# Kivo Health **Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/kivo-health **Vertical:** Healthcare **Subcategory:** General **Tier:** Emerging **Website:** kivohealth.com **Last Updated:** 2026-04-14 ## Summary Durham NC YC W23 Medicare-covered at-home pulmonary rehab for 16M US COPD patients shipping Kivo Kit; $475K MassMutual/Samsung NEXT-backed competing with Propeller Health for virtual respiratory rehabilitation at the 3-5% treatment gap. ## Company Overview Kivo Health is a Durham, North Carolina-based telehealth company — backed by Y Combinator (W23) with $475,000 raised from MassMutual Ventures, Samsung NEXT Ventures, Heuristic Capital, Quint Ventures, and SNR Ventures — providing Medicare-covered 8-week pulmonary rehabilitation programs to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, bronchitis, and other chronic lung conditions through an at-home telehealth delivery model that ships comprehensive Kivo Kits (containing an iPad pre-loaded with the Kivo platform and monitoring equipment) directly to patients' homes for virtual respiratory therapist sessions, structured exercise programs, and lung function monitoring. Founded in 2021 by founders with medical backgrounds and targeting the 16 million US patients with chronic lung conditions who represent $50 billion in annual healthcare spending. Kivo Health's at-home pulmonary rehabilitation model addresses a significant access gap in chronic lung disease management: pulmonary rehabilitation (supervised exercise training, breathing technique instruction, and education for COPD and related conditions) is one of the most evidence-based, cost-effective interventions in respiratory medicine — peer-reviewed studies show 60-80% improvement in exercise capacity and quality of life metrics for patients who complete the program. However, only 3-5% of eligible COPD patients currently access pulmonary rehab due to transportation barriers, geographic remoteness from outpatient facilities, and the logistical difficulty of attending 18-36 outpatient sessions for elderly patients with significant physical limitations. Kivo delivers the same supervised exercise and education program through video sessions with licensed respiratory therapists, with the Kivo Kit's monitoring equipment (pulse oximeter, connected scale) enabling the therapist to track exercise response and safety remotely. Medicare coverage (Kivo bills through Medicare's established pulmonary rehabilitation reimbursement codes) eliminates the cost barrier for the predominantly Medicare-age COPD population. In 2025, Kivo Health competes in the at-home pulmonary rehabilitation, chronic disease telehealth, and remote respiratory therapy market with Propeller Health (digital therapeutics for respiratory disease, acquired by ResMed, NYSE: RMD), Hinge Health (musculoskeletal telehealth, $600M raised at $6.2B valuation, potential respiratory expansion), and traditional outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programs at hospital systems for COPD patient care management. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' recognition of at-home pulmonary rehabilitation as a covered benefit provides the reimbursement foundation that enables Kivo's business model — the same coverage expansion pattern that has enabled other Medicare-reimbursed telehealth services to scale. MassMutual Ventures and Samsung NEXT Ventures' investments reflect the intersection of healthcare cost management (MassMutual's insurance risk interest in preventive care) and connected health technology (Samsung NEXT's digital health investment thesis). Y Combinator W23 backing connects Kivo with the digital health investor community. The 2025 strategy focuses on expanding the Medicare Advantage health plan partnerships for care management program integration, growing geographic coverage for COPD patient enrollment, and building the chronic respiratory disease monitoring platform beyond the initial 8-week rehabilitation intervention. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Kivo Health? Kivo Health is a Durham, North Carolina-based telehealth pulmonary rehabilitation platform founded in 2021 by Manny Payan and Biju Balan. The company offers Medicare-covered 8-week lung rehab programs for patients with chronic lung diseases through at-home comprehensive care. ### What services does Kivo Health offer? Kivo Health provides an 8-week Medicare-covered telehealth pulmonary rehabilitation program. The service includes shipping a Kivo Kit with an iPad and equipment to patients' homes, along with virtual respiratory therapist sessions and exercise programs. ### Who is Kivo Health designed for? Kivo Health serves patients with chronic lung diseases including COPD, asthma, and bronchitis, with a primary focus on Medicare Advantage patients. The platform addresses a market of 16 million US patients with chronic lung conditions. ### When was Kivo Health founded? Kivo Health was founded in 2021 by Manny Payan and Biju Balan. The company participated in Y Combinator's Winter 2023 batch. ### Where is Kivo Health located? Kivo Health is based in Durham, North Carolina. ### How much funding has Kivo Health raised? Kivo Health has raised $475K in funding from 7 total investors. The funding round included participation from MassMutual Ventures, Heuristic Capital Partners, Quint Capital, Samsung NEXT Ventures, and SNR. ### What is the market opportunity for Kivo Health? Kivo Health addresses a market of 16 million US patients with chronic lung diseases such as COPD, asthma, and bronchitis. This market represents $50 billion in annual healthcare spending. ### What is included in the Kivo Kit? The Kivo Kit includes an iPad and rehabilitation equipment that is shipped directly to patients' homes. This enables patients to complete their pulmonary rehabilitation program remotely. ### Is Kivo Health covered by insurance? Yes, Kivo Health's 8-week pulmonary rehabilitation program is covered by Medicare. The company specifically targets Medicare Advantage patients with chronic conditions. ### What recent developments has Kivo Health announced? Kivo Health recently raised $475K in funding from investors including MassMutual Ventures, Heuristic Capital Partners, Quint Capital, Samsung NEXT Ventures, and SNR. The company also participated in Y Combinator's Winter 2023 batch. ## Tags healthtech, b2c, saas, mobile-first, north-america --- *Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-14.*