Jonathan Kumar and Samaritan

Having benefited from social services and the kindness of community members growing up as a first-gen immigrant, Jonathan had a lot of empathy and drive to build a company that centers around providing resources and hope for those without a home. 

California Health Care Foundation invested in his early-stage start-up, which leverages a mobile app, an online community, and financial technology to empower people experiencing homelessness to meet their health care, housing, and other immediate needs. 

Over time, Samaritan built a business with multiple funding streams, including corporate philanthropy, health care and social service providers, and Medicaid. Since then, Samaritan has grown to help cities across the nation. 

Samaritan shows that purpose and profit coexist in startups. We learn about the company's business model, including the vision, challenges, and opportunities. Jonathan also offers advice for other social entrepreneurs getting started in the healthtech space.

This podcast is a production of the California Health Care Foundation Innovation Fund. 

The California Health Care Foundation helps Californians with low incomes get the health care they need. We are an independent, nonprofit philanthropy that works to improve the health care system so that all Californians have the care they need. We focus especially on making sure the system works for Californians with low incomes and for communities who have traditionally faced the greatest barriers to care. 

The Innovation Fund partners with emerging companies to bring innovations and technology to California’s health care providers, payers, and patients.