Last week wasn't just another startup victory at a tech venture conference. When Joe Colopy handed the Counterforce Health team a briefcase packed with $5,000 in crisp $1 bills at the Grep-a-Palooza venture conference, it represented something far more significant than just money. It was our promise to help 250,000 cancer patients and others get the healthcare they deserve.
At the Durham Convention Center on June 5th, CareYaya's newest social impact venture Counterforce Health emerged victorious at North Carolina's premier venture conference, winning both the Audience Choice award and the Investor Panel's top prize. Competing against an impressive field of eight finalists selected from over 60 applicants running the top startups in North Carolina, Counterforce Health's AI-powered platform for fighting insurance claim denials resonated deeply with both the hundreds of attendees and the distinguished panel of investor judges.
The moment was unforgettable. Joe Colopy, the beloved godfather of tech innovation in the Research Triangle and visionary entrepreneur behind the $200 million Bronto Software success story, presented the prize in the most dramatic fashion possible – a literal briefcase of cash. The crowd erupted in cheers as our team accepted the award, a powerful validation of our mission to revolutionize healthcare advocacy.
Transforming Healthcare One Appeal at a Time
Counterforce Health addresses one of healthcare's most devastating problems: denied insurance claims. With over $1 trillion in claims denied annually and only 1% ever appealed, patients and providers face an uphill battle against insurance companies that have weaponized AI to maximize profits while drowning patients and clinics in paperwork.
Our solution levels the playing field for patients and providers. We've launched a system of AI agents that generate compelling appeal letters in minutes while achieving a more than 60% success rate for overturned denials. What typically costs the healthcare system over $43 per claim appeal and requires 2-4 hours of tedious paperwork, our platform accomplishes for just 2 cents and 2 minutes of processing time.
"Counterforce Health has transformed our practice's appeal process," says Dr. Lee, a rheumatologist at Wilmington Health. "We've successfully overturned 68% of our medication denials using their AI platform, compared to less than 40% when we did appeals manually."
Beyond the efficiency, it's about access to healthcare. Denied health insurance claims create devastating medical debt, serving as the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in America. Every successful appeal means a patient gets the treatment they need, a family avoids financial ruin, and healthcare providers can focus on healing rather than bureaucracy.
When you do the math on that $5,000 prize at only 2 cents per appeal through our AI system, we'll help 250,000 patients appeal their denied claims. That's a quarter of a million people who will have a fighting chance at getting the care they desperately need.
"After my insurance denied my cancer surgery as 'not medically necessary', Counterforce Health helped me appeal in just 10 minutes," said Maria, a cancer patient from Charlotte. "The AI-generated letter was so comprehensive with detailed citations and references, that the surgery was approved in less than 48 hours. My doctor said it was the fastest reversal he's ever seen."
The distinguished panel of judges at Grep-a-Palooza included Jan Davis from RTP Angel Fund, Timothy McLoughlin from Cofounders Capital, and Zakiya Alta-Lee from IDEA Fund Partners – recognized the transformative potential of our platform. Their real-time feedback during our presentation reinforced what we've known all along: it's time to empower patients and doctors with AI to fight back against a broken system.
This win at Grep-a-Palooza 2025 has energized our entire team. We're back at our offices more determined than ever to build and scale, with a clear vision of helping millions of patients across America get the care they deserve.
The conference, which attracted over 400 attendees and featured keynotes from North Carolina's first-ever Deputy Chief of Policy and AI, I-Sah Hsieh, showcased how the Triangle is emerging as a leading AI innovation hub. For Counterforce Health, being recognized as the top company among this impressive cohort of AI-driven startups validates our approach and accelerates our mission.
In celebrating this milestone, we're deeply grateful to Joe Colopy, David Schwartz, Jenn Summe, Sonali Sanjay, and the entire GrepBeat team for featuring our mission-driven work on their prestigious platforms. Beyond winning the competition, the recognition amplifies our message that healthcare should work for patients, not against them.
The briefcase of cash may have made for an unforgettable moment, but what matters most is what it represents: the resources to continue our fight for healthcare access, one appeal at a time. Together with our partners, investors, and the incredible tech ecosystem, we're building a future where no patient has to choose between their health and their financial security.
Thank you to everyone who has supported our journey. This is just the beginning. Let's build a better future for care! ❤️
Counterforce Health is an AI-powered healthcare advocacy platform launched by CareYaya Health Technologies, that helps patients and healthcare providers fight insurance claim denials with unprecedented efficiency and success rates. Learn more about how we're transforming healthcare advocacy at www.counterforcehealth.org