DUOS, an AI-powered digital health startup focused on transforming how health plans engage their members, has secured a $130 million strategic growth equity investment led by FTV Capital. Early backer Forerunner Ventures also participated, marking a renewal of confidence as DUOS charts its next expansion. The funding will propel the company’s national go‑to‑market rollout and bolster embedded AI capabilities across Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and ACA marketplace plans.
In tandem with this capital raise, DUOS named Jenn Kerfoot as President of Market Operations, entrusting her with the task of scaling commercial execution and aligning operations across markets. She joins a team already led by Karl Ulfers, CEO and Co‑founder, who has championed DUOS’s vision of turning health plan benefits into actionable support.
“I started DUOS with the belief that health plans could do more to support older adults—not just with resources, but also with meaningful follow-through,” Ulfers said. “Our AI ensures the right action happens at the right time. FTV shares our vision … their partnership optimally positions us to continue growing with purpose.”
DUOS’s platform doesn’t stop at sending reminders or nudges. It bridges the gap between benefits offered and actions taken. Whether it’s completing Medicaid redetermination, enrolling in the Low Income Subsidy, or coordinating care via wellness visit scheduling, DUOS’s AI and engagement layer drives real follow‑through. Embedded models learn from outcomes and trigger the “next best action,” combining digital experiences and human support to close the loop.
FTV’s Alex Mason, now joining DUOS’s board, added:
“At FTV, we’ve spent decades investing in healthcare innovation, and DUOS stands out … for leveraging AI to build the critical infrastructure health plans need to operate efficiently and improve member outcomes at scale.”
Kerfoot, reflecting on her new role, said:
“We’re not just solving for today’s engagement challenges. We’re building the infrastructure health plans need … for the version of this system we’ll inherit ourselves one day.”
Editorial Perspective & Market Take
This funding round and leadership uplift mark a significant inflection point for DUOS. The company is moving from an early-stage innovator to a serious growth-scale contender in health tech. Medicare Advantage enrollment now encompasses more than half of all Medicare beneficiaries—meaning the stakes are high for plans to improve retention, optimize risk adjustment, and manage costs. DUOS is tackling a persistent challenge: that many members never act on benefits that could improve outcomes.
If DUOS can anchor its model as an embedded, intelligent action layer for health plans, it could shift from being a partner to becoming core infrastructure. In that scenario, the company stands to unlock significant value in a landscape where member activation and retention are critical KPIs for payers. The broader health tech sector is likely to take note: AI-enabled execution platforms in insurance are poorly served today but desperately needed.
Success, however, hinges on execution at scale. DUOS must convert its AI models into consistent, measurable gains in retention, Star ratings, and clinical adherence. The transition from early proofs to reliable delivery—especially across disparate state and plan systems—will be the toughest test ahead.
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