Citizen Health Secures $30 Million to Pioneer AI Advocates for Patients

Citizen Health, a patient-powered platform aiming to transform care for rare diseases, has secured $ 30 million in Series A funding. The round was led by 8VC, with Transformation Capital and Headline also taking part. This latest raise brings the company’s total funding to 44 million dollars since its launch in December 2023.

The company was founded by Farid Vij, who serves as CEO, and Nasha Fitter, the Chief Business Officer. A team of seasoned industry leaders joins both co-founders. Citizen Health’s mission is bold: to give patients, particularly those battling rare and complex conditions, greater agency, clearer insights, and the tools to take control of their care.

At the heart of the platform is a combination of artificial intelligence, community-driven knowledge, and longitudinal health data. Patients can interpret their medical records, track symptoms, learn from peers, manage appointments, and discover the next logical step in their health journey. With nearly half of American adults living with at least one chronic illness, the ability to advocate for oneself has never been more critical.

Citizen Health envisions a future where every patient has access to a personalised AI Advocate. This technology would not only guide but also take initiative—spotting opportunities to improve health in ways that patients might not have considered. The goal is to transition healthcare from a fragmented and reactive system to one that is connected, proactive, and precise.

The founding duo first met while building their previous company, Citizen, which was acquired by Invitae in 2021. Their new venture draws on deep expertise in AI, healthcare, privacy, and consumer technology, as well as a personal commitment to rare disease advocacy.

Impressive Early Traction

Citizen Health has already created over 60 engaged communities covering 123 rare and complex conditions. It has partnered with more than 70 patient advocacy groups, the majority of which joined organically. Nearly every patient, 98.3 per cent, shares their data for research, a remarkable show of trust in the platform. The we Food and Drug Administration has already accepted the data for regulatory submissions, and the company is collaborating with over 10 pharmaceutical partners.

The urgency is apparent. More than 400 million people worldwide live with rare diseases, and 95 per cent of these conditions have no approved treatment. Citizen Health’s approach answers recent calls from the FDA for innovation in rare disease care, addressing both funding pressures and regulatory uncertainty. With genetic testing becoming more widespread, the platform offers a lifeline for newly identified patient groups seeking connection and data-driven solutions.

Looking Ahead

In the third quarter of this year, Citizen Health will release the first version of its AI Advocate to select communities. A new product for patient advocacy groups is also in the pipeline. The company is focused on hiring top-tier AI engineers, product builders, and designers, while strengthening its partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, policymakers, and patient organisations.

About Citizen Health

Based in San Francisco, Citizen Health is reimagining healthcare, starting with rare diseases. By merging AI, community, and high-quality longitudinal data, the company empowers patients to take charge of their care while building one of the most robust research-grade datasets in the industry. The company’s backers include 8VC, Headline, Transformation Capital, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and prominent angel investors.

About 8VC

8VC is a leading technology investment firm whose partners have co-founded companies such as Palantir, Addepar, and Resilience, and have invested in healthcare innovators like Oscar and Cityblock. Managing over $7 billion in committed capital, 8VC focuses on smart enterprise platforms, healthcare, logistics, Bio-IT, and defence.

About Headline

Headline is a global venture capital firm with over $ 4 billion in assets under management. Since its founding in 1998, it has invested in over 300 companies worldwide, including Bumble, Gopuff, Mistral AI, and Sonos. The firm operates regionally focused early-stage funds in the US, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, as well as a global growth fund.