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Apollo Hospitals Acquires Cancer Care Startup Onco

Apollo’s acquisition of Onco redefines tech-enabled cancer care in India.

Apollo Hospitals Gives Onco a Second Life: A Hopeful Turn for Cancer Care in India

In a heartening twist to recent rumours, cancer care startup Onco has found new life… this time under the trusted wings of Apollo Hospitals. While whispers of Onco’s shutdown had left many patients and supporters worried, Apollo’s timely acquisition has not only brought stability but also renewed hope in the future of tech-driven cancer care in India.

For those unfamiliar, Onco was launched in 2017 with a clear mission: to simplify the complicated and emotional journey of cancer treatment. From helping patients get second opinions to guiding them through each step of their treatment plan, Onco brought a much-needed human touch to healthcare through technology.

But like many startups in the healthcare space, scaling sustainably proved challenging. Over the past few months, word spread that Onco was winding down operations. Behind those headlines were real people – patients seeking support, doctors offering help, and a passionate team trying to hold it all together.

Enter Apollo Hospitals.

With this acquisition, Apollo hasn’t just picked up a platform—it has chosen to carry forward Onco’s vision. By combining Onco’s digital tools with Apollo’s robust hospital network, the goal is clear: make cancer care more accessible, more personal, and more humane.

In a country where cancer is rising and navigating treatment can feel overwhelming, this partnership feels less like a business deal and more like a promise. A promise that no patient should feel lost. A promise that innovation still has a home in Indian healthcare.

This is more than just another startup story. It’s a story of second chances—both for a company and for the thousands it set out to serve.

And at Startups India, we’ll always be here to tell those stories.

Written by Ravi Tilekar

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