Austin, TX
20 Austin Healthtech Startups and Companies You Should Know
The intersection of health and technology is a challenging and rewarding place to start a business. In Austin, it’s a busy intersection indeed.
Intrepid healthtech startups have been among the city’s most high-profile innovators and most successful fundraisers, leveraging world-class learning institutions, bustling hospitals, and a highly collaborative tech circuit.
Austin Healthcare Companies to Know
- findhelp
- Carrot Fertility
- Ascension
- Bright Health
- Iodine Software
- Medici
- Lumeris
- EverlyWell
Here are companies working across various areas of healthcare and pointing the way toward a more efficient healthcare system. Some are hiring, some have received impressive funding, and all are making their mark on the city and the world.
Findhelp is a social services search engine “connecting people and programs.” Its powerful nationwide referral network covers the healthcare spectrum and also includes food, transit, baby supplies and other essentials. The company, which describes itself as “leading the modernization of the social safety net,” has turned a simple idea into one of the city’s most prominent startup successes.
Carrot Fertility offers a healthtech platform for comprehensive fertility care and family planning. Sold as a supplement to traditional health plans — many of which have limited fertility coverage and onerous requirements for how it’s used — Carrot Fertility offers cost-efficient pricing plans to employers, who use its services to provide appealing benefits to recruit and retain top talent.
Ascension is a not-for-profit, faith-based healthcare organization that delivers care and resources to vulnerable populations. With a focus on underprivileged and underserved groups, Ascension Health aims to support every patient throughout their healthcare journeys. The company has adopted cutting edge healthtech and now offers virtual visits, streamlined digital paperwork and online bill payment systems to help smoothen the process of receiving care.
Bright Health offers a wide variety of individual, family and Medicare insurance plans that are designed to fit the specific needs of most situations. Bright Health provides health insurance products, plans and services directly to consumers through broker partners. Those insured by the company are able to access a wide variety of healthcare professionals, specialists and pharmacies that all help to provide individualized treatment options.
Clinical documentation at hospitals isn’t always accurate. Fortunately, Iodine Software launched in 2010 to change that. The healthtech startup leverages machine learning analytics to interpret clinical data and ensure its validity.
ESO builds software for companies and practitioners across the healthcare spectrum, public and private, with a focus on patient records. ESO’s Health Data Exchange is the first interoperability product of its kind. When patients are hospitalized, it makes sure all the essential information is available and neatly organized, no matter what electronic health record systems the patient’s previous providers have used.
ClearDATA is a company dedicated to healthcare cloud computing and information security services for healthcare providers. ClearDATA’s HIPAA-compliant cloud computing is designed for helping with compliance, IT and security services across the entire healthcare field. The company is trusted by over 350,000 healthcare professionals to safely guard patient data and power medical applications.
This multifaceted healthtech startup connects patients with pharmacists, creates volumes of content around health topics, and has built a thriving community. Digital Pharmacist is more than a collection of health-related articles and videos (all of which are heavily vetted by pharmacists, by the way). It also streamlines communication between pharmacies and customers, makeing it easier to get a refill, and even help figure out copays.
B.well Connected Health provides users with powerful software that integrates data from all sources to provide complete access to individual health records and history. The platform provides complete analysis of bodily metrics like blood sugar, readouts of active medication and a complete history of surgeries, procedures and recent encounters to eliminate second guessing while keeping health in check.
EverlyWell provides convenient, at-home health tests with results you can actually understand. Users first order a test from their website that arrives to your doorstep in three business days, then they collect their sample in their home and send to one of the laboratories for analysis. Once a board-certified physician reviews it, the results are available online for viewing. This non-traditional way of health testing has revolutionized public access to kits testing for cardiovascular issues, metabolism, inflammation, fertility, food sensitivity and more, while drastically cutting out-of-pockets costs with tests ranging from $59 to $399.
Medici’s set on fundamentally changing the way we access healthcare through a mobile app that allows doctors to meet with their patients virtually. Their growing team is headquartered in Austin but includes employees on six continents.
Athenahealth is a leading provider of cloud-based services for electronic health records (EHR), revenue cycle management and medical billing, patient engagement, care coordination, and population health management, as well as Epocrates and other point-of-care mobile apps. The award-winning company (over 15 national recognitions within the last six years) continues to push innovation through their More Disruption Please (MDP) program, which hosts events bringing together fresh thinkers to create solutions that reduce the barrier to entries for companies in the health care space.
Cariloop provides an online hub for healthcare providers to connect with elderly patients and their caregivers, providing solid medical advice and social support. According to the company’s figures, 17 percent of the population currently cares for the elderly approximately 21 hours per week, weathering significant stress and expense. As the population ages and life expectancies increase, social networks such as Cariloop will grow more essential.
Founded by Kristin Karchmer, who draws on experience treating 7,000 infertile couples, Conceivable builds a cutting-edge fertility program that is integrated, personally tailored, and supportive throughout a difficult process. Fertility treatments are one of the biggest games in healthcare. Progress has been made, but many couples still struggle to conceive. Conceivable distinguishes itself by treating users not as nameless customers in need of a wonder drug, but as individuals with particular reasons for not being able to get pregnant and particular needs as they get closer to doing so.
