otherwise couldn’t afford care by offering a financing option instead of losing them.”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector of work recently? Patel acknowledged:
“Definitely. The biggest challenge has been creating an app that is user-friendly for everyone. It has to be simple and accessible for different age groups, not just young, tech-savvy users but also older populations. The experience must be seamless for all demographics.”
“Early on, we faced challenges deciding whether to outsource development overseas to save money or stay domestic, spending significantly more for higher quality. We ultimately chose the latter because we knew compromising on quality would hurt the patient experience. We invested a lot more than initially planned but did it the right way, and that decision was critical to our success.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Patel noted:
“Our technology is constantly evolving. We’re always adding new features based on feedback from clinics and users. The beauty of software is that we can push updates anytime and introduce new functionalities.”
“We’ve built the foundation, but now it’s about refining and enhancing the experience. Every week, we’re working on something new, whether it’s a minor tweak or a major update. This iterative improvement process is exciting because there’s always something to improve or expand upon.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Patel cited:
“One of our biggest milestones was securing a partnership with BTL Industries, the largest aesthetic and wellness device manufacturer in the world. Their endorsement has been a game-changer, providing us with credibility, traction, and faster adoption within clinics.”
“Since our launch back in April, we’ve expanded to over 30 states as well as into Canada and are already supporting over 150 clinics nationwide, with interest from Egypt, Australia, Bulgaria, and more.”
Customer Success Stories
When asking Patel about customer success stories, he highlighted:
“There’s nothing specific to share at the moment, but the partnership with BTL Industries and the rapid adoption by over 150 clinics within a few weeks were a strong indicator of the app’s success.”
Funding
When asking Patel about the company’s funding details, he revealed:
“Everything has been bootstrapped by us, the four founders. There are no loans, no external investors, just our own capital. We considered seeking investment but decided to self-fund the entire project for now.”
“Once we reach a point where scaling requires significant hiring and resources, we’ll likely consider outside investment. But for now, we’re reinvesting revenue straight into growth.”
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? Patel assessed:
“Patient education is a rapidly growing sector projected to be a $500 billion industry within the next three years. It’s consistently growing with no signs of plateauing, especially as AI becomes a more significant factor.”
“We’re actively working on integrating AI into the app to offer personalized, curated videos based on user interests, enhancing the overall experience.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Patel affirmed:
“There’s no competition. We’re the first patient education and financing app of this style, focusing on video-based, verified education content and payment options provided directly to patients.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Patel emphasized:
“Our primary goal is expanding into all areas of healthcare. We’re currently focused on wellness, aesthetics, and dentistry, but our vision includes surgery, cardiology, hospitals, and multi-specialty groups.”
“The ultimate objective is to become a standard part of patient education across all healthcare sectors.”
