Berlin-based FinTech Pliant has acquired Vienna-based Insurtech startup hi.health, aiming to bring its advanced payment capabilities into the insurance space while tapping into hi.health’s sector-specific expertise.
This is Pliant’s second strategic acquisition, following its 2023 purchase of Friday Finance. While hi.health will maintain its independent operations, it will leverage Pliant’s infrastructure and backing to enhance the robustness, scalability, and efficiency of its product offerings.
“hi.health has developed an impressive solution at the intersection of FinTech and insurance. By embedding a payment option into the submission process, they are revolutionising what has traditionally been a cumbersome reimbursement workflow and creating real value in the process. That’s exactly our ambition: to make complex operational workflows digitally simple,” said Malte Rau, CEO of Pliant.
Founded in 2020, Pliant serves over 3,500 businesses and collaborates with more than 20 global partners. As a licensed e-money institution (EMI), the company issues Visa-backed credit cards in 11 currencies across 30+ countries, making business payments more seamless and efficient.
Pliant’s modular, API-first platform is built to simplify spend management, enhance cash flow, and embed payments into financial operations. Tailored for industries with complex transaction needs—like travel and fleet—it empowers companies with better control, increased efficiency, and improved profitability.
Pliant has introduced a digital interface that connects insurance providers directly with their customers. By utilizing a payment card, insured users can bypass upfront payments and instead submit healthcare-related invoices—such as medical bills and prescriptions—through a streamlined mobile app for direct reimbursement.
hi.health, the acquired company, was established in 2019 by Fredrik Debong (Co-founder of mySugr) and Sebastian Gruber, a former McKinsey consultant.
“Our partnership with Pliant allows us to think even bigger about our mission. Together, we have the opportunity to transform financial processes in the insurance and healthcare industries – eliminating the cumbersome reimbursement procedures and significantly improving the experience for both users and healthcare providers,” said Sebastian Gruber, CEO and Co-founder of hi.health.
This strategic acquisition strengthens Pliant’s vision of merging a robust payments platform with specialized industry expertise. While Pliant already powers digital card and payment infrastructure for banks, the addition of hi.health brings valuable insurance-sector knowledge, positioning the company to better serve the evolving needs of the insurtech space.
