Spotlight: Stefaniya Barabanava @ Sphere

A spotlight is a short-form interview with a leader in health tech. In this spotlight, you'll hear from Stefaniya Barabanava, founder of Sphere, an AI revenue platform for medical office staff and billing.

What problem does Sphere solve? Who does it help?

Would you give away half your revenue to insurance or sell your practice to a hospital? That’s the choice many doctors face today. We help providers keep what they’ve earned and stay independent.

What did you like about working in health tech?

The stakes feel worth the grind. You can’t fake impact here: either the practice makes it or it doesn’t. I want to see providers win, and now we finally have the tools to make that possible.

What's one thing you wish you could change about US healthcare?

The idea that complexity is normal. Denials, prior auth, all the small traps that work against doctors and patients. We’ve watched how much time and energy this drains. I’d change the incentives so that creating friction stops being profitable.

What do you think US healthcare will look like two years from now?

The big players stay. The rules get faster, more automated, and less transparent. We’re already seeing it move in that direction. The only practices that win are the ones that learn to adapt and use technology to their advantage. Sphere is part of that shift.