Optum, the health services business of UnitedHealth Group has launched Optum Ventures, a $250 million venture fund focused on investing in startup and early-stage digital health companies.

The fund will invest in startups that use data and insights to help improve consumers’ access to health care services and how care is delivered and paid for, and that make the health care system more reliable and easier to navigate, said Optum in a statement.

Initial investments of Optum Ventures include Apervita, Buoy Health, Mindstrong Health, and Shyft Analytics.

Optum Ventures is funded by Optum and will operate independently under the leadership of its Partners, A.G. Breitenstein and Virginia McFerran. The fund will have offices in Boston, Massachusetts and Menlo Park, California.

[Image courtesy: Optum]