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Real Connections

With the People and Resources Driving Digital Health Forward.

Get Connected.

Kansas City’s digital health ecosystem is built on powerful connections. The Connect Programs make it easier to get the right advice, funding, and relationships at the right time, strengthening the ecosystem in Kansas City and beyond.

Apply for a consultative session and tap into a network of startups, investors, and industry leaders working to move great ideas forward.

Click through the tabs below to learn more.

Idea Connect helps early-stage founders evaluate their concepts and business plans. As the first Connect program, it serves as a strategic entry point where founders explore product-market fit, build ecosystem connections, and access guidance to navigate Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Program Benefits 

    • Foundational Guidance:
      Receive actionable, expert feedback on early-stage ideas, business models, and initial product-market fit.       
    • Streamlined Ecosystem Navigation:
      Save time and avoid the guesswork by being matched with the right ESOs and partner resources at the right time in your development.       
    • Strategic Roadmap:
      Transform raw concepts into a set of next steps with the help of the Digital Health KC team.       
    • Early Community Integration:
      Plug into the digital health landscape from day one, building the relationships necessary to move into Market Connect or Investor Connect.       

Program Stages

    • Intake & Discovery Meeting:
      Founders connect with our team to review their ideas, target audience, and early business plans while identifying key goals and challenges.
    • Ecosystem Navigation & Routing:
      Using insights from the discovery meeting, our team creates a customized resource plan that connects founders with the right ESOs, partner organizations, and early-stage support.
    • Action Plan Development:
      Founders leave with clear next steps to validate their product, connect with partners, and prepare for later-stage opportunities within the regional innovation network. 

Who This Is For

    • First-Time & Early-Stage Founders
    • Return Entrepreneurs
    • Healthcare Professionals with an Idea
    • Established Founders Navigating Change
Apply Now

Market Connect pairs early-stage digital health companies with experienced executives who have successfully navigated your segment of this complex industry. Through this program, selected companies receive a private or small group consultation with industry veterans.

Program Benefits:

    • Strategic Insights
      Get a personal evaluation of your business model and revenue strategy to drive sustainable growth.
    • Targeted Evaluation
      Receive an individual review of your product-market fit from leaders who understand the unique needs of healthcare.
    • Actionable Guidance
      Develop a clear go-to-market strategy with valuable perspective on market opportunities and potential partnerships within the ecosystem.
    • Relationship Building
      Connect with a network representing organizations that could become your future customers, partners, or investors.

Program Stages:

    • Application & Review
      Founders may apply for this program on a rolling basis. Our team reviews candidates to ensure they have initial market validation and a working prototype or launched product.
    • Executive Matching
      Selected companies are paired with industry veterans for private or a small group consultation. We connect you with providers, payors, and leaders tailored to your company.
    • Strategic Consultation
      Founders receive direct guidance on their go-to-market strategy and product-market fit. These sessions provide actionable insights to solve healthcare’s biggest challenges and accelerate company growth.
    • Long-Term Relationship Building
      Beyond the initial consultation founders have the opportunity to build lasting relationships that shape their company’s future. This stage integrates you deeper into the Kansas City healthcare community.

Who This Is For:

    • Early-stage & established growth digital health companies
    • Teams with a clear vision for solving healthcare’s biggest challenges
    • Companies committed to growing within the Kansas City healthcare community
Apply Now
Investor Connect streamlines the investment process by ensuring that entrepreneurs are prepared, and investors meet companies that fit their interests, ultimately fostering more impactful collaborations.

Program Benefits:

    • Connect investors with companies aligning with their investment interests.
    • Help early-stage companies prepare by improving pitch quality and presentation.
    • Facilitate valuable connections between entrepreneurs and mentors.
    • Provide tailored meeting opportunities for visiting investors, ensuring efficient use of time.

Program Stages:

    • Company Application:
      Entrepreneurs complete a confidential Company Information Sheet along with their pitch deck.
    • Pitch Practice Session:
      A panel of investors and entrepreneurs observes each pitch and provides constructive feedback, with sessions recorded for later review. The focus is on simulating real-world meetings rather than formal pitch competitions, with both in-person and virtual mentors available for flexible participation. At the end, entrepreneurs share a forwardable email and a list of investors they would like to connect with.
    • Concierge Investor Meetings:
      Tailored for out-of-town investors, this stage facilitates one-on-one meetings with companies that match their investment criteria.

Who Is This For:

    • Digital Health Founders:
      Entrepreneurs who are actively preparing for fundraising, seeking constructive, real-world feedback to refine their pitch, and wanting curated, introductions to investors who align with their specific goals.
    • Investors:
      Angel investors, venture capitalists, and out-of-region funding partners looking to maximize their time. The program provides highly curated, concierge-level meetings with pre-screened startups that strictly match their investment thesis.
Apply Now

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