Seattle-based Avante has raised $30m in Series A funding to accelerate the international expansion of its AI-powered employee benefits platform. The investment comes as employers seek to manage increasing health care costs and reduce the administrative burden on HR and benefits teams.
The funding round was led by Frist Cressey Ventures, with participation from new investors Sorenson Capital, Hearst Ventures and Morgan Stanley Next Level Fund, alongside existing investor FUSE. The latest investment brings Avante’s total funding to $40m.
Avante plans to use the proceeds to enter international markets and expand its network of AI agents. These tools help benefits teams evaluate programmes, assess vendors and automate routine administrative tasks. The company also aims to enhance personalised employee guidance, helping workers identify and access benefits relevant to their needs.
The investment comes as employers face growing pressure to manage health care expenditure. Large employers anticipate a median 9.2% increase in health care costs in 2027, adding to the challenges facing HR and benefits teams responsible for controlling spending while supporting employees.
Many organisations continue to depend on manual processes and outdated information to manage employee benefits programmes. These challenges are compounded by the need to coordinate multiple providers, insurance plans and regulatory requirements across different markets.
Avante’s platform uses AI agents to automate a range of benefits-related activities, including evaluating vendor performance, preparing for contract renewals and identifying gaps in existing programmes. The technology can compare contracts against claims data, identify inconsistencies in plan documents and monitor important deadlines.
Last week, the company introduced Ava Agents in beta, allowing benefits teams to delegate recurring tasks to AI agents and review the completed work. Employees can also use the platform to ask questions about their coverage and available support, receiving personalised guidance at any time without waiting for assistance from HR.
Since launching 18 months ago, Avante has secured more than 70 customer accounts. Bookings have grown almost fivefold year on year, and all customers eligible for renewal have renewed their contracts. The platform now supports more than 385,000 employees and their families.
Customer results include a 66% increase in employees and dependants discovering and using existing mental health support at Samsung Semiconductor. News Corp has used workforce data from the platform to accelerate decision-making. Other customers include Real Chemistry and Zscaler.
To expand its market reach, Avante has also established partnerships with benefits advisers Gallagher, OneDigital, Segal Benz, Howden and USI Insurance Services.
