SMILE Health Cohort: CareQuest & MATTER Innovation

Innovation Takes Root: Eight startups Selected for 2025 SMILE Health Accelerator Program

A new wave of innovation aimed at transforming oral healthcare is underway, as CareQuest Innovation Partners and MATTER have announced the eight emerging startups chosen for the fourth annual SMILE Health program. This yearS cohort, the largest to date, signals a growing urgency to address critical gaps in access, equity, and integration within the oral health sector, particularly amidst evolving policies and persistent underfunding.

The selected startups-hailing from 15 countries and 42 U.S. states-align with SMILE Health’s core objectives: advancing accessible and equitable healthcare, empowering individuals to prioritize thier oral health, and bridging the gap between chronic care and dental health.

Did You Know? The SMILE Health program has supported over 20 startups in the past three years, leading to critically important advancements in teledentistry and preventative oral care solutions.

The Growing Crisis in oral Health

The need for innovative solutions in oral healthcare has never been more pressing. Concerns are mounting over recent policy shifts, including fluoride bans in multiple states, and the overall lack of investment in a sector that impacts billions globally. According to data, oral diseases affect 3.5 billion people worldwide annually, and global dental care spending is projected to surpass $430 billion by 2030. Despite over $400 million in venture capital funding for oral health in 2024,this investment remains a small fraction of overall healthcare spending.

Trend Alert: Investors are increasingly recognizing the potential of oral health startups, with a focus on companies leveraging technology to improve access and affordability.

“With federal policies for oral health care under threat, there’s an urgent need to support innovation that expands access and equity,” stated a senior official at CareQuest Innovation Partners. “Backing startups at the forefront of this work is one of the most effective ways to ensure communities get the care they need.”

A Four-Month Accelerator Program

The selected startups will participate in a four-month, semi-virtual accelerator program designed to refine and validate their solutions. Participants will be paired with industry partners including Apple Tree dental, Cigna Healthcare, Colgate-Palmolive Company, Delta Dental, and henry Schein, among others. A robust network of investor partners, such as 7wire Ventures and Gilde Healthcare Partners, will also be involved.

Each startup will receive a stipend, mentorship from multidisciplinary healthcare experts, and access to a curated curriculum. New this year, participants will also benefit from CareQuest’s Startup Data Hub, a self-service platform designed to accelerate solution validation and scaling.Notably, the program requires no equity from participating startups.

Program Highlight: The Startup Data Hub provides access to anonymized patient data and market insights, enabling startups to refine their solutions and demonstrate impact.

The accelerator will culminate in “Reveal Day” at MATTER headquarters on October 7-8, 2025, and at the global HLTH conference on October 19-22, 2025, providing opportunities for curated, one-on-one conversations with industry leaders. Following the program, startups will maintain access to resources from both MATTER and CareQuest Innovation Partners and can apply for further funding through the ACCELERATE program.

Meet the 2025 SMILE Health Cohort

The 2025 cohort represents a diverse range of innovative approaches to oral health challenges:

• Feno (Culver City, California): This company is developing a connected oral health platform that combines smart brushing technology with personalized insights to improve oral hygiene.
• Firstgrin (New York,New York): Firstgrin provides pediatric oral care kits and evidence-based education through a companion app,aiming to establish healthy habits from pregnancy through infancy.
• KiDDY CAPS (Wilsdorf, Germany): KiDDY CAPS is transforming pediatric dentistry with affordable, minimally invasive zirconia crowns for children.
• social Cascade (Raleigh, North Carolina): This startup enables providers to engage patients between office visits with timely facts, promoting equitable access and community health outcomes.
• Times Health (Knoxville,tennessee): Times Health offers an AI-powered virtual health assistant providing 24/7 dental guidance and preventive care education.
• Toothapps (Wayzata, Minnesota): Toothapps focuses on advancing health data access and interoperability with its Cair solution, empowering patients to manage their complete health history.
• Willo (new York, New York): Willo provides automatic toothbrushes designed for children and individuals needing extra support with daily oral hygiene.
• Xploro (Cleveland,Ohio): xploro utilizes augmented reality and gamification to empower children as active participants in their health journey,reducing anxiety and improving outcomes.

