WhiteHat Jr founder Karan Bajaj launches cancer-focused healthtech startup, raises $16M

Karan Bajaj, Co-founder of BYJU'S-owned WhiteHat Jr, has brought out his next venture, Complement 1, from stealth. The healthtech startup, focused on cancer care through personalised lifestyle medicine, has raised $16 million in a seed funding round led by Owl Ventures and Blume Ventures.

Complement 1 has launched what it describes as the first tech-enabled, clinically validated lifestyle modification platform tailored for cancer patients and high-risk individuals. The platform provides personalised, daily guidance through one-on-one support from "CoActive Coaches," aiming to integrate evidence-based lifestyle changes such as nutrition, physical activity, and stress management into cancer care and prevention, it said in a statement. 

“Lifestyle change is one of the most powerful yet underused tools in cancer care,” said Karan Bajaj, CEO and Co-founder of Complement 1, in a release.

“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.”

Complement 1’s platform is built on data from multiple meta-analyses demonstrating the positive impact of behavioural interventions on cancer-related outcomes. According to the company, clinical validation has shown that users of the platform experience 37% fewer treatment side effects, 18% less pain, and 27% better sleep, with adherence rates exceeding 90%. Additionally, the platform claims to help health plans, employers, and care providers lower cancer-related healthcare costs by up to 30%.

Research cited by the company indicates that nearly one in two Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Studies show that lifestyle changes can reduce cancer recurrence by 35% and mortality by 37%, while also improving overall quality of life.

The seed funding will support further development and expansion of the platform as Complement 1 aims to bridge a gap in conventional cancer care by offering personalised, lifestyle-based support rooted in clinical evidence.

In 2018, Bajaj founded WhiteHat Jr, an online platform offering live coding classes for children aged 6 to 14. The company gained rapid traction and was acquired by BYJU'S in August 2020 for $300 million in an all-cash deal. Post-acquisition, Bajaj led BYJU'S international division, launching programmes in multiple languages across countries like the US, Brazil, and Mexico. He stepped down from his role in August 2021.