Dineout Founders Raise $4.5M for UK-India Medical Tourism Venture: Pioneering Cross-Border Healthcare

In a bold pivot from restaurant tech to global healthcare, Dineout founders Ankit Mehrotra and Sahil Jain have secured $4.5 million in seed funding for their new startup, The Medical Travel Company, targeting the burgeoning UK-India medical tourism corridor. Announced on October 7, 2025, this funding round underscores the growing potential of medical tourism as a bridge between affordable, high-quality Indian healthcare and the UK’s overburdened NHS system, where patients face years-long waitlists for elective procedures. By offering end-to-end services—from UK-based medical oversight to post-surgery insurance valid in the UK—The Medical Travel Company aims to make seamless cross-border care a reality. This venture not only leverages the founders’ expertise in building consumer trust at scale but also taps into India’s $8 billion medical tourism market, projected to double by 2029. This comprehensive guide explores the funding details, founders’ journey, market dynamics, impacts, future outlook, and more, highlighting how this startup is reshaping global healthcare access.

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Why the $4.5M Raise for The Medical Travel Company Matters

The funding comes at a time when medical tourism is exploding, driven by rising healthcare costs in the West and India’s reputation for cost-effective, world-class treatments. For UK patients, procedures like knee replacements or cosmetic surgeries can cost 60-80% less in India, with shorter wait times and English-speaking doctors. The Medical Travel Company’s full-stack platform addresses key pain points like aftercare and regulatory gaps, positioning it as a trusted intermediary. This raise validates the UK-India corridor’s potential, especially amid NHS backlogs exceeding 7 million cases, and aligns with India’s “Heal in India” initiative to attract 10 million medical tourists annually by 2030. For investors, it signals high returns in a sector growing at 33% CAGR, blending tech scalability with healthcare’s resilience.

Key Details of the Funding Round

Amount: $4.5 million in seed funding.
Lead Investor: Nexus Venture Partners.
Other Participants: Kriscore Capital, 4CAST (athlete-led fund co-founded by Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, and KL Rahul), and angels including Sriharsha Majety (Swiggy), Abhishek Goyal (Tracxn), Ritesh Malik (Innov8), and Arjun Vaidya (Dr. Vaidya’s).
Founding Year: 2024.
Business Focus: End-to-end medical travel ecosystem connecting UK patients to accredited Indian hospitals.

Latest Events and News on the Funding and Launch

Seed Round Announcement on October 7, 2025

The funding was revealed on October 7, 2025, via a press release, with founders Mehrotra and Jain emphasizing the platform’s role in “democratizing access to world-class care.” Nexus Venture Partners highlighted the startup’s potential to scale like Dineout, which reached 50 million users before its 2022 sale to Swiggy.

Investor Spotlight: 4CAST’s Entry

Athlete investors Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer, through 4CAST, brought credibility to the health-focused venture. On October 7, 2025, Stokes shared on social media how personal experiences with Indian medical expertise inspired the investment, drawing parallels to cricket tours.

Media Buzz and Industry Reactions

Outlets like YourStory and Tech in Asia covered the raise on October 7, praising the founders’ pivot from dining to healing. Industry experts noted the timing aligns with the UK’s post-Brexit healthcare strains, with projections of 1 million UK medical tourists to India by 2028.

Historical Context: Founders’ Journey and Medical Tourism Evolution

Ankit Mehrotra and Sahil Jain co-founded Dineout in 2012, revolutionizing restaurant bookings with AI-driven recommendations and partnerships with 40,000 outlets. By 2022, it had processed 100 million reservations, leading to its acquisition by Swiggy for an undisclosed sum estimated at $200 million. Their success in consumer tech, building trust through seamless experiences, directly informs The Medical Travel Company’s model.

India’s medical tourism history dates to the 2000s, when Apollo Hospitals pioneered international patient services. From 183,000 foreign medical arrivals in 2020 (COVID dip) to 635,000 in 2023, the sector has rebounded strongly. The UK-India corridor gained momentum post-2019 with medical e-visas, but challenges like aftercare inconsistencies persisted until platforms like this emerged.

Timeline of Key Milestones for Founders and Medical Tourism

Year	Event
2012	Mehrotra and Jain found Dineout, disrupting restaurant tech.
2020	Dineout hits 50 million users amid pandemic dining shifts.
2022	Dineout acquired by Swiggy; founders eye new ventures.
2024	The Medical Travel Company founded, targeting UK-India.
October 2025	$4.5M seed raise announced, boosting global expansion.

Impacts of the $4.5M Raise on Healthcare and Economy

Economic Ripple Effects

The funding will create 500 jobs in operations and tech by 2027, while stimulating India’s hospital sector with an influx of UK patients. It could add $500 million to bilateral medical tourism revenue, supporting ancillary industries like travel and hospitality.

Healthcare Accessibility and Quality

UK patients gain faster access to treatments, reducing NHS burdens, while Indian hospitals expand capacity. The 12-month UK-valid insurance bridges care gaps, potentially lowering complication rates by 20%.

Investor and Market Confidence

The raise attracts more VC interest in healthtech, with similar startups eyeing corridors like US-India. It counters global healthcare inflation, where UK private care costs 2-3x more than in India.

Challenges and Risks

Regulatory hurdles in dual jurisdictions and competition from Thailand/Malaysia could slow growth, but the founders’ track record mitigates these.

Future Scopes: Global Expansion and Market Disruption

Scaling the UK-India Corridor

By 2028, the startup aims for 100,000 annual UK patients, leveraging digital tools for virtual consultations and AI matching.

Broader International Reach

Plans include entering US, Canada, Australia, and Europe by 2027, targeting 1 million users and $100 million revenue by 2030.

Innovation in Medical Travel

Integration of telemedicine and blockchain for secure records could set new standards, with potential IPO by 2032.

Potential Scenarios for 2030

Optimistic: Dominates UK-India market, $500M valuation, 500,000 patients yearly.
Moderate: Steady growth to $200M revenue, focused on Europe.
Pessimistic: Regulatory delays cap at $50M, limited to bilateral corridor.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who are the founders of The Medical Travel Company?

Ankit Mehrotra and Sahil Jain, former Dineout co-founders who sold the platform to Swiggy in 2022.

What is the $4.5M funding used for?

To expand UK-India operations, build a digital patient system, and forge clinical partnerships.

How does the platform work for UK patients?

It offers UK medical oversight, Indian treatments at accredited hospitals, and 12-month post-surgery insurance valid in the UK.

What is the market size for UK-India medical tourism?

India’s overall medical tourism market is $8 billion in 2024, growing to $14 billion by 2029, with UK as a key source.

Who are the notable investors?

Led by Nexus Venture Partners; includes 4CAST (Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, KL Rahul) and angels like Sriharsha Majety.

What are the future expansion plans?

Extend to US, Canada, Australia, and Europe, aiming for global cross-border healthcare access.

The Medical Travel Company: Bridging Borders in Healthcare

The $4.5 million raise by Dineout’s founders for The Medical Travel Company heralds a new era in UK-India medical tourism, blending tech innovation with compassionate care to make world-class treatment accessible and affordable.