Pune Inc: How an MBA dropout began a startup to make healthcare more accessible

Rentomed is a part of RentoMed Pvt Ltd, a company started in 2020 with an aggregator platform, The PassBox, to connect manufacturers and buyers of medical equipment.

The bootstrapped company, with more than 20 staffers, including assistant general manager (operations) Sagar Vispute, is now looking to raise funds to establish 15 more fulfilment centres of Rentomed across the country.

However, a potential stumbling block for a company such as this is a generation of clients resistant to an e-commerce platform. Sonawane admits that this is their biggest challenge. “The mid-level generation, with 15-20 years of practice, are generally not able to handle digital gadgets. Our present buyers are in the age group of 28 and 45. Secondly, there is a lack of trust. I am trying to develop trust through generating word-of-mouth goodwill and efficient work practices,” he says.

Sonawane’s trigger was the abysmal healthcare situation in tier II and III towns, “wherein lays the maximum untreated illness of the country”.

“In metro cities, we can avail healthcare packages in hospitals offered by companies. But tier II and III towns do not have that option. RentoMed’s purpose is to ensure that no patient is deprived of technological benefits because of non-availability of the latest innovations,” he says.

Focussed on specialty machines for surgery, orthopaedic, gynaecology and ophthalmology, among others, RentoMed’s catalogue includes equipment for diagnostic, treatment, monitoring, mobility and personal protection. While several businesses have been renting out medical equipment on short and long term for many years, RentoMed is trying to professionalise the system and stabilise pricing.

The app allows users to track the status of their rental orders in real-time, including delivery and pickup. The maximum demand is for energy sources required to conduct surgeries and other procedures. “Young doctors don’t have the funds to purchase these machines,” he says.

A smaller segment is B2C — where RentoMed provides equipment such as ICU beds for patients at home, which are rented out at Rs 100 per day. “We are also trying to expand our B2C market,” he says.