Exclusive: Turnout raises $35M to expand consumer advocacy
Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios
Turnout, which helps consumers navigate benefits claims and other advocacy processes, raised $35 million at a $400 million post-money valuation, CEO Itai Hirsch tells Axios exclusively.
Why it matters: Americans are often left to navigate disability benefits, veterans' benefits, health care and education systems on their own.
Zoom in: HighPost Capital led the round less than a year after Turnout raised a $21 million seed that was co-led by Shine Capital and LGVP.
How it works: San Diego-based Turnout pairs licensed advocates with AI-powered automation to help consumers navigate complex claims and benefits processes more efficiently.
- The company uses AI for tasks such as intake, voice support, record collection and case filing, while advocates handle each client's specific needs.
- Hirsch says the average client can onboard with Turnout in less than 30 minutes, compared with five days to three weeks for traditional providers.
State of play: Turnout operates across four service lines — Social Security disability, veterans benefits, health care advocacy and education advocacy.
- In health care, Turnout helps people on Medicare navigate insurance plans and obtain equipment.
- In education, it helps families seek IEP or 504 plans for students with ADHD, autism or other conditions.
- Turnout makes money differently depending on the service. In some services, consumers pay out of pocket; in others, Turnout is paid by the agency or insurer.
Between the lines: Turnout is trying to turn one-off consumer advocacy into a repeatable service across multiple high-friction markets.
- The same underlying AI infrastructure can be used across categories, but each service requires distinct training and advocates, Hirsch says.
- He adds that the company is trying to become an "advocate for life" for consumers who need help navigating large institutions, noting that the average Turnout customer needs 1.8 services across the company's service lines.
