Digital Health Day 2026

​Innovate Health Ventures, Together.Health, and Digital Health KC invite you to an evening of networking, drinks and bites ahead of Digital Health Day!

​Come unwind with operators and builders from across the healthcare landscape as the ecosystem gathers in Kansas City. It's a relaxed chance to connect, trade ideas, and talk through how healthcare technology can be more multi-stakeholder aligned. Kick off your Digital Health Day experience early.

​Space is limited and registration is subject to approval.

Register Here

 

​InnovateHealth Ventures is a strategic, specialist venture capital fund primarily focused on software and tech-enabled services focused on enabling multi-stakeholder alignment across healthcare. IHV is supported by a network of industry advisors and strategic relationships, and will target investments of $250k to $2m in late Pre-Seed, Seed, and early Series A rounds.

Join Digital Health KC for a focused gathering bringing together like-minded entrepreneurial support organizations from across the Midwest. This luncheon is a dedicated space to connect with regional partners and share practical insights on what is actually working in our respective communities. We are keeping the agenda light to prioritize real conversations and collaborative problem solving. Pull up a chair to help strengthen our shared network and drive regional innovation forward.

This closed-door session offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from Lockton’s senior leadership team in an intimate investor setting. Over the course of 90 minutes, executives from Lockton will provide a strategic overview of the firm’s role as a leading benefits broker and advisor, followed by a focused discussion on the digital health solutions most relevant to their employer and payer clients today. Investors will hear directly from Lockton’s leadership on how the organization evaluates digital health vendors, identifies emerging categories of interest, and advises clients on adoption in an evolving healthcare landscape.

The discussion will highlight current priorities (ex. cost containment, navigation, mental health, specialty care, and payment innovation) as well as forward-looking areas where Lockton sees growing demand and opportunity. This will provide investors with a behind-the-scenes view into how one of the nation’s premier brokers is shaping, influencing, and accelerating digital health adoption across its client base.

This session is intentionally designed to foster dialogue and meaningful relationship-building between national investors and the Kansas City ecosystem. Following the briefing, attendees will join the kickoff event, Digital Health Day: First Look, culminating in VIP networking and dinner at the Kansas City Royals game.

Kick off Digital Health Day early with an evening dedicated to connection and regional innovation. The agenda will feature an engaging speaker panel alongside a showcase of local companies making waves in the healthcare space. There will be plenty of time built in for great networking, accompanied by excellent food and drinks. It is the perfect way to get energized and start conversations before the main event.

Healthcare is built in the middle of the country. The nation's leading health systems, employers, payors, and provider networks are concentrated throughout the Midwest, creating a unique environment where healthcare innovation is tested, adopted, and scaled. Yet venture capital and industry attention often remain focused on the coasts.

This Digital Health Day: First Look keynote brings together investors and operators who are proving that world-class healthcare companies can be built—and funded—outside traditional innovation hubs.

Moderated by Chris Dorn, Managing Director, Healthcare Information Technology at Fifth Third Securities, the discussion will be grounded in his deep experience advising healthcare technology companies through strategic growth, capital raises, and M&A transactions. Chris works at the intersection of founders, investors, and strategic acquirers, providing a unique perspective on how today's market is shaping company-building, financing strategies, and long-term value creation.

Julia Monfrini Peev, Founder and Managing Partner of PACE Healthcare Capital, will share her perspective as a healthcare investor with more than $1 billion deployed across the industry and why she has chosen to focus her investment strategy on healthcare companies "between the coasts."

Kathy Tune of Capita3 will offer insights from the venture capital perspective on where investment opportunities are emerging and how founders can differentiate themselves in today's market.

Brandy Thompson, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of benefitbay, and Hafeezah Muhammad, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Backpack Healthcare, will share their firsthand experiences building and scaling innovative healthcare companies while addressing some of healthcare's most pressing challenges, including access, affordability, and health equity.

Together, the panel will explore the current state of digital health investing, the characteristics investors are seeking in today's market, and the lessons learned while navigating growth from an early-stage startup to a category-defining company.

Through candid stories of fundraising, customer acquisition, market validation, and scaling, attendees will gain a practical understanding of what it takes to attract capital and build enduring healthcare businesses.

Panelists will also discuss how founders are creating solutions that expand access to care, improve affordability, and address gaps in healthcare delivery across diverse and underserved populations.

Whether attendees are founders seeking their first investment, growth-stage companies preparing for the next funding round, or ecosystem leaders interested in the future of healthcare innovation, this session will provide a timely look at why the Midwest continues to be an important region for building the next generation of digital health companies.

Join us for an evening at Kauffman Stadium to watch the Kansas City Royals take on the Athletics. This relaxed reception offers a chance to unwind and build relationships outside of a traditional conference setting. Guests will enjoy a classic night at the ballpark complete with great food, drinks, and a dedicated space to connect during the game. It is a great opportunity to cap off a busy afternoon and celebrate the regional healthcare ecosystem together.

A curated half-day experience that brings together rural healthcare leaders and innovative digital health companies to listen, understand and assess solutions that improve access, strengthen communities, and advance care delivery. Held in conjunction with Digital Health Day, it creates meaningful connections to further positive health outcomes for communities. Through small-group conversations and one-on-one meetings, connect with the rural health providers and leaders driving the Rural Health Transformation Program in our region.

Start the morning with a private breakfast gathering designed specifically for our investor community and a select group of featured companies. Guests will enjoy a catered breakfast provided by local favorite Mildreds alongside premium coffee from a local roasting partner. This dedicated session provides a quiet space for focused conversations and direct introductions before the main programming begins. It is an ideal setting to build meaningful connections and start a busy day on the right foot.

