Fernando Botrán and the Making of Osigu: A Journey to Revolutionize Latin America’s HealthTech

Over $60 billion. That’s the annual volume of healthcare claims in Latin America. For context: that’s larger than the entire GDP of Paraguay, bigger than Stripe’s latest valuation, and a run rate of $6.8 million per hour.

If even 1% of this market were optimized through digitalization, AI, or automation, that’s a $600 million efficiency gain. Companies tackling inefficiencies in this space have the potential to create billion-dollar opportunities.

And few companies have made as profound an impact on both the Latin American and U.S. markets as Osigu. What began as a simple idea in 2015 has since transformed into a leading force in revenue cycle management, driven by advanced artificial intelligence.

Under the leadership of founder and CEO Fernando Botrán, Osigu is reshaping the healthcare industry — one automated transaction at a time. With a decade of expertise, the company has secured strategic partnerships with industry giants such as Visa, expanded its presence across key Latin American markets, and positioned itself as an influential player in healthcare innovation.

But Botrán’s journey to this industry was far from typical.

In an unexpected turn of events, Botrán’s entrepreneurial path took shape on the golf course. After making a hole-in-one at a golf tournament in Guatemala, he found himself with an unusual prize: a Maserati. Instead of keeping it, he sold the sportscar and used the funds to launch his next venture: a company that would revolutionize healthcare payments in Latin America.

The Birth of Osigu

Fernando Botrán never set out to disrupt healthcare. Armed with a degree in Business Administration, Botrán’s early career led him into consulting with EY, before briefly leading a tech startup, Giftop, focused on sending gift cards from the U.S. to Latin America.

This experience gave him invaluable insights into the technological landscape and the underlying inefficiencies in various industries. As he delved deeper, he uncovered a much bigger opportunity that made him reevaluate his path.

“We started in the gift card business, and while it was successful, we realized that the healthcare space presented a much deeper opportunity. We saw inefficiencies, and the more we explored, the more we understood the potential to transform the way healthcare operates in Latin America,” Botrán reflects.

In 2015, Osigu was born with the purpose of connecting key players in the healthcare ecosystem by automating healthcare claims management in real time, laying the groundwork for transforming healthcare payments. Botrán soon realized the industry’s fragmentation and inefficiencies ran deeper and extended across the region. What he did not anticipate was that addressing these foundational issues would spark exponential growth, laying the foundation for years of innovation and market leadership.

As Osigu scaled, it attracted the attention of key industry players and investors. In 2019, Bobby Aitkenhead, Co-Founder and Managing Director at IDC Ventures, joined as an advisor, bringing strategic guidance that would help shape the company’s trajectory. This relationship eventually led to IDC Ventures’ involvement, providing valuable support as Osigu expanded its reach and strengthened its position in the market.

Strategic Partnerships Fuel Growth

With its growing presence in the Latin American healthcare market, Osigu quickly realized that automation and efficiency were just the starting points. The company’s next step was to expand its reach, secure strategic partnerships, and explore financial solutions that would drive long-term growth. This is where Visa entered the picture, becoming a key partner in Osigu’s next phase.

In October 2024, Osigu secured the first closing of its $25 million Series B round led by IDC Ventures, with Visa joining as a strategic investor. This partnership brought invaluable expertise, robust infrastructure, and the ability to scale at an unprecedented pace. IDC Ventures, known for backing transformative companies in fintech and digital ecosystems, recognized the potential in Osigu’s ability to bridge the gap between healthcare and financial technology.

“The investment from IDC Ventures and Visa has been a significant validation of our vision,” says Botrán. “Healthcare payments in Latin America have long suffered from inefficiencies, and by integrating fintech solutions, we’re creating the financial operating system for healthcare providers.”

Visa’s involvement highlights the growing convergence between fintech and healthtech. With Visa’s robust digital payment infrastructure and Osigu’s proprietary technology, the company is now developing financial products that extend beyond claim management. Osigu is automating transactions, optimizing reimbursement cycles, and providing digital tools for both healthcare providers and insurers.

The results speak for themselves. In 2024 alone, Osigu processed $688 million in claim volume. By streamlining payments and improving cash flow management for healthcare institutions, Osigu has become an indispensable partner in the region.

Expanding into New Markets

In addition to its financial growth, Osigu’s expansion into new markets has solidified its position as a leader in healthtech. The acquisition of Servinte, a major provider of electronic health record (EHR) solutions in Colombia, further bolstered Osigu’s presence in the region. With over 50 hospital systems relying on Servinte’s software, integrating Osigu’s real-time claim processing capabilities has significantly enhanced efficiency and transparency in healthcare transactions.

Osigu has also expanded into Brazil, Latin America’s largest and most complex healthcare market. This strategic move reinforces its mission to transform healthcare payments in the country by streamlining hospital revenue cycle management, reducing claim denials, accelerating payments, and increasing automation in the private healthcare sector. By doing so, Osigu strengthens its footprint in the region and reinforces its commitment to driving financial efficiency across Latin America’s healthcare ecosystem.

Botrán sees this growth as a stepping stone toward a larger vision. “We are solving fundamental infrastructure problems in healthcare. Our goal is to create a seamless, interconnected system that benefits everyone — providers, insurers, and, most importantly, patients,” he explains.

The strategic alliance with Visa has also opened new avenues in healthcare financing. One of the company’s most exciting developments is the creation of credit-enabling solutions for patients, offering flexible payment options for medical services. By harnessing AI and machine learning, Osigu is developing predictive models that assess financial risk.

The Future: AI and Automation

Looking ahead, Osigu is intensifying its focus on artificial intelligence and automation. The company is making substantial investments in AI to enhance its platform’s capabilities. From recommending necessary documentation for prior authorizations to predicting claim denials, Osigu’s technology is setting a new benchmark for efficiency in the industry.

“As we continue to innovate, we are transforming the way healthcare operates across Latin America,” says Botrán. “The fusion of technology and finance is driving the next wave of industry-wide change.”

With a strong foundation, strategic partnerships, and an ambitious vision for the future, Osigu is positioned to reshape the healthcare landscape. What began as an ambitious idea in 2015 has now become a transformative force, charting a new path for healthcare innovation in the region.