Ferry Health, agentic AI scheduling platform backed by a16z, launches from stealth
Ferry leverages AI agents to make calls on behalf of users schedule appointments, working with health systems, payers and care navigation platforms.
Ferry Health, a startup founded in 2024 and backed by a16z, Index Ventures, and others, has launched its agentic AI platform out of stealth. The platform aims to support patients with administrative tasks by leveraging AI agents to make calls and find in-network care across all 50 states. Ferry has secured $9 million in seed funding and currently has over a million patients utilizing its services.
The company's founders, Mehul Mehta and Keyur Mehta, created the platform after experiencing difficulties helping their father navigate specialty appointments after a hospitalization. Ferry's AI agents can take into account insurance, subspecialty, provider availability, and appointment availability to schedule appointments. The platform also coordinates imaging and home health visits, similar to primary and specialty appointments.
Ferry plans to expand access to these features in the future. The platform's founders were inspired by large language models in 2023 and saw an opportunity to create a patient-facing assistant that would streamline the appointment booking process. Unlike existing marketplaces like Zocdoc, Ferry handles the entire process of finding and booking appointments on behalf of the patient.
Vineeta Agarwala, a general partner at a16z, sees value in Ferry's product, particularly in addressing bottlenecks in referrals and improving continuity of care. Ferry integrates with health system partners' internal scheduling software, streamlining scheduling without the need for phone calls. The company also works with insurance care managers, third-party administrators, and benefits platforms.
Ferry's database is enhanced with the National Provider Identifier (NPI) Registry and third-party provider data, continuously updated with insights from every call made. In the long term, Ferry envisions supporting health plans with coordinating transportation and providing members visibility into prior authorizations. Analytics indicate improvements in appointment scheduling rate, appointment attendance rate, provider approval rating, member experience ratings, time to book, time to next available appointment, and call time saved per appointment.
Written by urgent.news from Fierce Healthcare's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