Check-in officially opens.

Pick up your lunch provided by The Russell and prepare for an afternoon of innovation and connection.

The programming begins with a brief welcome from Digital Health KC President, Dick Flanigan.

Following this, we’ll present the first two recipients of the annual Lumi Awards, celebrating excellence and innovation in our region’s digital health community.

• Digital Pioneer Award:
  Recognizes a leader who consistently contributes to and excels in the digital health industry. Examples include individuals who contribute to the growth of the digital health ecosystem and act as leaders, collaborators, researchers, or mentors, making a significant difference and inspiring others.
• Corporate Visionary Award:
  Celebrates a visionary leader within a corporation who demonstrates exceptional foresight, innovation, and strategic thinking in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of the digital health industry. Recipients of this award inspire and motivate their teams to embrace change, challenge the status quo, and pursue ambitious goals, ultimately shaping the direction and success of their company in profound ways.

This keynote session brings together two standout digital health companies at different stages of growth—Hinge Health and Cariloop—for a candid discussion about what it takes to build, scale, and create lasting market impact.

Moderated by Jennifer Krusius, Partner at ABS Capital, the conversation will also offer the unique perspective of a later-stage growth investor. As the lead investor in Cariloop's Series C financing, Jennifer brings firsthand insight into what growth-stage investors evaluate, how investment expectations evolve, and what differentiates companies that successfully scale from those that stall.

Joining Jennifer are Aaryn Pure, Chief Commercial Officer of Hinge Health, who will share lessons from the company's journey to IPO, and Michael Walsh, Chief Executive Officer of Cariloop, who will reflect on building and scaling the company from Seed through Series C.

Together, the panel will explore the defining moments, strategic decisions, and inflection points that shaped each company's growth. Jennifer will connect the operator experiences with an investor's perspective, highlighting how founders can position their businesses for successful fundraising, build productive investor relationships, and prepare for the operational and organizational demands that accompany each stage of growth.

From achieving product-market fit and early commercial traction to scaling teams, raising capital, and preparing for significant growth milestones, this session will provide practical insights for founders, executives, and investors alike.

Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how expectations change as companies mature, what later-stage investors are looking for in today's market, and how to strategically position their organizations for long-term success in digital health.

Program resumes with the final two Lumi announcements, recognizing outstanding achievements in our digital health ecosystem.

Company Growth Award:
Highlights growth companies that can quantify their achievements through year-over-year revenue, employee growth, client acquisition, investment, and other relevant factors

Impact and Influence Award:
Acknowledges an individual or organization who has built a successful company and demonstrated a commitment to community impact, mentorship, and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs. 

Take a short break from the main stage presentations to connect with fellow attendees. This dedicated time allows you to catch up with colleagues, meet new partners, and discuss the day's insights over coffee and light refreshments. Step away from the main stage to expand your network and spark new collaborations before the next session begins.

Join John Fryer, Chief Growth and Corporate Development Officer at Lumeris, and Chris Wilson, Senior Vice President of Business Development & Integration at The University of Kansas Health System, for a discussion on how their organizations are working to reimagine primary care for rural communities.

Lumeris and The University of Kansas Health System believe that the use of artificial intelligence and innovative approaches to care delivery can have demonstrable positive impact on the expansion of access to care in rural communities as well as improved outcomes. Attendees will gain insight into how collaboration between health systems, technology, and strategic partnerships can create scalable solutions that strengthen rural healthcare and bring high-quality care closer to home.

This session features Stephen Konya, Chief, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships at the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, for a forward-looking discussion on the evolving role of digital health in care delivery.

Stephen will provide updates on ASTP priorities and highlight key federal focus areas for digital health, including interoperability, AI, and data access, as well as programs and opportunities for companies to engage with and apply for federal initiatives. This perspective will be grounded in the current administration's emphasis on reducing administrative burden, improving care coordination, and advancing equitable access to care.

Building on this foundation, Stephen will explore how government, payors, and providers are working, both independently and together, to address longstanding points of friction in the healthcare system. He will discuss strategies to reduce administrative waste, streamline workflows, and create more aligned incentives across stakeholders, along with real-world examples where collaboration across these groups is beginning to drive measurable progress.

Health equity will serve as a central theme throughout the discussion, with a focus on how digital health companies can play a meaningful role in expanding access, improving outcomes, and supporting underserved populations.

Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of where federal priorities are headed, how major stakeholders are aligning to address systemic challenges, and where opportunities exist for digital health companies to engage, partner, and contribute to a more efficient and equitable healthcare system.

Take a short break from the main stage presentations to connect with fellow attendees. This dedicated time allows you to catch up with colleagues, meet new partners, and discuss the day's insights over coffee and light refreshments. Step away from the main stage to expand your network and spark new collaborations before the next session begins.

Get a glimpse into the innovative digital health solutions being developed right here in Kansas City. These six standout companies from our network are transforming healthcare through technology and creative approaches. See how local talent is addressing health challenges and connect with the teams behind these promising solutions.

Presenting Companies:

ModRN - Caroline VanDeusen | Vice President of Strategic Partnerships
Spark Change - Sal LoPorto | Founder and CEO
Goldfinch Health - John Greenwood | Chief Strategy Officer
Pineapple Academy - Tucker Graves | Co-Founder and CEO
Archia - Gharib Gharib | Founder and CEO
Healium - Sarah Hill | Founder and CEO