A hospitalist is a dedicated in-patient physician who works exclusively in a hospital or hospitals, and Hospitalists Now builds tech products for those in this hard-working, high-pressure sector. The company’s flagship product is HM VitalSigns, a technology suite that reports key performance indicators, helps cut costs, and strengthens revenue cycles.
Lumeris is healthcare with an MBA and unstoppable IT. Since 2001, it has been one of the big names in value-based healthcare management systems, streamlining processes to cut costs and increase doctor and patient satisfaction. It offers workflows, technology tools, and consulting services. In 2012, Lumeris established a technology innovation center in Austin to tap into the city’s growing pool of tech talent. It continues to staff up, expand nationally, take home innovation awards.
SocialCare by Health Symmetric established itself as a healthcare platform powered by open innovation and accelerated by data science. Health Symmetric has created SocialCare, the first-ever Meaningful Use (Government Certified) Electronic Health Platform with social networking features which connect doctors, patients, care teams, pharmas, ancillary healthcare providers, and extended care teams such as fitness and diet care. It uses Data Science, Big Data and distributed clouds to pull information from health platforms to inform change and improvements across the entire spectrum of healthcare.
UnaliWear’s main product is the Kanega Watch, a component of a larger personal emergency response system. The watch is voice-controlled, nearly indestructible, and remarkably stylish for a product of its sort — it looks like a regular watch, just a little bit cooler. This company applies its knowledge of the buzzing AI and wearables fields to help vulnerable users live and thrive with independence and dignity.
As an independent company from Essilor of America, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, VisionWeb, delivers the speed, efficiency, and connectivity of the Internet to all participants in the eyecare industry – enhancing their productivity and profitability with a single resource to serve their informational, educational, and commerce needs. VisionWeb continues to pioneer technology that enables the eyecare industry to automate business processes and increase efficiency. We pride ourselves on creating an open and neutral exchange on the Internet by working with eyecare professionals, suppliers, laboratories, software providers, and other industry leaders. It is our goal to always stay progressive in the industry and uphold the VisionWeb mission.
Wellsmith provides a digital platform to engage people in their own health management. Currently providing trials for Type II Diabetes, the platform will soon have trials for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Congestive Heart Failure. Wellsmith is working to reverse chronic diseases and help people take back control of their health.
AUSTIN, Texas — Self-driving cars have become a common sight on Austin streets, but a new Texas law is adding tougher requirements for the companies behind the wheelless vehicles.
Senate Bill 2807 imposes stricter rules on autonomous vehicle companies operating in the state, including state authorization, emergency response plans for law enforcement, and a public portal where residents can verify operators and file safety complaints.
The changes come as Austin continues to track incidents involving autonomous vehicles. The city’s autonomous vehicle dashboard shows 75 incidents in 2026, including a collision, eight near misses, and seven incidents of ignoring police direction.
Attorney Drew Gibbs, a partner at Slingshot Law, said one crash involved a Waymo vehicle.
“There was a T-bone collision. A pretty serious T-bone collision where a Waymo just crashed into the side of my client’s vehicle,” Gibbs said.
ALSO| Waymo files voluntary software recall over flooded-lane risks on high-speed roads
KEYE
One of the incidents of ignoring police direction happened during the mass shooting on West Sixth Street back in March, when three people died, and 15 others were injured.
Austin Police Association President Michael Bullock said autonomous vehicles can struggle in unusual situations.
“It didn’t impede on anything in the moment, but it’s not necessarily uncommon where these vehicles don’t quite know how to deal with these one-off scenarios,” Bullock said.
The new law requires autonomous vehicle companies to be authorized by the state, to provide an emergency response plan for law enforcement, and to participate in a public-facing portal that allows the public to verify operators and submit safety complaints.
Kara Kockelman, a professor of transportation and engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, welcomed the added oversight.
“I’m glad that the state is taking this a bit more seriously now,” she said. “It’s important not to just let others slip in without kind of meeting those basic minimums.”
Bullock said the emergency planning requirement may not make a major difference in fast-moving situations. Asked how impactful it is to have a fully laid out emergency response plan, Bullock said, “These plans are great, but it takes time to work through all of those versus the immediacy of having someone behind the wheel.”
The four autonomous vehicle companies operating in Austin — Waymo, Zoox, AV-Ride, and Tesla — are all state-authorized.
The Texas DMV said an autonomous vehicle company can lose its authorization to operate in Texas if the agency deems the vehicles are operating in a way that endangers public safety.
Waymo was contacted for comment, but had not responded.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson said Tuesday she will leave the post next month.
What we know:
In a statement, Nelson said her resignation will be effective July 17 but did not provide a reason for the departure.
“It has been an honor to serve the people of Texas in this role,” Nelson said. “My time as Secretary came at an important moment for Texas, and I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish as an agency in under four years.”
Nelson has served in the role since 2023.
Among other things, the Secretary of State oversees elections and business filings in the state and serves as the chief diplomat of Texas.
