A local health-tech company raised big with a pitch that its AI-backed social service platform can assess and refer seniors to the providers they need without any human interaction.
Flatiron-based startup Blooming Health recently closed a $26 million Series A to advance its digital service, the company announced this week. The early investment round places it among health companies pulling in backers using the promise of artificial intelligence, while investors have taken a cooler approach in other sectors.
Blooming Health markets an AI agent that it says can listen to seniors and other populations by phone or text message, identify their needs and direct them to a provider that may offer the right service. Most of its revenue comes from government agencies and health systems, the company’s CEO Nima Roohi told Axios. It is the latest company seeking to use emerging machine learning technology to open new models of care delivery and replace connective functions traditionally performed by people, doctors’ offices and social service agencies.
The startup aims to serve the growing population over age 65. With the new funding, the company plans to increase the size of its operations with a goal of reaching 10 million customers in the next year.
Companies hawking AI and machine learning brought in 71% of venture capital in the first quarter of 2025, according to a recent analysis from research company PitchBook. Dealmaking across the board has slowed in recent months amid uncertainty around tariffs and market volatility, with a smaller number of companies making up a larger portion of funding rounds, according to the report. The five biggest deals in the first quarter were all AI companies.
The latest round was led by Midtown-based software investor Insight Partners with additional backing from previous investors Afore Capital, Crossbeam Venture Partners and Metrodora Ventures, a venture capital firm co-founded by Chelsea Clinton. The company has previously raised $6.5 million in seed rounds since its founding in 2021.
Blooming Health has referred 1.5 million people in 22 states to more than 1,000 organizations, government agencies and health care providers, according to the startup. Its software can purportedly connect people to meal services, medical transportation, housing support and social enrichment programs.
