Droobi Health, a prominent digital diabetes management firm from Qatar, and Smit.fit, a leading player in India’s digital health sector, have officially merged to create DroobiSmit.
The newly formed entity will be headquartered in Singapore, aiming to serve as a top digital diabetes solution provider across the GCC and South Asia regions.
This merger is strategically significant as it addresses the soaring diabetes rates in both regions. Currently, out of the 260 million individuals diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes, 163 million have confirmed diabetes cases.
By 2030, this figure is expected to rise to 320 million, with diabetes cases accounting for 208 million. DroobiSmit aims to tackle this growing health crisis with its comprehensive digital health services.
DroobiSmit aims to transform the management of chronic diseases through its digital health solutions. The company offers services designed to manage prediabetes, diabetes, and hypertension, employing modern technology, personalized coaching, and data-driven insights to improve health outcomes and reduce care costs.
Since their inception, Droobi and Smit.fit have collectively impacted around 40,000 users, showing improvements in key health metrics like blood pressure, weight, and HbA1c levels.
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The merger has been backed by significant investment, totalling approximately USD 5 million. Key investors include Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), Qatar Development Bank (QDB), Barzan Holding, Doha Tech Angels, M Venture Partners (MVP), and a syndicate of nearly 20 angel investors. These entities provided crucial support during the seed stage and throughout the merger process, and continue to support the new entity’s expansion.
QSTP has played a pivotal role in supporting Droobi Health through its Tech Venture Fund (TVF), designed to aid local startups and attract international ones to the MENA region. Danny Ramadan, Investment Director at QSTP, highlighted the merger as a testament to Qatar’s vibrant innovation ecosystem and the global recognition of homegrown technologies.
Droobi Health was founded by Abdulla Al-Misnad, an alumnus of Stanford and MIT, while Smit.fit was established by Sujit Chakrabarty, formerly a partner at McKinsey’s Digital and Technology Practice in India. Sujit Chakrabarty will lead DroobiSmit, with Dr. Hessa Al Jaber, former Minister of Telecommunications in Qatar, joining the board. The company is supported by a team of approximately 60 skilled professionals.
As part of its global expansion strategy, DroobiSmit is opening a new office in Saudi Arabia and exploring opportunities across South Asia and the Middle East. The company plans to leverage AI and digital twin technology to offer advanced, personalized healthcare solutions and drive innovations in diabetes management and overall health.
Chakrabarty noted that DroobiSmit is collaborating with over 25 major healthcare providers and is looking to introduce its model to emerging markets, including Saudi Arabia.
In his words, “The company adopts a B2B2C growth strategy and has collaborated with over 25 leading healthcare players across the GCC and India, encompassing top-tier hospitals, clinic chains, insurance companies, and employers. We are actively exploring avenues to introduce our unique model to emerging markets, notably Saudi Arabia.”
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