Tom Brady-backed firm lands $2bn valuation as NFL icon shares hope of making ‘real difference’ in world

Tom Brady might be long retired, but he still boasts the physique of a quarterback in their prime.

Regarded as the greatest to ever play in the NFL, the seven-time Super Bowl champion knows how to take care of his body.

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His TB12 workout method, which puts a focus on ‘pliability training’ alongside a plant-forward diet, functional workouts, hydration and sleep, has proved a hit with fellow athletes and ‘weekend warriors’ worldwide.

Thanks to his routine, Brady was recently able to light it up at a flag football tournament alongside current NFL stars, and last week revealed he explored a return to the league at the age of 48.

A comeback, though, isn’t on the cards — and instead, he has now stepped into a new arena.

Off the field, Brady is as busy as ever. He currently works as Fox Sports’ lead NFL analyst, under a 10-year, $375 million contract.

The three-time NFL MVP is also a minority owner in the Las Vegas Raiders, and played a key role in appointing Klint Kubiak as new head coach.

It’s fair to say he has his fingers in many pies, and one of those could be set to make a lot of money.

Tom Brady-backed firm lands $2bn valuation

Telehealth firm eMed said last week that it has raised $200 million in its latest ​funding round.

Brady, who became the company’s chief wellness officer earlier this year, was one of those recent investors.

According to Reuters, eMed partners with employers and government payers to manage GLP-1 usage, a class of obesity and diabetes drugs whose cost ​has limited broader insurance coverage.

The company is based in Miami, Florida, and is now valued at more than $2 billion.

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A number of telehealth platforms are competing ​for a share of the booming GLP-1 weight-loss market, which includes medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro, and ⁠is widely expected to generate $150 billion in annual sales across the ​next decade.

Telehealth uses digital technologies — like video calls, apps, and remote monitoring devices — to deliver healthcare remotely, and allow patients to connect with providers outside traditional office settings.

“I believe eMed’s empathic agentic AI platform, combined with the strength of its people and partners, represents a true winning formula,” Brady said, as he announced his backing.

“That conviction is why I’ve chosen to invest both my time as Founding Chief Wellness Officer and my capital in the company.”

What has eMed been raising funds for and why is Tom Brady involved?

Proceeds from the latest funding round will help advance eMed’s agentic AI platform and support the launch of a healthcare payment model aimed at lowering employer costs — especially as they relate to GLP-1 diabetes/weight loss drugs.

“GLP-1 medications are the most requested workplace benefit, yet only one in five companies provide the benefit. eMed is changing that,” a statement from the company said.

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“By achieving more than 90% member adherence, more than double the industry norm, eMed’s program delivers what others cannot: employees who stay the course and see real results, including an average weight loss of 21 pounds, with 99% seeing improvement in at least one key biomarker within six months.”

eMed was founded in ​2020, and gained ​traction during the Covid ⁠pandemic with at-home tests, before expanding into diagnostics for strep throat and urinary tract infections.

The company has since moved away from those offerings.

Brady himself, meanwhile, has insisted he’s come on board with eMed to ‘help people feel a little bit better every day.’

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“I love being around great people, winning in sports and winning in business are very similar in terms of values,” he told Fox News.

“We talked about how we could really make a difference in the world, and help people feel a little bit better every day — I tried to do that as an athlete.

“In terms of what eMed’s mission is, and what it’s trying to deliver for global health, we are on a fast track and a great trajectory to make a huge impact in health for a lot of people… in ways that we maybe haven’t seen for a long time.”

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