New Innovation Program to Strengthen Community Health Tech Economy in Northwest Arkansas
Photo from the 2025 NXTSTAGE Community Health & Vibrancy Pilot Competition. Photo courtesy of Chase Dempsey.
Wichita, Kan. – December 15, 2025 – NXTUS, Inc., along with HTA, today introduced HealthCatalyst NWA, a unique innovation program designed to expand growth opportunities for early-stage companies and make Northwest Arkansas a proving ground for technology tools addressing pressing needs in health and economic vitality.
The Walton Family Foundation awarded NXTUS a $500,000 grant to fund the HealthCatalyst NWA 2026 pilot program, aiming to close a critical gap in Arkansas’s innovation economy: too few pathways for the region’s nonprofits to access and implement the health- and community-tech tools offered by startups.
The program will help regional community partners and health care providers solve costly problems, while ensuring the participating startups have critical market feedback and commercial traction to move their companies forward, centered in Northwest Arkansas.
The HealthCatalyst NWA program, which will launch in January, will build on the success of the Kansas-focused NXTSTAGE Community Health and Vibrancy Pilot Competition, presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, which has prompted more than 77 health and economic vibrancy innovation projects in Kansas since 2021.
“This unique program can help Northwest Arkansas continue to build its reputation and reality as a thriving region and a great place to grow a business,” said Mary Beth Jarvis, President and CEO of NXTUS. “HealthCatalyst NWA will pair local providers with leading innovators offering solutions for their most pressing challenges. With this, the region grows as a hub for promising technology tools, helping startups thrive and driving improved population health and economic-growth outcomes.”
“The Health Catalyst NWA program will be instrumental in connecting visionary startups with local healthcare and community partners,” said Yee-Lin Lai, Senior Program Officer, Walton Family Foundation. "By supporting NXTUS, we are investing in innovative solutions that will improve lives and expand the region's entrepreneurial capacity.”
By using NXTUS’s proven model and HTA’s strong network of Arkansas healthcare providers and community partners, HealthCatalyst NWA will attract both Arkansas-based and global startups to test and scale innovative solutions.
“In addition to addressing community health challenges through funded and facilitated pilots, one goal of the HealthCatalyst program is to continue attracting talent to Northwest Arkansas,” said Jeff Stinson, Director of HTA. “Startup companies conducting pilot projects here will be required to maintain a presence here, which contributes to our ever-expanding entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
To date, HealthCatalyst NWA community partners include Arisa Health, the Arkansas Department of Health, the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership, Community Clinic, Havenwood, Mercy, Our Blood Institute, Spring Creek Food Hub, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and Washington Regional Medical System. These organizations represent a broad cross-section of healthcare providers and community-based organizations working to advance health and well-being in Northwest Arkansas.
HealthCatalyst NWA's pilot partners will provide input on community needs, which program staff will use to scout and recruit innovative startups offering relevant technology tools. Then, staff and partners will curate a finalist group of startups deemed most promising to achieve regional goals, from which partners will select their chosen pilot projects. Funding for these pilots is included in the Walton Family Foundation grant, and startups will locate staff in Northwest Arkansas for the duration of the pilot projects, transitioning those positions to long-term residents as implementations extend to commercial contracts.
Applications for startups to compete in HealthCatalyst NWA open January 1, 2026, inviting innovative companies from Arkansas and beyond to seek pilot opportunities with leading community partners. In the spring, select contenders will be matched with community organizations to focus in on the most promising collaborations. Pilot agreements will be finalized over the summer, with projects launching in the fall, placing startup staff on site in Northwest Arkansas to implement and scale their solutions. Pilot outcomes—including community impact, job creation, and service enhancements and expansions—will provide valuable insights into the impact and future value of the program to the region.
Learn More: https://hta.health/healthcatalyst-nwa
Apply Here: https://www.f6s.com/health-catalyst-nwa/