Ro triples its valuation to $1.5B to disrupt healthcare, but is the trend-factor enough?

Like Viagra in Allbirds packaging... 3-year-old telehealth startup Ro (adorable) just raised a fresh $200M in funding, bringing its valuation to $1.5B (baby Unicorn). Ro started off selling men's hair loss supplements and erectile dysfunction meds. In typical startup fashion, Ro managed to make those things sexy by incorporating three major trends:

• Direct-to-consumer: Everything delivered, so you don't have to pick up those Viagra or STD pills in person — they pounced on Pfizer's patents once they expired.
• Trendy packaging: Sleek colors and minimalist Millennial typeset make excessive-sweat medication look like a Kylie lipkit. It's discrete, so you can proudly leave out that eczema cream on the nightstand.
• Tele-everything: Get prescriptions via online doctor consultation and follow-up with your M.D. via in-app text.

Build the brand model, then explode it... Just like Amazon started with books, Ro started with 1 product — now it wants to conquer the digital health industry. Ro's big selling point: it doesn't want your health insurance info in exchange for prescription meds (direct payments only). Since launching men's meds, Ro evolved into a telehealth biz with 4 main verticals:

• Roman: The flagship men's offering — from prostate health powder to hair loss drops.
• Rory: The female version of Roman — from eyelash care to menopause meds.
• Zero: Nicotine replacement treatments to quit smoking.
• Ro Pharmacy: Delivers 500+ generic medications for a $5 flat fee.