Curative
Category: AI in Healthcare
An employer health insurance provider offering Zero Always and Zero First plans, with a Baseline Visit requirement for their applicable cost-sharing benefits. Curative was founded in 2020. The company is led by Fred Turner. Based in Austin, USA. Team size: 500-1000. Total funding raised: $157.15M. Latest round: Series B. Key investors include Khosla Ventures, Y Combinator, Upside Vision Fund, JAM Fund, Galaxy Digital, Duquesne Family Office, DCVC, Martin Varsavsky.
- Founded
- 2020
- Headquarters
- Austin, USA
- Team size
- 500-1000
- Total funding
- $157.15M
Value proposition
Offers employer health plans designed to reduce financial barriers to care. Zero Always provides $0 cost sharing for covered in-network medical care when plan requirements are met. Zero First keeps routine services at $0 and introduces cost sharing for other care above a set amount.
Products and solutions
Zero Always health plans ($0 cost sharing for covered in-network medical care when plan requirements are met), Zero First health plans ($0 routine care and cost sharing above a set amount; eligible level-funded groups from December 1, 2026), The Baseline Visit (preventive health visit), Curative Pharmacy (Integrated prescription services), AI-Powered Member Portal & Care Navigation App, Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Services
Unique value
The Baseline Visit encourages preventive care. Adult members and dependents must complete it within 120 days to maintain the applicable cost-sharing design. Zero Always offers $0 cost sharing for covered in-network medical care, while Zero First combines $0 routine care with cost sharing for other services above a set amount.
Target customer
Employers seeking health benefits for their workforce. Eligibility varies by plan and state; level-funded plans start at 25 employees in Texas.
Industries served
Health Insurance (InsureTech), Employee Benefits, Preventative Medicine, Healthcare Technology
Technology advantage
Utilizes a vertically integrated model and AI-driven data analytics to identify high-risk members early, providing proactive care management and remote monitoring that reduces expensive emergency room visits and late-stage treatments.
How they differentiate
Curative combines a Baseline Visit requirement with employer health plans designed to encourage early care. Zero Always offers $0 cost sharing for covered in-network medical care when requirements are met. Zero First covers eligible care first, then applies cost sharing above a set amount while keeping routine services at $0.
Main competitors
Oscar Health, Gravie, Centivo, Sidecar Health
Key partnerships
MultiPlan (PHCS Network) for national provider access, Major Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), Y Combinator (Alumni network and early backing), Local health systems and clinical laboratories, Wellstar Health System (Georgia provider network agreement announced August 2026)
Notable customers
Austin Independent School District (AISD), Mid-to-large Texas-based employers (51+ employees)
Major milestones
Founded in 2020 as a COVID-19 testing startup, Delivered over 35 million COVID-19 tests nationally, Pivoted to a full-stack health insurance provider in 2022, Achieved Unicorn status with a $1.3B valuation in December 2025, Led Austin's startup funding charts in December 2025 with a $150M Series B
Growth metrics
Achieved a $1.3B valuation in late 2025; transitioned from a diagnostics-heavy revenue model (35M+ COVID tests) to a recurring premium-based insurance model.
Market positioning
Disruptive InsurTech challenger targeting the employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) market for mid-to-large enterprises.
Geographic focus
United States (Primary focus on Texas, with active expansion into Florida and Georgia).
Patents and IP
Proprietary software architecture for member health tracking and AI-driven risk stratification; specific patent filings are generally held as trade secrets within their private InsureTech platform.
About Fred Turner
Fred Turner is a British scientist and entrepreneur who founded Curative in 2020. He is a Y Combinator alumnus and was previously recognized by the Science Council as one of the top 100 practicing scientists in the UK. Before Curative, he founded Shield Bio, a diagnostics startup focused on rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing. Under his leadership, Curative scaled from a startup to a national leader in COVID-19 testing, delivering over 35 million tests, before pivoting the company into a disruptive health insurance provider focused on preventative care and AI-driven member management.
More AI in Healthcare companies
Official website: https://curative.com