Startup deals in April came in hot — and not just the ones making front-page headlines. Beyond the mega rounds and unicorn hype, some quieter funding wins are shaping up to solve real-world problems in creative ways. From telehealth for pets to AI-powered seafood scanners, these startup deals are worth your attention.
Here’s a look at five interesting startups that raised money in April — and why their ideas matter.
Virtual Vet Visits? Yes, Please
Let’s face it: Fluffy hates going to the vet, and honestly, so do you. That’s why Airvet, a Beverly Hills-based startup, raised an $11 million Series B-2 round to take pet telehealth mainstream.
The startup offers a platform that connects “pet parents” to over 2,000 licensed veterinarians — not just for emergencies, but as an employer-sponsored benefit. Think telemedicine, but for your furry family members. And it’s catching on: Airvet saw a 4x jump in revenue last year, with its customer base tripling.
It’s one of the more niche but fast-growing startup deals of the month, tapping into a pet economy expected to top $500 billion by 2030.
Compassionate Cancer Care, at Home
Philadelphia-based Daymark Health is reshaping how we support people with cancer. It raised $11.5 million in April in a seed round co-led by Maverick Ventures and Yosemite.
Unlike typical healthtech startups, Daymark looks beyond treatment plans and focuses on the full journey. Its care platform brings together nurse practitioners, social workers, and medical teams to offer in-home and virtual support, addressing both physical and emotional needs.
It’s one of those startup deals that doesn’t just disrupt an industry — it humanizes it. And with nearly 2 million new cancer diagnoses in the U.S. each year, the need for better care is massive.
AI-Scanned Seafood? It’s Happening
Ever bought seafood and wondered if what’s on the label is actually what’s in the package? SeafoodAI, a Palo Alto startup, just landed funding from NEC X to change that.
Their tech, CrabScan360, uses biometric scanning to automate how crabs are sorted, measured, and tracked — replacing error-prone manual methods and improving traceability.
The goal? Help fisheries achieve sustainability certifications faster while making seafood supply chains more transparent. This is one of the more under-the-radar startup deals solving a very specific — but surprisingly huge — problem.
Turning Polluted Land Into Opportunity
Not every hot startup is building the next social app. Some, like Remedy Scientific, are taking on toxic land and environmental waste.
The Oakland-based startup emerged from stealth in April with $11 million in seed funding from Eclipse Ventures and Refactor. Their mission: use smart sensing and AI-optimized treatment processes to clean up brownfield sites contaminated with “forever chemicals” like PFAS.
With over 450,000 such sites in the U.S. alone, this is one of the most important — and unexpected — startup deals to watch. If it works, it could unlock new housing and economic development across the country.
Your New Doctor Might Be AI
Healthcare’s high costs and long waits have left many looking for better options. Doctronic, a New York-based startup, thinks AI can help.
With $5 million in seed funding from Union Square Ventures and Tusk Venture Partners, the company launched an AI-powered health assistant that gives users anonymous, personalized health insights. For just $39, users can follow up with licensed doctors via video — no insurance required.
It’s affordable, fast, and potentially life-saving. Among this month’s startup deals, Doctronic stands out for making care more accessible for everyone, not just the insured.
