WhiteHat Jr Founder Karan Bajaj Raises $16 Mn For His Cancer Care Startup

WhiteHat Jr’s founder Karan Bajaj has bagged a seed funding of $16 Mn (INR 136.4 Cr) for his cancer care venture Complement1, led by Owl Ventures and Blume Ventures.

The startup said in a statement that it is emerging from stealth to launch the first tech-enabled, clinically validated lifestyle modification platform for cancer patients and high-risk individuals – delivering personalised, daily guidance and education through one-on-one dedicated CoActive Coaches.

“Lifestyle change is one of the most powerful yet underused tools in cancer care,” said Bajaj.

“Every oncologist will tell you patients need more support incorporating clinically recommended physical activity, nutrition and mind-body practices. We’ve cracked the code on daily engagement with personalised, compassionate coaching—helping patients make meaningful, lasting improvements during and beyond treatment,” he added.

Founded in 2024 by Bajaj and Trupti Mukker, Complement1 is a healthtech company focussed on integrating lifestyle medicine into cancer care. 

The startup offers a clinically validated, tech-enabled platform that delivers daily one-on-one support through dedicated CoActive Coaches. 

Designed for cancer patients, survivors, and high-risk individuals, the programme targets key lifestyle areas such as nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and stress management. 

Complement1 works alongside conventional oncology care to improve patient outcomes, enhance quality of life, and reduce costs by up to 30% for employers, providers and insurers.

In August 2020, Mumbai-based WhiteHat Jr was acquired by BYJU’S for $300 Mn. Post-acquisition, Bajaj led BYJU’S International division, launching programmes in multiple languages for students in the US, Brazil and Mexico. He departed from the company in August 2021. 

Founded in 2018 by Bajaj, WhiteHat Jr was a live, one-on-one online coding platform that taught foundational coding concepts—such as sequence, structure, logic, commands, and algorithmic thinking—to young children, filling a gap left by the traditional education system.

Amid rising losses and growing regulatory scrutiny, BYJU’S eventually decided to shut down WhiteHat Jr in 2023 as part of a broader cost-cutting effort.

There has been a spate of second-time founders in India’s startup ecosystem over the recent years. From the early exits of 2021 such as Pranav Jivrajka from Ola, Abhinay Choudhari from BigBasket, and Anant Goel from Milkbasket, to high-profile departures like BharatPe’s Ashneer Grover, Zomato’s Mohit Gupta, and leaders from ShareChat, ZestMoney, and Chingari across the following two years, many founders have chosen to build again, instead of stepping out of the ecosystem.

By the end of 2023, over 30 such leaders had either launched new startups, or shifted roles internally, or joined other ventures in leadership capacities.

The trend seemed to have sustained in 2024 too. DealShare’s Sourjyendu Medda, for instance, floated a new venture, Sports For Life, just months after his exit, Fashinza cofounder Jamil Ahmad launched the proptech startup Marrfa within a month of stepping down, and Adda247’s Chandan Singh also began building a stealth-mode startup after exiting. This growing wave of second-time entrepreneurs indicates maturity in the startup economy.