Consulting a doctor for sex-related problems still remains an uncomfortable exercise for most Indians.

People would rather suffer silently than see a doctor. Identifying this stigma, two techies have started CupidCare.in, an online platform to discuss doubts about sex, sexually-transmitted diseases (STD) and other related health issues.

“People want to be discreet not only in seeing a doctor but also in getting relevant diagnostic tests done. We found that an online platform could address this stigma.

“They can have a text chat to get their preliminary doubts cleared. If need be, they can go to a clinic for further assistance,” Krishna Teja, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO), told BusinessLine .

The portal, which went live nine months ago, has so far roped in 60 specialists in gynaecology, endocrinology and psychiatry.

“People suffering from STD want discreet counselling, while newly-married couples seek answers for several doubts related to sexual life. The third category is senior citizens who wish to sort out their doubts regarding sexual health,” he said.

Teja and Co-Founder Sriram Varma were colleagues at a healthcare tech start-up. “While working there we were in touch with the healthcare ecosystem. We studied the healthcare service delivery and found a dire need in this unattended vertical,” he said.

Lean model

Working on a lean model, they built the firm with a mere ₹6 lakh.

“We are a five-member team now and we are registering about 40 consultations a day.

“We work out of a co-working space to cut costs. The average consultation fee is ₹500. In order to offer a comprehensive solution to our subscribers, we are tying up with diagnostic centres and clinics,” he said.

The firm is in talks with investors to raise ₹1.5-2 crore to expand operations to other cities and launch pre-marital campaigns in a big way.

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