nib subsidiary, nib Thrive, has acquired 100 per cent of the purpose-built technology platform, Kynd.
Kynd is a digital marketplace for people who use Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
In 2022, nib raised $158.1 million to enter the NDIS through a series of plan management acquisitions, and now has around 27,000 people registered via its plan management businesses.
“Kynd is a purpose-built digital platform, offering a marketplace that enables people who use the NDIS, their carers and support coordinators to search, compare and book a range of support services,” said nib Thrive chief executive Martin Adlington.
“It brings together buyers and sellers with a high level of transparency around people, services, pricing and payment,” he said.
“For people who offer services like in-home and in-community support, therapy assistance, personal care or meal preparation, Kynd provides a job-posting platform with a back-up support team, easy payment and insurance cover.”
Mr Adlington continued, “We hope to build on that network with NDIS providers as we look to grow our presence in the disability sector to enable, advocate, and facilitate services for participants,” he said. “We hope good technology is part of the solution to some of the problems that currently exist connecting buyers and sellers of disability services. We expect with nib’s scale and reach to be able to grow a technology service, like Kynd, rapidly.”
Kynd founder and chief executive, Michael Metcalfe, said, “The platform allows NDIS participants to match with service providers, based on their preferences.
“We want to improve and innovate the NDIS experience and have built a platform with detailed profiles, smart matching, ranking systems and more. Kynd also brings a 24-hour a day booking ability, pricing transparency and hassle-free payment,” he said.
nib said that Mr Metcalfe, who founded Kynd in 2017, and his team would remain with the business for at least two years.