Meroka, a health-tech startup focused on revitalizing independent medical practices, has launched with $6 million in seed funding. The round was led by Better Tomorrow Ventures and Slow Ventures, with participation from 8VC and several other investors who share Meroka’s vision for a more human-centered healthcare system.
This funding marks a significant step forward for the company, which is developing a new model for practice ownership and operational support—one designed to empower care teams and bring meaning back to their work.
At the heart of Meroka’s approach is a dual commitment to employee ownership and intuitive technology. The company’s platform is designed to reduce the administrative burden that has come to define much of modern medicine. By streamlining operations such as billing, staffing, compliance, data management, and recruiting, Meroka enables physicians and their teams to spend less time on paperwork and more time with patients.
But the technology is only part of the story. Meroka also helps practices transition to employee ownership, creating structures where every team member—from physicians to front desk staff—can earn a real stake in the business. Ownership is earned through tenure and contribution, giving employees a voice in the practice’s future and a share in the value they help create.
This model stands in stark contrast to the dominant trend of physician rollups, which have reshaped the healthcare landscape over the past decade. Since 2012, private equity firms have acquired more than 5,000 physician practices, often prioritizing short-term financial returns over long-term sustainability. These acquisitions typically result in reduced autonomy for providers, increased burnout, and a decline in patient trust.
Meroka is offering an alternative path. By helping practices remain independent and transition to employee ownership, the company is fostering a culture of shared responsibility and long-term commitment. This approach not only strengthens engagement and retention but also ensures that practices remain rooted in the communities they serve. It’s a model that values people over profit and seeks to restore the sense of purpose that drew many providers to medicine in the first place.
The company’s early traction includes partnerships with respected clinicians like Dr. Maria Sophocles, a nationally recognized OB/GYN, TED speaker, and author. Dr. Sophocles chose Meroka to support her women’s health practice, citing the platform’s ability to give her both professional autonomy and personal freedom. Her experience reflects a broader desire among physicians to reclaim control over their work and reconnect with the core mission of patient care.
Meroka’s launch comes at a time when the healthcare system is under immense strain. Providers are facing rising costs, staffing shortages, and increasing administrative complexity. Many feel they are working harder than ever while earning less and losing the ability to make meaningful decisions about their practice. Meroka is stepping into this moment with a solution that is both practical and visionary—one that combines modern technology with a renewed focus on human connection and shared ownership.
How the funding will be used: With its seed funding secured, Meroka plans to expand its platform, onboard new practices, and continue refining its ownership model. The company is building for the long term, with a focus on sustainability, equity, and impact. As it grows, Meroka hopes to become a catalyst for change in healthcare—restoring dignity to providers, trust to patients, and stability to the independent practices that form the backbone of community care.
KEY QUOTES:
“Independent doctors are some of the most entrepreneurial and mission-driven professionals out there. But too often, they are forced to spend more time managing vendors and paperwork than leading their teams and caring for patients. We built Meroka to give them the support and ownership structure they deserve, so they can keep building the kind of care they believe in and keep their practices in the hands of their teams and communities.”
“We believe that the people who show up for patients every day should share in the value they help create, and employee ownership plays a critical role in making that happen. When you give care teams true ownership, the dynamic shifts. You see greater engagement, stronger motivation, and more sustainable practices.”
Alex Barrett, CEO of Meroka
“I was immediately drawn to Meroka’s mission. They’re fighting the corporate consolidation of healthcare and giving physicians the tools to stay independent. Healthcare today feels like a David-versus-Goliath story, and Meroka’s best-in-class technology and new employee ownership model are setting David up to win.”
“We’re not trying to ‘save’ independent medicine,” said Barrett. “We’re trying to unlock its full potential—by giving great physicians the power and platform to continue practicing, building, and owning their futures.”
Jake Gibson, co-founder of NerdWallet and founding partner at Better Tomorrow Ventures
