A New Model in Indiana for Building Rural Health Startups

The University of Notre Dame, Parkview Health, and the 1842 Fund (managed by Alloy Partners) have officially teamed up to co-develop startups that can address ongoing rural health challenges. The announcement in December outlined the plan to incubate and launch up to two venture-backed, AI-enabled companies this year. The collaboration formalizes a venture studio model connecting Notre Dame’s research capacity, Parkview Health’s clinical environment, and the 1842 Fund’s startup-building infrastructure. 

It is also built on some momentum from the R.I.S.E. (Responsible, Inclusive, Safe, and Ethical) AI Conference and Health AI Forum that took place in October 2025, hosted by the Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society and the Health Data Exploration & Analytics Lab (HEAL). That event brought together researchers, clinicians, and community leaders to explore practical ways AI could be used in health settings. 

Jeffrey F. Rhoads, the John and Catherine Martin Family Vice President for Research at Notre Dame, framed the initiative by stating “Notre Dame’s mission calls us to tackle society’s most urgent challenges, and healthcare in rural areas is definitely one of them.” 

Parkview Health emphasized its role not just as an advocate for community health but also as a key player in shaping commercially viable solutions. “Parkview Health has a long history of striving to improve well-being across Indiana, especially in the rural communities we serve,” said Dr. Sarah GiaQuinta, Senior Vice President of Community Impact at Parkview, in their announcement. “By combining our deep clinical expertise and understanding of community needs with Notre Dame’s research capabilities and the 1842 Fund’s venture-building model, we can develop scalable solutions that make a real difference for patients in underserved areas.” 

The 1842 Fund and its venture studio, 1842 Studio, will lead the creation of new ventures and provide early-stage funding. Mike Joslin, a partner at the 1842 Fund and director at Alloy Partners, said their goal is “to create and fund startups that align with Notre Dame’s mission while making a real positive impact in communities.” He also highlighted that Parkview’s clinical expertise makes it “an ideal partner for this kind of work.” Alloy Partners, which manages the 1842 Fund, has already built a track record of co-creation with more than 35 companies and a dozen healthcare or life-sciences startups launched.