View of Texas State Senator Jane Nelson, during the 80th Texas Legislature, on the floor of the Senate at the Texas State Capitol, Austin, Texas, January 22, 2007. (John Anderson/The Austin Chronicle / Getty Images)
What they’re saying:
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott described Nelson as extraordinary.
“I am deeply grateful for her long and loyal service and outstanding leadership. She has represented our state with grace and honor across the globe, and Texas is better because of it,” Abbott said. “Cecilia and I wish her all the best in the next chapter of her distinguished career.”
Dig deeper:
According to the Secretary of State’s office, Nelson has presided over seven statewide elections during her tenure with a cumulative 27 million ballots cast and broke a record with more than 3 million active business filers.
Nelson also served three decades in the Texas Senate, where she remains the longest-serving Republican in state history.
The Source: Information in this story came from the Texas Secretary of State’s office.
Michael Dorman
Austin, Texas, is revving up to sell $2.35 billion of debt for a convention center and a wastewater treatment plant, while a legal battle continues over bonds to help finance a light rail system.
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The bond boom comes as the city council voted on Thursday to pursue the development of a $390 million baseline general obligation bond package for the November ballot despite a call by Mayor Kirk Watson to wait until 2028.
“I believe we can and we should bring forward significant investments in the future,” he said. “In fact, if we restore compliance with our financial policies and we maintain the discipline we actually will have greater future capacity to do more for this community in 2028.”
A bond election would
The city, which last held a successful GO bond election in 2022 for $350 million of debt for affordable housing, had $1.03 billion of unissued voter-approved GO bond authorization as of the Sept. 30 end of fiscal 2025. Last year,
On Thursday, the city council signed off on a $34.5 million wrongful prosecution and conviction settlement with four individuals to be financed through the sale of non-voter-approved GO bonds.
The council approved up to $1.35 billion of special tax revenue bonds on May 21 for a $1.6 billion project to replace the city’s now-demolished convention center with a facility that will increase rentable event space to 620,000 square feet from 365,000 square feet.
Rich Saskal
The bonds are backed with revenue from certain city hotel occupancy taxes and incremental state tax revenue generated within a project finance zone the city established in 2024. Amounts and timings for issuing the debt are being determined, according to the city, which filed a petition with a Travis County District Court for an expedited validation of the bonds.
An ordinance approved in October
The city also plans to refund hotel occupancy tax-backed debt issued for the prior convention center in order to pledge a 4.5% hotel tax for the upcoming bonds.
“The refunding bonds are a separate, but related item to the expansion bonds and will only be secured by 2% venue HOT,” city documents said. “The 2% venue HOT will not be pledged to the expansion bonds and will cease to be collected upon final maturity or early payoff of (the refunding bonds).”
A petition drive that would have delayed the project fell 494 signatures short of a requirement for 20,000 valid signatures of registered voters, Austin City Clerk Erika Brady determined in November.
Petition backers are appealing a district court’s refusal to force validation in state appellate court after the Texas Supreme Court dismissed
The petition drive by Austin United PAC and others sought a ballot measure to stop the demolition and reconstruction of the convention center for seven years — or until the project was approved by voters — and prioritize city funding for local live music, arts, cultural, and outdoor tourism.
The Austin City Council also approved as much as $1 billion of water and wastewater system revenue bonds last month for the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion and enhancement project. The bonds will be used to obtain a direct low-interest loan from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program.
Other financing sources for the $1.5 billion project are $59 million from the Texas Water Development Board Clean Water State Revolving Fund program and funding from Austin Water.
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The plant, which serves more than 50% of Austin and operates at a treatment capacity of 75 million gallons per day, will have its capacity increased to 100 MGD, helping meet future demand and requirements set by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for Austin’s projected growth of 1.5 million by 2040, according to a city statement.
A legal logjam over a light rail system eased May 22 when the Texas Supreme Court finally ruled on a procedural issue related to an initial $150 million of bonds for the project. The high court ordered a Travis County Court judge to decide whether the bonds’ issuer, the Austin Transit Partnership, a nonprofit corporation created by the city and Capital Metro Transportation Authority, has standing to seek court validation for the debt.
City taxpayers who filed a lawsuit in 2023, along with the Texas Attorney General’s Office have been challenging the legality of the bonds, which would be paid off with a portion of Austin’s operation and maintenance property taxes
Escalating costs led ATP to downsize Project Connect to an initial less than 10-mile, 15-station system with a similar price tag. The completion of a federal environmental review in January allowed the project to continue a process
ATP said Project Connect is moving forward with construction scheduled to begin next year.
“We are confident in our case and look forward to our day in court,” ATP said in a statement. “The pending litigation has not slowed our progress advancing Austin light rail, which has hit major milestones in the federal funding process, design, and pre-construction work this year.”
Bill Aleshire, an attorney who filed the taxpayers’ lawsuit, cautioned that several issues remain before the court, including the legality of the downsized project and the ability to pay off bonds with property tax revenue that is supposed to be used for operations.
“Their federal funding is uncertain, their ability to issue bonds is uncertain, and they just stubbornly will not listen to us and say it’s time to pause Project Connect and rethink it, that maybe rail isn’t the best way to go at this time and maybe we can’t afford it at this time,” he said.
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