Advocate – a groundbreaking AI-driven platform that helps workers and veterans apply for government benefits more simply, safely, and easily – announced that the company has raised over $4 million in seed funding. The company brings together leaders in the government and tech sectors like the former Social Security Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart and former VA Secretary David Shulkin who will join Advocate as advisors. Built to work alongside expert human case managers, Advocate’s technology will ensure case filings are accurate, comprehensive, and in compliance with all pertinent government rules and regulations before submitting. The funding round was led by Lerer Hippeau and included an investment by Khosla Ventures.
Government disability benefits account for over $200 billion in spending a year. And according to the GAO, 109,000 people died while waiting for their benefits in the past full decade alone, and over 48,000 declared bankruptcy.
Advocate founder and CEO Emilie Poteat, an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and disability advocate, founded Advocate after a difficult first-hand experience navigating the Social Security Disability Insurance process with her father following his stroke. And she assembled a team of experts to apply cutting-edge technological advancements to the problem. Plus she also brought together leading disability experts including both former Social Security Commissioner, Jo Anne Barnhart, and former Secretary of Veterans Affairs, David Shulkin, who will join the company as advisors.
KEY QUOTES:
“Accessing government benefits is nearly impossible for most Americans. The government disability benefits system is cumbersome, outdated, and frustratingly difficult to navigate. We employ the latest technological and algorithmic advancements to simplify this process and help both recipients and government staff alike. I am delighted to partner with these world-renowned disability experts and leading innovators as we work to help tens of millions of Americans access the benefits they deserve.”
— Emilie Poteat PhD, the founder and CEO of Advocate
“The government benefit system exists to provide financial protection for people with disabilities but, all too often, it offers a disheartening maze of paperwork and delays. Applying a modern technology solution will help alleviate the burden on the millions of disabled Americans who simply can’t afford to wait years in an outdated and underfunded processing system while their health and economic situation deteriorates.”
— Former Social Security Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart
“I was honored to support the men and women that have served our great nation as Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and I am honored to continue that mission by joining Advocate in the fight to help our veterans get the benefits they deserve.”
— VA Secretary David Shulkin
“For decades, government and public services have been behind the curve on the digital transformation we see in all other aspects of modern life. At its best, tech updates outdated, manual processes to better serve users. Emilie and her team have the right experience, technology, and solutions-driven approach to fix this fractured process and get benefits into the hands of the people who need and deserve them.”
— Caitlin Strandberg, Partner at Lerer Hippeau
