Kinetik, a health-tech startup founded by Sufian Chowdhury, addresses a significant gap in the non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) sector. Before Kinetik, NEMT providers managed billing through outdated methods like faxes and spreadsheets, leading to delayed payments and operational inefficiencies. Recognizing this challenge, Sufian developed a centralized platform to streamline the entire trip management workflow, from booking rides to processing claims to payment.
The journey began when Sufian encountered a massive spreadsheet used by a local transportation company to coordinate rides and manage billing across multiple insurance companies. This experience highlighted the industry's lack of digital infrastructure. Over the next year, Sufian immersed himself in the operations of various transport companies in Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx and identified common pain points. His hands-on approach led to the creation of Kinetik's Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) platform, which reduced billing time from over 40 hours to just two hours, significantly improving cash flow for transportation providers.
As the company evolved, Kinetik expanded its services to include a booking platform, allowing health plans and brokers to schedule rides seamlessly. This integration offers real-time visibility into ride status, enhancing transparency and trust among all stakeholders. Sufian's vision is to empower patients by enabling them to request rides promptly, challenging the traditional 72-hour advance booking requirement. By digitizing the NEMT industry, Kinetik aims to provide timely and reliable transportation for essential medical appointments.
To learn more about Kinetik's inception and growth, listen to the full episode of the Startup Savant podcast here.
