CareQuest Innovation Partners and MATTER Announce Startups for 2024 SMILE Health Program

CareQuest Innovation Partners and its partner MATTER have announced the startups they’ve chosen for the 2024 SMILE Health Program. This year’s recipients are DentKits, DifferentKind, Oraliva, ThriveLink, Umayana, and Yumlish, each being recognized for its ability to leverage technology to improve care, according to a press release from CareQuest and MATTER.

Each startup focuses a on a different arena of dental care with DentKits providing teledental at-home dentures; DifferentKind providing patient insight for improved outcomes; Oraliva providing artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted diagnostics for oral lesions; ThriveLink providing AI telephonic social and health program enrollment for families; Umayana providing Murnia, which treats severe cancer and acute wounds; and Yumlish providing health education programs for Medicaid enrollees.

These 6 recipients also are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between dental and oral care, according to vice president of growth & innovation at CareQuest, Katie D’Amico.

“We are thrilled with the high caliber of startups participating in this year’s SMILE Health program, furthering the momentum towards integrated health,” D’Amico said in the press release. “As our largest and most diverse cohort in the history of SMILE Health, this year’s innovative startups, together with our industry-leading partners, are redefining how we care for the whole person, inclusive of their oral health, and igniting the health innovation ecosystem to drive better health outcomes for all.”

The startups chosen will go through a 12-week program where they’ll partner with Cigna, Colgate, DentaQuest, Henry Schein, and more, to validate their solutions to the proper programs, per the press release. This all leads to a demo day which will take place at the annual HLTH conference in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 22, 2024. Through this program, recipients will also receive a stipend and resources to support their solutions.

“SMILE Health creates unique opportunities for startups to accelerate their development and for large, institutional players to explore and test emerging solutions,” CEO of MATTER, Seven Collens said in the press release. “We appreciate the opportunity to work with CareQuest Innovation Partners and this cohort of outstanding entrepreneurs to help shape a brighter, more connected health care future.”

This is the third year of the SMILE Health Program. To learn more, visit the website here.