HealthTech Arkansas | Arkansas Children's Innovation

HealthTech Arkansas is an accelerator and early-stage investment fund that recruits worldwide for the most accomplished startups in the areas of digital health, medical devices, and diagnostic platforms. As one of the premier and most sought-after accelerator programs by early stage healthcare companies, the value proposition is unmatched: companies accepted into the program are guaranteed at least two pilot projects or clinical trials from among eleven leading hospitals, health systems, and physician practices in Arkansas. HealthTech Arkansas is the only program in the U.S. to guarantee pilot projects and clinical trials with healthcare providers.

The program offers:

Deep, unparalleled provider engagement for early stage companies bringing new healthcare technologies to market
Exposure to the most disruptive technologies for providers in Arkansas, with an opportunity to conduct no-cost pilots with companies that can increase their quality of care and enhance their operations
Attractive investment opportunities in highly accomplished, fast-growing companies for Investors

In 2019, Arkansas Children’s, Inc. (“ACI”) joined the HTA provider coalition, which now includes the nine largest hospitals and health systems in the state along with two large independent physician practices. Through HTA, ACI contributes in two meaningful ways:

By conducting pilot projects and clinical studies with early stage companies poised to introduce new innovations and technologies. In 2020, ACI participated in the interviews of 18 finalist applications and chose to conduct pilots with three companies. These companies are bringing new technologies to ACI that include next-generation EEG hardware and software, a robust NICU feeding and nutritional platform, and an AI-powered 3D device that allows orthopedic surgeons to have better views of surgical sites. These companies have the ability to help ACI improve the health outcomes of our patients.
By mentoring and guiding Arkansas-based healthcare startup companies. Often these companies have technologies that are too early in their development to conduct pilot projects, but ACI clinicians and administrators spend their time providing important guidance to these startup founders to help them improve their ideas for healthcare products and services. In this way, ACI is directly contributing to the governor’s mission of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in our state.

We are proud to announce our 2020 partners - Astarte and Zeto.

Astarte Medical - Yadly, PA

Astarte Medical is a precision nutrition company using software and predictive analytics to improve outcomes during the first 1,000 days of life. With an initial focus on preterm infants, Astarte Medical supports feeding protocols, practice, and decision-making in the neonatal ICU with a suite of digital tools and diagnostics designed to standardize feeding, optimize nutrition and quantify gut health.

Zeto - Santa Clara, CA

Zeto has taken a significant step towards simplifying EEG. The Zeto product is the first and only dry electrode EEG headset and cloud platform cleared by the FDA for clinical use.

The cohort will participate in a program that provides them the opportunity to pilot solutions specifically identified by Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Arkansas Heart Hospital, Arkansas Urology, Baptist Health, CHI St. Vincent, Conway Regional Health System, Mercy, OrthoArkansas, St. Bernards Healthcare, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), and Washington Regional Medical Center as areas of opportunity within their organizations, from neonatal health and cardiac care to medical devices and software platforms. Each company will receive seed investment as well as complete and total access to clinicians and administrators while executing their pilot projects.

Arkansas Children's Leadership

Ashlie Hilbun
Chief Strategy Officer