Administrative Bottlenecks Are Slowing Oncology Care
In oncology, treatment delays are often driven not by clinical complexity but by administrative friction. Prior authorisations, benefits verification, payer rule changes, and staffing shortages routinely push back therapy start dates, even as cancer care grows more specialised and time-sensitive. This operational gap has become a critical pain point across US health systems.
Funding Snapshot and Investor Context
Palo Alto–based Risa Labs has raised $11.1 million in a Series A funding round co-led by Cencora Ventures and Optum Ventures. The round also saw participation from Oncology Ventures, Z21 Ventures, and Ventureforgood.
This follows a $3.5 million seed round announced last year, backed by Binny Bansal.
What Risa Is Building
Founded in 2024 by Kshitij Jaggi and Kumar Shivang, Risa is developing an AI operating system for mission-critical healthcare workflows, starting with oncology. Its platform integrates directly with electronic medical records, payer portals, and benefits systems, using AI agents to manage patient access, benefits checks, and prior authorisations. Early deployments across oncology practices show faster approvals, lower denial rates, and treatment timelines compressed from days to hours in some cases.
Why This Funding Matters
The new capital will help Risa deepen deployments, expand its go-to-market team, and extend into specialty pharmacy workflows. For healthtech founders, Risa’s progress highlights growing investor appetite for AI systems that tackle administrative complexity rather than clinical decision-making. In high-stakes areas like oncology, reducing friction in operations can translate directly into faster care, making backend automation a frontline innovation opportunity.
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