Embla

What Embla does

Embla is a digital health company founded in 2021 in Copenhagen, Denmark, that delivers fully managed cardiometabolic weight care combining low-dose GLP-1 medications with ACT/CBT-based behavioral coaching. The company serves self-funded employers, health plans, third-party administrators, and individual consumers primarily across Denmark, the United States, and the United Kingdom, with a stated user base of over 30,000 lives supported since founding. The core problem Embla addresses is the runaway pharmacy cost of GLP-1 coverage ($7,200–$10,800 per employee per year under traditional models) combined with poor adherence and weight regain after medication cessation. Embla's protocol prescribes GLP-1s at conservative doses (averaging 1.08 mg/week versus the 2.4 mg/week standard maximum) and pairs medication with 1:1 psychology-led coaching plus structured tapering from day one. Peer-reviewed outcomes from the 2,694-participant TRIM study, published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, demonstrate 16.7% average body weight loss at 12 months and 78.5% successful tapering or cessation, generating $4,800–$7,800 in annual pharmacy savings per employee.

The Embla platform is built on two proprietary technology components. The Embla App is the member-facing mobile application (available on iOS and Android) featuring 1:1 coaching chat, video sessions, medication reminders, weight/mood/habit tracking, Apple Health and Android Health Connect integration, and AI-powered 24/7 conversational support. Emblazer is the clinician-facing platform that enforces standardized GLP-1 protocols including eligibility screening, risk flagging, dosing guardrails, tapering workflows, and adverse event tracking. AI-assisted transcription converts session audio into structured clinical notes and appointment summaries. Three structured programs are delivered on this platform: Embla Thrive (ACT-based coaching for members with prediabetes or metabolic syndrome without GLP-1s), Embla ThriveMD (low-dose GLP-1 plus coaching), and Embla Embrace (post-treatment maintenance). The Embla Platform and Carveout offerings unify these components into a single employer-facing benefit that operates outside the PBM and medical plan infrastructure.

Embla operates a B2B2C distribution model. Direct employer sales target mid-market to large self-funded employers (500–5,000+ employees) on a pay-per-engaged-member subscription priced under $399 PEPM. Health plans and TPAs are served at under $500 PEPM, with flexible delivery models including fully managed, behavioral-only, and shared delivery. Benefits consultants (5 partnerships established) and health systems (2 partnerships) form the indirect channel layer. A direct-to-consumer pathway remains available for individuals not covered through employer or insurance benefits. Embla has raised approximately €10 million in Series A funding (August 2023, co-led by Danish Seed Capital and Inovo VC) on top of an earlier ~$3.6M seed round, employs 51–100 people, and is led by co-founders Laust Wilster Axelsen (health tech entrepreneur with a prior IPO) and Nicholas Syhler (cardiologist and former innovation lead at Novo Nordisk).

Name

Embla

Legal name

Embla Health U.S. Inc.

Website

https://joinembla.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Embla is a digital health platform delivering fully managed cardiometabolic weight care that pairs low-dose GLP-1 medications with ACT/CBT-based behavioral coaching for self-funded employers, health plans, and individual consumers across Europe and the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Weight Management Services

NAICS

Diet and Weight Reducing Centers (812191), All Other Outpatient Care Centers (621498)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Medication Adherence, Digital Therapeutics & Remote Coaching (condition-specific programs) (HLALAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Medication Adherence & Therapy Management Platforms (refills, reminders, MTM) (HLALAIAG), Medication Pricing, Copay Assistance & Patient Financial Support Tools (HLACAKAN)

Keywords

• Weight management services
• GLP-1 prescription programs
• Behavioral health coaching
• Employer health benefits
• Cardiometabolic care platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Pay-Per-Engaged-Member (PEPM) Subscription: Employers and health plans pay a per-employee-per-month fee for actively engaged members only. Pricing under $399-$500 PEPM. The model includes full-spectrum metabolic care, GLP-1 prescriptions, 1:1 coaching, and ongoing reporting. No plan integration required; employer contracts directly with Embla.
2. Pharmacy Cost Savings: Revenue derived from significant GLP-1 cost reduction through low-dose protocols and proactive tapering. Saves $4,800-$7,800 per employee annually compared to traditional high-dose GLP-1 programs. Average dose of 1.08 mg/week versus standard 2.4 mg/week reduces pharmacy spend by approximately two-thirds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Embla delivers a fully managed cardiometabolic and weight-loss care program combining behavior-first ACT/CBT-based coaching with low-dose GLP-1 medications. The offering is delivered through a member-facing mobile app and a proprietary clinician platform (Emblazer), and includes structured tapering protocols to reduce long-term medication dependency. It is sold primarily to self-funded employers and health plans as a carve-out benefit, with an individual direct-to-consumer pathway also available.

