Strive Health

Strive Health is a Denver-based provider of value-based kidney care that supports patients across the continuum from chronic kidney disease (CKD) to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The company combines high-touch, multidisciplinary care teams with predictive analytics and AI technology to form an integrated care delivery system that operates alongside local nephrologists, health systems and primary care providers. Its two principal offerings are a population health program, staffed by a multi-specialty care team, and Strive Care Partners, a nephrologist-led complete care model.

Patients are assigned a dedicated nurse-practitioner-led care team, branded "Kidney Heroes," which includes case managers, care coordinators, social workers, dietitians and pharmacists and acts as a care extender between nephrologist visits. The clinical model emphasizes early identification, preventative care, slowing disease progression, optimal starts on renal replacement therapy and increased home dialysis adoption. The company has also expanded into managing comorbid high-cost conditions such as congestive heart failure.

Strive's case management and population health programs are accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), and its CareMultiplier technology platform is HITRUST certified.

Founding story

Strive was founded in 2018 by Chris Riopelle and co-founder Will Stokes with the stated aim of transforming kidney care; NEA backed the company at its founding.

Business model

Strive contracts with commercial and Medicare Advantage payors, Medicare, health systems, nephrology groups and physicians through flexible value-based payment arrangements, including risk-based programs, rather than serving patients directly on a fee-for-service basis. The company manages nearly $5 billion of annual medical spend on behalf of its partners and states it is profitable on a unit-economic basis.

Revenue derives from value-based and risk-based contracts with payors and providers, in which Strive is compensated in connection with managing the total cost of care for kidney disease populations; the company reports having generated more than $400 million in savings for health plan and provider partners since founding.

Traction

As of 2025 Strive serves over 145,000 people with CKD and ESKD (the company site also cites 150,000+ people served), partners with more than 6,500 providers including about 700 nephrologists, manages nearly $5 billion of annual medical spend, and employs over 700 staff (site lists 800+). It reports more than 1.3 million patient touchpoints and over $400 million in partner savings since founding. Reported clinical results include a 41% reduction in hospitalizations, 34% reduction in readmissions (30% per CEO bio), 20% reduction in total cost of care, 85% increase in optimal starts, 62% increase in home dialysis adoption and 94% patient satisfaction. This compares with 80,000 patients across 30 states, 550 employees and $2.5 billion of managed annual medical spend as of May 2023.

Latest developments

On September 9, 2025 Strive announced a $550 million capital raise consisting of $300 million in Series D equity led by NEA and $250 million in debt financing led by Hercules Capital, valuing the company at $1.8 billion. Proceeds are directed at scaling the care model, strengthening end-to-end partnerships, expanding multi-specialty services including congestive heart failure management, and building AI-driven tools and analytics. The CEO said the company is not focused on an exit at this stage and is on a path to profitability.