Toronto-based app developer Maple Corporation has received up to $4 million in series-A funding to grow and expand its business. Maple, which gives patients a 24/7 on-demand access to doctors, raised the additional funds with the help of a large private corporation specializing in medical cost containment and operations, and Jeff Fettes, co-founder and CEO of 24-7 Intouch, a contact centre headquartered in Winnipeg, MB. Ontario’s MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund, which focuses on fledgling technology firms, joined the investors in raising the oversubscribed fund. Operating for more than a year, the Maple platform covers eight provinces and two territories. The network has accommodated close to 20,000 patients and more than 100 Canadian doctors. The on-demand access to doctors for advice, diagnosis, and prescriptions is accomplished via secure text or video. Maple says the live chat or video is guaranteed only five minutes of wait time, cutting time for physician’s visits and patient’s recovery. Maple says the new funds will be used to serve as many Canadians as possible by building a distribution network of employers, benefit providers and insurers. One of Maple’s partners is Sun Life Financial, which makes virtual healthcare accessible to its clients.