Bright Health

founders: kyle rolfing, bob sheehy (ceo), tom valdivia

Equity raised: $240 million Estimated 2017 revenue: $45 million

Lead investors: bessemer venture partners, greenspring associates, new enterprise associates

What it does: provides health insurance. sheehy, former ceo of unitedhealthcare, teamed up with two other health care heavy hitters to start bright health two years ago. the minneapolis-based firm’s advantage: its founders’ backgrounds and its strategy of partnering with specific provider groups. bright health launched in colorado early this year in partnership with centura health and covers 11,500 people. as it expands to new markets, including arizona and alabama, it expects subscribers to top 40,000 next year. the company has shifted its focus from individuals covered under the affordable care act to the medicare advantage market. “we expect to be in 10 to 15 markets over the next several years,” sheehy says.