Cara Care
Cara Care is a German digital therapeutics company offering CE-certified mobile apps for gastrointestinal conditions, primarily irritable bowel syndrome, delivered via the DiGA prescription reimbursement model and now operating as a subsidiary of Bayer AG following its 2025 acquisition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersHamburg, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Cara Care does
Cara Care is a digital therapeutics platform developed and operated by HiDoc Technologies GmbH, headquartered in Hamburg with an international engineering team based in Berlin. The company builds CE-certified mobile applications for chronic gastrointestinal conditions, with its flagship product, Cara Care für Reizdarm, delivering a personalized 12-week program for irritable bowel syndrome that combines nutrition and symptom tracking, Low-FODMAP dietary guidance, cognitive behavioral therapy modules, and audio-guided gut-directed hypnosis. Clinical evidence indicates that 70.2% of users achieve a clinically relevant symptom reduction. The platform also extends to GERD/reflux and functional dyspepsia (Cara Care für Reflux und Reizmagen, currently distributed through clinical study participation) and inflammatory bowel disease (Cara Care für CED). Integrations include Apple Health for biometric data correlation.
Cara Care's commercial model centers on Germany's DiGA (Digitale Gesundheitsanwendung) framework under § 33a SGB V, which allows physicians to prescribe Cara Care für Reizdarm with costs reimbursed by statutory health insurance. A secondary premium subscription tier is offered through the Apple App Store and Google Play. Distribution is omnichannel: physician referrals serve as the primary prescription channel, clinical studies act as both evidence generation and pipeline funnel, and digital content marketing (blog, self-test, social media across Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok) drives top-of-funnel awareness. The company is GDPR- and DiGAV-compliant.
In early 2025, Bayer AG acquired HiDoc Technologies, integrating Cara Care into Bayer's pharmaceutical portfolio alongside its gastrointestinal product Iberogast. This positions Cara Care within a global commercial infrastructure and signals a strategic intent to pair digital therapeutics with Bayer's existing pharmaceutical offerings for digestive health.
Cara Care firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cara Care
- Legal name
- HiDoc Technologies GmbH
- Website
- https://cara.care
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cara Care is a German digital therapeutics company offering CE-certified mobile apps for gastrointestinal conditions, primarily irritable bowel syndrome, delivered via the DiGA prescription reimbursement model and now operating as a subsidiary of Bayer AG following its 2025 acquisition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cara Care industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Therapeutics / Digital Health Applications (DiGA)
- NAICS
- Health Care and Social Assistance (62), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (62142), Offices of Physicians, Mental Health Specialists (621112)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Therapeutic Companion Apps (Drug-Device-Digital Combination) (HLACANAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Gastroenterology Telemedicine Platforms (HLALAGAE), eCOA/ePRO/eDiary & Patient-Facing Data Collection (HLACAOAB), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Care (HLAKAEAD), Medication Adherence, Digital Therapeutics & Remote Coaching (condition-specific programs) (HLALAFAF)
Keywords
Where Cara Care is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Cara Care business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Health Insurance Reimbursement (DiGA): Cara Care für Reizdarm is covered by German statutory health insurance as a Digital Health Application (DiGA) under § 33a SGB V. Patients receive the therapy free of charge via physician prescription, with costs reimbursed through the health insurance system.
- Premium Subscription: Additional premium features and extended access beyond the standard prescription period available as paid subscriptions through app stores (Apple App Store, Google Play).
- B2B/Licensing to Bayer: Following Bayer's acquisition of HiDoc Technologies and the Cara Care app in early 2025, revenue is generated through Bayer's commercialization of the digital health application as part of their healthcare portfolio.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | DiGA/Prescription (Standard) - Free for insured patients |
| Subscription | Monthly | Premium/Extended Access |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Cara Care product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cara Care develops and operates CE-certified mobile digital therapeutic applications for chronic gastrointestinal disorders, primarily Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), GERD/reflux, functional dyspepsia, and inflammatory bowel disease. The flagship offering is a personalized 12-week therapy program combining nutrition and symptom tracking, Low-FODMAP diet guidance, cognitive behavioral therapy modules, and audio-guided gut-directed hypnosis, delivered via mobile app and reimbursed through German statutory health insurance as a Digital Health Application (DiGA) under § 33a SGB V.
Product overview
Cara Care is a digital health platform offering multiple CE-certified medical device applications for gastrointestinal conditions. The core product is Cara Care für Reizdarm (for IBS), a DiGA registered in Germany's public DiGA directory and prescribable under § 33a SGB V. Supporting products include Cara Care für Reflux und Reizmagen (for GERD and functional dyspepsia) and Cara Care für CED (for inflammatory bowel disease). All products follow a similar architecture: a personalized 12-week therapy program combining tracking, dietary guidance, psychological support (CBT), and audio-guided hypnosis, delivered via mobile app with data analyzed to generate personalized recommendations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cara Care für Reizdarm: Digital therapy app for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) - a CE-certified medical device and DiGA (Digitale Gesundheitsanwendung) approved for prescription in Germany
- Cara Care für Reflux und Reizmagen
- Cara Care für CED
Products and services
- Cara Care für Reizdarm (Cara Care for IBS) A CE-certified digital health application (DiGA) for treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), available via physician prescription and reimbursed by German statutory health insurance under § 33a SGB V. The app delivers a personalized 12-week program combining nutrition/symptom tracking, Low-FODMAP diet guidance, cognitive behavioral therapy modules, and audio-guided gut-directed hypnosis. Targets adult IBS patients in Germany at no out-of-pocket cost under the DiGA pathway.