Startup Spotlight: Xploro’s use of augmented reality is revolutionizing pediatric healthcare by making medical procedures less intimidating for children.

The SMILE Health program represents a critical investment in the future of oral healthcare, fostering innovation and driving solutions to address a growing global need. By connecting promising startups with the resources and expertise they need to succeed, CareQuest Innovation Partners and MATTER are paving the way for a healthier future for all.

Beyond teh Accelerator: The Long-Term Impact of SMILE Health and the Future of Oral Care

The SMILE Health program’s impact extends far beyond the four-month accelerator,creating a ripple effect of innovation across the oral healthcare landscape. while funding and mentorship are crucial, the program’s lasting value lies in fostering a collaborative ecosystem where startups, industry leaders, and investors converge to address the most pressing challenges in oral health.

One key focus of the program’s long-term vision is ensuring the scalability and sustainability of the solutions developed by participating startups. The “ACCELERATE” program, mentioned earlier, provides an avenue for continued financial support, but even more importantly, creates opportunities for ongoing collaboration and knowledge sharing. This helps to refine thier business models,clinical approaches,and market entry strategies.

Did You Know? The SMILE Health program actively connects its alumni with potential investors and strategic partners beyond the initial accelerator period. This increases the likelihood of accomplished market adoption and sustainable growth.

The integration of technology within oral healthcare is a central theme of the SMILE Health program, as many of the selected startups leverage the latest advancements to improve access to care and patient outcomes. This includes applications of artificial intelligence, tele-dentistry, and mobile-based health tools. The program works diligently to keep up with current health policies, and emerging trends such as [[1]] the impact of fluoride bans on overall health.

The program also supports the growth of improved oral hygiene education and practices that can led to general health well-being. By focusing on the degree of eye squint and upper teeth exposure, individuals can find natural ways to smile correctly [[3]]. Encouragement from the program can definately help patients feel empowered by increasing their health literacy, and also encouraging them to build healthier habits by providing tools and details, especially for those seeking solutions to dental healthcare problems.

Key Takeaway: The SMILE Health program is a catalyst for change, driving innovation and fostering collaboration within the oral health sector to create a more accessible, equitable, and effective healthcare system.

benefits of SMILE health and its Impact on Dental Health

Investing in oral health is critical, and the SMILE Health program promotes these best practices.

• Early Intervention: Early intervention in oral health problems leads to fewer complications.
• Improved Access: Use of innovative and tech-based programs can improve and expand access to patient care.
• Reducing Financial Strains: The program has partnered with organizations to reduce dental healthcare costs.
• Education: The SMILE program has partnered with several educational organizations that promote dental practices.

Success Story: Several of the startups that have completed the SMILE Health program have secured notable funding and are now expanding their services nationwide. This validates the program’s model of identifying and accelerating high-potential innovations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ultimate goal of the SMILE Health program?

The ultimate goal of the SMILE Health program is to improve oral health outcomes by fostering innovation and investing in emerging startups that provide cutting-edge services.

How does SMILE Health support its startups after the accelerator program?

After the four-month accelerator program,smile Health provides access to a network of industry-partner contacts. They also maintain access to the program’s Startup Data Hub. ACCELERATE, Smile Health’s other program, provides further funding opportunities.

What makes the SMILE Health program unique?

The SMILE Health program is distinguished for its commitment to equity, inclusivity, and long-term sustainability and how it accelerates high-potential innovations within the healthcare space.

How can a startup participate in the SMILE health program?

Applications for the SMILE health program are typically released annually. Stay up-to-date by visiting the program’s website and following them on social media.