About
Nava PBC is a mission-driven public benefit corporation dedicated to transforming how people interact with government through technology. Founded in 2015, Nava partners with federal, state, and local agencies to design, build, and operate digital services that are reliable, equitable, and easy to use. Their work directly impacts millions of Americans—they have delivered services and benefits to over 50 million households, supported the disbursement of over $3 billion in payments, and eliminated more than 500,000 hours of manual labor for government employees. Nava specializes in applying modern software engineering, AI, and automation to some of government's most complex technology challenges. Recent projects include AI-powered disability benefit claims classification for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a GenAI-powered referral generator for Goodwill case managers, and rigorous evaluation of AI chatbots for benefit navigation. They also help agencies transition from legacy systems (such as SAS) to modern data infrastructure suited for analytics and AI workflows. Their approach is outcomes-driven and human-centered—working backward from what beneficiaries and civil servants actually need. Nava also runs registered apprenticeship programs, participates in cooperative procurement vehicles like NASPO ValuePoint, and contributes to open-source government technology infrastructure. Nava is best suited for government agencies seeking a trusted technology partner for large-scale digital modernization and AI adoption initiatives.
Key Features
- AI-Powered Benefits Automation: Automates disability claims classification and benefits processing for agencies like the VA, reducing manual workload and accelerating delivery to those in need.
- GenAI Caseworker Tools: Develops and rigorously evaluates GenAI-powered assistive tools—such as referral generators and chatbots—that improve accuracy and efficiency for caseworkers.
- Legacy System Modernization: Helps government agencies migrate from outdated platforms (e.g., SAS) to modern, AI-ready data infrastructure and cloud-based software solutions.
- Human-Centered Service Design: Works backward from citizen and civil servant needs to build resilient, accessible digital services that are easy to use at scale.
- Scalable AI Delivery Models: Establishes trustworthy, human-centered AI delivery frameworks within agencies to reduce clinician and staff burden while improving service outcomes.
Use Cases
- Automating disability benefit claims classification at the VA to reduce processing time and get benefits to Veterans faster.
- Building GenAI-powered referral generator tools to help Goodwill case managers quickly match clients with the right community resources.
- Modernizing state unemployment insurance portals to improve the claimant experience and reduce administrative burden.
- Establishing trustworthy, human-centered AI delivery frameworks within federal health agencies to reduce clinician workload.
- Migrating government agencies from legacy analytics platforms (e.g., SAS) to modern, AI-ready data infrastructure.
Pros
- Proven Government Track Record: Over a decade of successful partnerships with federal, state, and local agencies, delivering services to 50M+ households and disbursing $3B+ in payments.
- Mission-Aligned Public Benefit Focus: As a public benefit corporation, Nava prioritizes societal outcomes over profit, making them a trusted partner for sensitive government modernization work.
- End-to-End AI and Automation Expertise: Combines modern AI/GenAI capabilities with rigorous evaluation and human-centered design to deliver practical, tested solutions for complex government use cases.
Cons
- Government-Exclusive Focus: Nava exclusively serves government clients, so private-sector organizations cannot leverage their services or technology solutions.
- Contract-Based Engagement: Services are delivered through formal government contracts, which involve lengthy procurement processes and are not available on a self-serve or subscription basis.
- Limited Public Pricing Transparency: As a professional services firm operating via government contracts, there is no publicly listed pricing—engagements must be scoped and bid individually.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of government agencies does Nava work with?
Nava partners with federal, state, and local government agencies across the United States, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Illinois Department of Employment Security, and various health and human services programs.
How does Nava use AI in its government projects?
Nava applies AI and GenAI to automate claims processing, power caseworker assistive tools, improve benefit navigation chatbots, and establish scalable AI delivery models within agencies—always with rigorous evaluation and human oversight.
Is Nava PBC a nonprofit?
Nava is a public benefit corporation (PBC), not a traditional nonprofit. This legal structure allows them to pursue a social mission—improving government services—while operating as a sustainable for-profit business.
How can a government agency engage Nava?
Agencies can engage Nava through direct contracts, competitive procurements, or cooperative purchasing vehicles such as NASPO ValuePoint. Interested agencies can get in touch through Nava's website.
What is the scale of impact Nava has achieved?
Since 2015, Nava has delivered services and benefits to over 50 million households, supported disbursement of over $3 billion in payments, and saved more than 500,000 hours of manual labor for civil servants.
