Specialized healthcare financing platform Kiwi announced a $10 million seed round, combining equity and debt, according to sources close to Contxto. The deal marks the formal start of its operations in Peru and lays the groundwork for its planned expansion into Mexico in 2026.
Kiwi’s operating model is based on two pillars. On one hand, it facilitates access to credit for patients who need to cover immediate medical expenses. On another, it offers a set of financial solutions tailored to the specific needs of clinics and healthcare professionals.
The startup, co-founded in Miami by brothers Sebastian and Gabriel Chirinos, presented a digital platform that integrates directly with the management systems of partner medical institutions, enabling credit approval processes in a matter of minutes.
Financing for patients
Latin America registers annually more than $60 billion dollars in direct payments for healthcare services, a phenomenon driven by the limited coverage of private health insurance and the capacity restrictions of public systems.
This situation has generated an ecosystem dominated by ‘trickle-down’ lending and, in many cases, recourse to informal financing alternatives with unfavorable conditions for users.
The financial structure of the round includes $2 million in equity and $8 million in debt, mainly aimed at the Peruvian market. “The post-investment valuation reaches $7 million, which reflects the investors’ confidence in our model,” a spokesperson told Contxto. Notable investors include Tyler Johnson of HFD and MVRK Capital, who along with Beau Woodward and Jacob Panero will join the board.
In Peru, the company has already established agreements with 73 medical centers specializing in areas such as dentistry, ophthalmology and fertility treatments. “Initial data show average amounts of $1,000 per patient with terms up to 24 months and a delinquency of 3.5%, below the regional average,” the spokesperson said of the preliminary results.
Next steps
The growth strategy contemplates a gradual expansion. In the short term, the focus will be on consolidating its presence in Peru, where it plans to add 150 additional clinics over the next 12 months. The startup is preparing to enter the Mexican market, scheduled for the first quarter of 2026, through a strategic alliance with a local operator with extensive experience in the healthcare sector. This approach of expansion through alliances seeks to be replicated in other Central American markets starting in 2027.
In terms of challenges, it is known that the sector requires significant amounts of capital to finance loans, while at the same time strict controls on delinquency rates must be maintained. The adoption of the model by clinics and the potential competitive response from traditional players in the financial sector represent critical variables that could influence the company’s future trajectory.
The transition from pilot operations to significant scale, particularly with the planned expansion into Mexico, will be a key inflection point. In the meantime, the company is focused on consolidating its position in Peru, optimizing its risk algorithms and strengthening its network of alliances with medical institutions in an effort to build a solid foundation for regional growth.
