Tennr, a San Francisco–based healthcare technology startup, today announced the closing of a $101 million Series B funding round aimed at overhauling the notoriously fragmented patient referral process. The financing, led by General Catalyst with participation from a16z, NEA and existing backers, underscores growing investor confidence in using artificial intelligence to streamline and humanize one of healthcare’s most cumbersome workflows. Tennr plans to put these new dollars toward product development, strategic hires and nationwide expansion, with a goal of making referrals faster, more transparent and far less error-prone.
The pain points Tennr addresses are familiar to patients and providers alike. According to a recent survey, nearly 30 percent of primary-to-specialist referrals either fall through the cracks or require weeks of back-and-forth just to schedule an appointment. EHR systems often lack coordination tools, leaving office staff to manage fax machines, phone calls and spreadsheets—and leaving patients confused about where and when they’ll receive follow-up care. In a field where timely specialist intervention can dramatically affect outcomes, these administrative hurdles can translate into delayed diagnoses and mounting frustration.
Founded in 2020 by healthcare IT veteran Dr. Maya Chen and AI engineer Luis Ramirez, Tennr has built an end-to-end platform that integrates seamlessly with leading electronic medical record (EMR) systems via FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) APIs. When a primary care physician clicks “refer,” Tennr’s algorithms instantly surface a curated list of in-network specialists ranked by availability, patient reviews, quality metrics and historical outcomes for similar cases. The platform then automates appointment outreach—sending SMS and email notifications, coordinating calendars and even arranging transportation or virtual-visit links if needed. Providers can track referral status in real time, while patients receive a single, clear itinerary and reminders until their matter is resolved.
Since its 2021 commercial launch, Tennr has signed on more than 200 provider organizations, including regional health systems and large multispecialty groups. The platform now processes over 50,000 referrals per month across 30 states, and customers report an average 35 percent reduction in scheduling turnaround time and a 20 percent drop in referral leakage—patients who never complete their specialist visits. In one case study, Horizon Medical Group in New Jersey cut no-show rates from 22 percent to under 10 percent within three months of adopting Tennr, attributing the improvement to timely automated reminders and transparent scheduling links.
Dr. Chen notes that Tennr’s mission is as much about elevating the patient experience as it is about boosting operational efficiency. “When you remove the friction of faxed forms and hold-time agony, you restore the human element to care delivery,” she says. “Our platform doesn’t just book appointments; it ensures patients know where to turn and feel supported every step of the way.” Ramirez adds that by tracking downstream outcomes, Tennr is also feeding back data to health systems to identify patterns—such as which specialists consistently achieve faster diagnostic resolution or higher patient satisfaction—thereby creating a virtuous cycle of continuous improvement.
Tennr joins an increasingly crowded field of healthcare AI startups focused on administrative workflows. Competitors include Kyruus, which emphasizes provider search and match capabilities, and Olive AI, which automates claims and prior-authorization tasks. Tennr differentiates itself by tackling the full referral journey—from referral order to appointment completion—rather than just a single piece of the puzzle. Investors view this end-to-end approach as a key competitive advantage, as it allows Tennr to build deeper relationships with both payers and providers and to capture more value per referral.
Analysts estimate that the U.S. patient referral management market is worth over $8 billion annually, with projected growth to $15 billion by 2027 as healthcare entities seek to reduce costs and improve quality metrics under value-based care models. With three quarters of ambulatory referrals still managed manually, the runway for digital transformation remains vast. Tennr’s new capital will fund expansion into untapped regions, development of new modules—such as telehealth triage and social-determinants-of-health coordination—and additional integrations with payer networks to simplify eligibility and benefits checks.
Personal Anecdote: Last spring, my own mother was referred to a rheumatologist after weeks of worsening joint pain. We encountered the familiar maze of voicemails, faxes and conflicting information about in-network coverage. By the time we actually sat in the specialist’s office, her condition had deteriorated enough to require more aggressive treatment. It wasn’t until a friend in healthcare recommended a clinic using Tennr that the wheels started turning smoothly: a text with an appointment link, automated reminders, and a follow-up message confirming insurance. That experience convinced me firsthand of how a well-designed referral system can make a profound difference to patient well-being—and why Tennr’s vision matters right now.
As Tennr scales, Dr. Chen stresses that the focus will remain squarely on measurable outcomes and user delight. “Investment enables growth, but our true north is making healthcare more navigable and equitable for everyone,” she says. With this fresh influx of capital and a growing roster of early adopters reporting success, Tennr is poised to lead the next wave of AI-driven administrative solutions that could finally unjam the bottleneck between primary care and specialty services.
Five Key Takeaways:
1. Tennr has raised $101 million in a Series B round led by General Catalyst, with a16z and NEA also participating.
2. The company’s AI-powered platform integrates with EMRs via FHIR to automate referrals end-to-end—from match to appointment.
3. Customers report a 35 percent faster referral scheduling time and a 20 percent reduction in referral leakage.
4. Tennr aims to expand features into telehealth triage, social-determinants coordination and payer interoperability.
5. The U.S. referral management market is projected to reach $15 billion by 2027, leaving ample room for digital innovation.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1: How does Tennr ensure patient data security and HIPAA compliance?
A1: Tennr employs industry-standard encryption in transit and at rest, undergoes regular security audits, and follows strict HIPAA protocols, ensuring that all PHI (protected health information) remains secure throughout the referral lifecycle.
Q2: Can Tennr integrate with any electronic medical record system?
A2: Tennr’s open-architecture platform supports FHIR-based integrations with leading EHRs—Epic, Cerner, Allscripts and others—and offers custom API connectors for smaller or proprietary systems.
Q3: What pricing model does Tennr use?
A3: Tennr offers a subscription-based pricing model that scales with referral volume, plus a one-time implementation fee. Volume discounts and multi-year contracts are available for large health systems and enterprise customers.
Call to Action:
Ready to transform your referral process and deliver better patient experiences? Visit www.tennrhealth.com/demo to schedule a personalized walkthrough, or reach out to our team at sales@tennrhealth.com to learn how Tennr can integrate seamlessly into your practice and start streaming referrals today.
