Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders silently impact millions across India, often leading to chronic pain and reduced quality of life. Despite the prevalence, patients frequently navigate a fragmented healthcare system—consulting orthopedists, attending physiotherapy sessions, and engaging in fitness programs that seldom speak with one another.
Imagine grappling with chronic knee pain and navigating a maze of orthopedic consultations, endless physiotherapy sessions, and fitness programs, only to resort to surgery or exacerbate the problem further.
This is where Stance Health, a full-stack MSK health platform, envisions a seamless, omnichannel model where orthopedists, physiotherapists, and strength and conditioning coaches converge to provide holistic care. By bridging the gaps between diagnosis, treatment, and long-term wellness, Stance Health is not just alleviating pain but empowering individuals to reclaim active, fulfilling lives.
At Antler, we believe in backing founders who bring fresh approaches to large and underserved challenges. With Stance Health, Rohit Arora and Ninad Karandikar are rethinking MSK care through an integrated approach that places the patient at the center. Their consumer-first focus and ability to iterate and execute reinforced our belief in their vision to reshape how India treats MSK pain.
How a Meniscus Tear Helped Rohit Start Stance
Rohit Arora's foray into healthcare innovation stems from his personal experience. An accomplished professional with over a decade in scaling startups like Swiggy and Bounce, Rohit's life was sharply altered following a meniscus tear sustained during a squash game. The injury led him through a convoluted path of medical consultations, surgeries, physiotherapy sessions, and fitness training.
Traditionally, MSK treatment operates in silos, with minimal collaboration between critical care providers. Orthopedists, physiotherapists, and fitness trainers often work in isolation, creating fragmented patient experiences. This disconnected approach leads to inherently subjective treatment plans, lacking quantifiable metrics to track patient progress effectively.
Moreover, the existing healthcare model predominantly focuses on immediate symptom relief rather than comprehensive, long-term recovery and proactive prevention. Patients frequently receive fragmented, short-term interventions that address pain momentarily but fail to tackle the root causes or develop sustainable strategies for musculoskeletal health.
Rohit understood that truly transformative healthcare requires an integrated, data-driven approach that prioritizes patient outcomes, continuous communication, and holistic wellness. This insight became the cornerstone of Stance's innovative approach to MSK care.
To bring this vision to life, Rohit joined forces with long-time colleague and friend, Ninad Karandikar. With a rich background in healthcare operations from his tenure at Portea Medical—a leader in home healthcare services—Ninad possesses the domain expertise necessary to navigate the complexities of the Indian healthcare system.
Stance Health: A Holistic Approach to a Care Challenge
Stance transforms musculoskeletal (MSK) recovery by merging patient-centred care with advanced technology and evidence-based practices to restore function, alleviate pain, and enhance overall well-being. By doing so, Stance ensures patients receive consistent, high-quality care, whether in a clinic or home. Central to Stance’s innovative edge is their commitment to use technology across the user journey, starting from assessments till home exercise programs, to improve quality of diagnosis and patient outcomes respectively.
In Bengaluru, this integrated approach has already delivered hundreds of patient sessions, demonstrating higher treatment adherence and clearer recovery pathways. This focus on outcomes and experience, rather than fragmented services, sets Stance apart.
Despite the demand, the existing healthcare infrastructure often falls short. Fragmented services, lack of standardization, and limited adoption of technology hinder effective treatment. Stance Health's integrated model directly addresses these challenges by streamlining services and leveraging technology to enhance both patient and provider experiences.
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Why We Invested in Stance Health
Our investment in Stance Health is driven by our strong association with Rohit during the Antler Residency and several other compelling factors as well:
- Rohit and Ninad bring together a unique blend of startup scaling experience and deep healthcare industry knowledge. Their long-standing professional relationship and shared vision position them well to tackle the intricacies of the MSK domain.
- By integrating physical centers with technology-backed approaches, Stance Health offers a seamless patient journey. This approach not only improves treatment efficacy but also sets a new standard for consumer-first engagement in healthcare.
- Musculoskeletal disorders rank among the leading causes of disability worldwide. In India, approximately 270 million people are affected by some form of MSK condition. The market for MSK care is projected to reach $3.6 billion by 2025, fueled by an aging population and increasing awareness of health and wellness. Stance Health's comprehensive solution meets a critical need in a market ready for disruption.
Nitin Sharma, Partner at Antler India, articulates our conviction: “Rohit and Ninad bring a fresh, consumer-first approach to a critical problem affecting millions of Indians. Their ability to combine technology and medical expertise into a structured, patient-centric solution is exactly the kind of bold thinking we look for in founders. At Antler, we are proud to partner with them on their journey to redefine musculoskeletal care.”
Looking Ahead
Stance Health has hit the ground running with operational centers in Bengaluru, they have reported higher patient adherence to treatment plans and retention rates 3X of industry benchmarks. Looking forward, the company aims:
1. To expand its footprint across Bangalore, and subsequently different cities.
2. Further develop their advanced analytics, personalized coaching, and AI-driven diagnostics.
3. Partner with hospitals and orthopedic specialists to create a unified network dedicated to improving MSK health outcomes.
As Stance Health embarks on this ambitious journey, they are seeking passionate individuals to join their mission. Opportunities span across technology development, healthcare services, operations, and beyond.
At Antler, we are proud to back Rohit, Ninad, and the team as they work towards making MSK care accessible, measurable, and effective for all.
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