Product overview

Embla is a fully managed cardiometabolic care platform that delivers lasting weight loss with reduced GLP-1 medication through behavior-first care. The product portfolio consists of three core programs — EmblaThrive (coaching-only), EmblaThriveMD (coaching + low-dose GLP-1s), and Embla Embrace (post-treatment maintenance) — supported by two technology platforms: the Embla App (member-facing mobile application with AI-powered support, tracking, and 1:1 coaching) and Emblazer (clinician-facing clinical platform with prescribing protocols, dosing guardrails, and tapering workflows). The Embla Platform unifies these components into a single integrated experience, while the Carveout offering enables self-funded employers to deploy the GLP-1 benefit outside traditional plan infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Embla Thrive: ACT-based coaching program addressing weight, habits, and mental health. Designed for employees managing prediabetes or metabolic syndrome, even without GLP-1s.
• Embla ThriveMD
• Embla Embrace
• Emblazer

Products and services

• EmblaThrive ACT and CBT-based 1:1 psychology-informed coaching program addressing weight, habits, and mental health for employees managing prediabetes or metabolic syndrome, without GLP-1 medication.
• EmblaThriveMD Low-dose GLP-1 weight loss program combining microdosed GLP-1 medication with 1:1 psychology-based coaching and a structured tapering protocol to help employees lose weight and reduce long-term medication reliance.
• Embla Embrace Ongoing coaching and accountability program designed to maintain weight loss, strengthen habits, and prevent regression after tapering off GLP-1 medication, including support for cardiometabolic risk factors.
• The Embla Platform Fully managed GLP-1 benefit platform combining the Embla app (member experience) with Emblazer (clinical engine) to deliver behavior-first weight care with integrated coaching, prescribing, monitoring, tapering, and real-time reporting for employers and health plans.
• Direct Access (Individual) Direct-to-consumer enrollment pathway that allows individuals to self-enroll, complete a health screening, and access GLP-1 medications with 1:1 behavioral coaching through HIPAA-compliant telehealth consultations with licensed clinicians.

Quantifiable outcome

• 16.7% average body weight loss at 12 months
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Health System PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmbla has established 2 health system partnerships to deliver its GLP-1 weight care program. These partnerships enable clinical integration and expanded access to Embla's behavior-first weight care model.
• Benefits Consultant PartnersmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor5 benefits consultant partnerships established to drive adoption of Embla's GLP-1 carve-out solution. Consultants recommend Embla to self-funded employer clients as an alternative to PBM-managed coverage.
• Pharmacy PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPharmacy partners involved in GLP-1 prescription fulfillment as part of Embla's integrated care model. Medications prescribed through Embla's clinical platform are fulfilled through partnered pharmacies.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ro: Ro operates a direct-to-consumer and B2B obesity program offering GLP-1 medications with coaching, directly competing with Embla's ThriveMD program in the self-funded employer and health plan channel. Both target mid-market employers with low-dose, coaching-integrated weight loss offerings.
• Hims & Hers Health: Hims & Hers offers GLP-1 weight loss via telehealth to consumers and is expanding into employer/insurance channels. Comparable D2C-to-B2B trajectory and product overlap with Embla, though with significantly larger scale and brand recognition.
• Found: Found provides GLP-1-based weight loss with behavioral coaching for employers and individuals, closely mirroring Embla's treat-to-target, behavior-first model. Both target self-funded employers seeking cost-controlled weight care.
• Calibrate: Calibrate delivers a metabolic health program combining GLP-1 medication with coaching for employers and consumers. Comparable combination of medication management, behavioral coaching, and B2B2C employer sales motion.
• WeightWatchers (WW) / WeightWatchers Clinic: WeightWatchers acquired Sequence to launch WeightWatchers Clinic, offering GLP-1 prescriptions with behavior-based coaching. Comparable program structure (behavior-first + medication) and overlapping employer channel.

Broad incumbents

• Omada Health: Omada is an established digital chronic-condition platform (diabetes prevention, hypertension, obesity) sold to employers and health plans. Comparable employer sales motion and cardiometabolic focus, though broader than Embla's weight-loss specialty.
• Virta Health: Virta Health delivers telehealth-based cardiometabolic care (type 2 diabetes reversal, obesity) to employers and health plans. Comparable behavior-first chronic-disease model and B2B payer channel, with deeper diabetes specialization.
• Noom: Noom is a digital behavior-change weight management platform now offering GLP-1 support, sold via employer benefits and direct-to-consumer. Comparable behavior-first coaching approach and large employer footprint.
• Eli Lilly (LillyDirect / Lilly Health): Eli Lilly, maker of Zepbound/Mounjaro, is launching direct-to-consumer and employer channels that could bypass Embla's intermediary role. Represents the upstream manufacturer with strategic interest in controlling the employer channel.

Regional players

• Lifesum: Lifesum is a Swedish-founded digital nutrition and weight management app with Nordic/European market strength, comparable to Embla's coaching approach though without a GLP-1 prescribing arm. Overlaps as a European digital health peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/joinembla

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Embla