GoPuls

GoPuls, formerly known as First A, operates as a medicine delivery service platform in Germany, positioned within the health-tech and quick-commerce markets. The company was founded in Berlin in 2020 by the sibling duo Antonie Nissen and Leif Löhde. The inspiration for the business came when Leif Löhde, ill with food poisoning, found it paradoxical that he could get almost anything delivered except for the medications he urgently needed. This personal experience highlighted a gap in the market, prompting him and his sister to create a service that delivers pharmaceuticals from local pharmacies to customers' homes.

The founders' backgrounds provided a strong foundation for this venture. Their father is a doctor and their mother works in public relations for medical associations, immersing them in the healthcare environment from a young age. Antonie Nissen holds a degree in International Business and Management from WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management and previously worked in investment banking at J.P. Morgan in London, focusing on M&A transactions in the European healthcare sector. Leif Löhde also studied business administration and gained experience in the banking sector before co-founding the company. Their combined expertise in finance and deep-rooted connection to the medical field shaped the company's direction.

GoPuls functions as a B2C platform, enabling users to order over-the-counter medications and other pharmacy products through its application for rapid delivery. The business model is based on collaboration with local pharmacies, providing them with a digital platform to manage and fulfill online orders. This approach aims to support local pharmacies by helping them digitize their services rather than competing with them. In December 2021, the company announced a rebranding from First A to GoPuls to better reflect its broader focus beyond just delivery speed. In April 2022, GoPuls was acquired by the online pharmacy giant Redcare Pharmacy (formerly Shop Apotheke), a move intended to bolster Redcare's position in the online pharmaceutical space. The acquisition deal included an initial payment and performance-based earn-outs, with a potential total value of up to €38 million.

Keywords: medicine delivery, pharmacy platform, health-tech, quick commerce, online pharmacy, prescription delivery, OTC medication, e-pharmacy, digital health, local pharmacy partnership, Antonie Nissen, Leif Löhde, First A, Redcare Pharmacy, pharmaceutical delivery, healthcare logistics, Berlin startup, medication ordering, mobile health, telehealth support