- Cara Care für Reflux und Reizmagen (Cara Care for GERD & Functional Dyspepsia) A CE-certified medical device designed to alleviate symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and functional dyspepsia. Offers symptom tracking, stomach-friendly recipe guidance, and personalized therapy content. Currently distributed through clinical study participation with eligibility assessment, with plans to enable DiGA-style prescription coverage.
- Cara Care für CED (Cara Care for IBD) A medical device application for chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (CED/IBD), referenced in the company's privacy documentation. Follows the same architectural approach as the other Cara Care products (tracking, personalized content, therapy modules).
Quantifiable outcome
- 70.2% of users showed significant, clinically relevant symptom reduction
Companies that use Cara Care
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cara Care technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability3 records
Feature4 records
Cara Care partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BayercoreBayer acquired HiDoc Technologies in early 2025 and commercializes the Cara Care digital health application designed to treat irritable bowel syndrome. The app complements Bayer's existing product Iberogast, representing a strategic expansion into digital healthcare and personalized medicine.
- Iberogast (Bayer)coreCara Care and Iberogast represent a partnership between digital and pharmaceutical solutions for gut health. Since 2025, Cara Care belongs to the Bayer group, and the combination of Cara Care's digital therapy and Iberogast is described as an example of perfect teamwork in holistic treatment.
- Research InstitutionsminorCara Care collaborates with research partners and provides anonymized information to medical and pharmaceutical institutions (researchers, universities, clinics, drug manufacturers) for research purposes to advance gut health science.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cara Care competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HelloBetter: German DiGA-registered digital therapeutics company focused on mental health conditions — directly comparable as a fellow DiGA-listed digital therapeutic navigating the same German reimbursement pathway.
- Selfapy: Berlin-based DiGA-registered digital therapeutic platform offering evidence-based online courses for mental and chronic conditions — operates under the same German DiGA reimbursement framework as Cara Care.
- Bold Health (now Salvo Health): Digital therapeutic company originally focused on IBS, now repositioned as Salvo Health providing digital-first GI care — direct peer in the gastroenterology digital health category.
- metaMe Health: Developer of FDA-authorized prescription digital therapeutics for IBS (Regulora) using gut-directed hypnotherapy — competes directly with Cara Care on modality and IBS indication.
- Ayble Health: Digital therapeutic platform for digestive diseases including IBS, offering AI-driven personalized nutrition and gut-brain interventions — direct competitor in the GI digital therapeutic space.
- Mahana Therapeutics: Developer of digital therapeutics for IBS and other chronic conditions, with FDA authorization — competes directly with Cara Care on indication, modality (cognitive behavioral therapy), and reimbursement strategy.
- Oshi Health: A US-based virtual gastroenterology clinic that combines telehealth with digital tools for IBS, GERD, and other GI conditions — the closest direct competitor to Cara Care in the gastroenterology digital therapeutic category.
Broad incumbents
- Kaia Health: Established digital therapeutic company with multiple indications (musculoskeletal pain, COPD) and a presence in the German DiGA market — broader portfolio but overlapping business model and reimbursement strategy.
- Big Health: Digital therapeutics company with FDA-authorized products for insomnia and anxiety — broader incumbent in the prescription digital therapeutic space with similar evidence-based, clinically validated approach.
Others
- Bayer AG (Iberogast division): Parent company of Cara Care and manufacturer of Iberogast, an OTC herbal GI preparation. Relevant as the pharma partner integrating Cara Care with a drug-device-digital combination offering.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cara Care social profiles
Digital presenceCara Care compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Cara Care financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cara Care leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Cara Care funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cara Care M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cara Care
What does Cara Care do?
Cara Care develops and operates CE-certified mobile digital therapeutic applications for chronic gastrointestinal disorders, primarily Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), GERD/reflux, functional dyspepsia, and inflammatory bowel disease. The flagship offering is a personalized 12-week therapy program combining nutrition and symptom tracking, Low-FODMAP diet guidance, cognitive behavioral therapy modules, and audio-guided gut-directed hypnosis, delivered via mobile app and reimbursed through German statutory health insurance as a Digital Health Application (DiGA) under § 33a SGB V.
Is Cara Care a public or private company?
Cara Care is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Cara Care founded?
Cara Care was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cara Care based?
Cara Care is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Cara Care make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Health Insurance Reimbursement (DiGA) is the primary driver. The others are premium Subscription and B2B/Licensing to Bayer.
Who are Cara Care's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HelloBetter, Selfapy, Bold Health (now Salvo Health), metaMe Health, Ayble Health, Mahana Therapeutics and Oshi Health. Broad incumbents are Kaia Health and Big Health. Bayer AG (Iberogast division) is listed as an others.
Does Cara Care have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cara Care.
What industry is Cara Care in?
Cara Care's product category is Digital Therapeutics / Digital Health Applications (DiGA). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLACANAH, Therapeutic Companion Apps (Drug-Device-Digital Combination), with a secondary code of HLALAGAE, Gastroenterology Telemedicine Platforms. Its NAICS code is 62 and its SIC code is 7372.