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Sunlight AI launches with $17.4M in funding and acquisition of Bradford Medical Associates
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Sunlight AI has announced $17.4 million in funding alongside its acquisition of Bradford Medical Associates, launching a business focused on helping independent physicians manage the financial and administrative demands of running medical practices.
The New York- and Miami-based company is building an operating platform that combines artificial intelligence, practice-management services and human expertise to help independent medical practices improve collections, manage administrative costs and preserve physician ownership.
The funding was led by Lan Xuexhao, founder of Basis Set Ventures, with participation from Sofeon Ventures, Social Leverage, Actions Capital, Overlook Ventures and Early Light Ventures, alongside other healthcare investors, family offices and technology founders. Financial terms of the Bradford Medical Associates acquisition were not disclosed.
Bringing AI and operational services together
Sunlight is positioning itself beyond a conventional healthcare software provider. Its model combines technology with operational support across revenue cycle management (RCM), workforce and financial services, aiming to help practices address the administrative work that often takes time away from patient care.
The company is beginning with independent physician practices’ payment disputes, including independent dispute resolution (IDR), where providers challenge certain insurer payment decisions. It is also expanding into billing, with plans to bring additional services such as scheduling, patient administration, payroll, employee benefits, insurance, tax and accounting into its offering.
The strategy centres on combining AI-enabled workflows with experienced teams who can follow up on claims, resolve problems and help practices manage the business side of healthcare. The objective is to make administrative operations more effective without requiring physicians to relinquish ownership or clinical control.
Bradford acquisition supports a broader operating model
The acquisition of Bradford Medical Associates is an early step in Sunlight’s plan to build an integrated services platform for independent practices.
Rather than relying solely on software subscriptions, Sunlight intends to bring established service providers into its operating model, combining their existing relationships and expertise with technology-enabled processes. The company says Bradford’s team will continue supporting practices through the transition, with additional services available according to each practice’s needs.
This approach could allow Sunlight to build capabilities around existing physician relationships while applying technology and operational knowledge across a broader network of practices.
Addressing the pressures on independent physicians
Independent practices face increasing pressure from administrative costs, reimbursement challenges and the complexity of dealing with insurers. For smaller providers, managing billing, collections, staffing and financial administration can require significant resources.
Sunlight’s founder and CEO, Sina Chehrazi, has described the company’s mission as helping physicians run more sustainable practices without giving up control of their businesses. His perspective is informed by both his previous healthcare technology venture, Nayya, and his family’s experience with independent medical practice.
The company’s model seeks to give independent physicians access to operational support and technology that can help them benefit from scale while retaining their clinical autonomy and relationships with patients.
Funding to expand the independent-practice platform
The $17.4 million funding announcement and Bradford acquisition establish the starting point for Sunlight’s broader ambitions. The company plans to expand its service offering and use AI alongside experienced operators to take on more of the administrative work associated with running a medical practice.
Its longer-term opportunity will depend on whether it can deliver consistent operational and financial improvements across practices with different needs, payer relationships and workflows. For the healthcare technology market, Sunlight represents a model that combines AI-enabled software with services and acquisitions, rather than relying on automation alone.
About Sunlight AI
Sunlight AI is a healthcare technology company building an operating platform for independent physician practices. Its offering combines AI, revenue cycle management, workforce and financial services to help practices manage administrative operations while maintaining ownership and clinical control.
Source: Official company announcement