Pilot competition led by NXTUS, HTA fueled by $500,000 Walton Family Foundation Grant
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/
About NXTUS:
NXTUS, Inc helps entrepreneurs grow companies of significance. The organization works to connect startup founders with community resources, capital, and customers. NXTUS manages NXTSTAGE programs, which are aimed at connecting startups to mature businesses and regional partners looking to become customers for their innovations and to help accelerate the pace of innovation and startup growth in the region, as well as Accelerate Venture Partners, a fast-growing regional angel investor syndicate.
About HTA:
HTA is an innovation hub that builds collaborations between healthcare organizations, community partners, and early-stage companies to accelerate the adoption of transformative technologies and services in Arkansas. Through programs like HealthCatalyst, HTA connects innovative startup companies with community-based organizations to pilot and implement solutions that advance population health, health equity, mental health, environmental sustainability, and economic vitality. More information can be found at HTA.health.
Community Partners
Arisa Health
Arisa Health is the state’s largest behavioral health provider, offering comprehensive mental health and addiction recovery services through an integrated care model across 41 counties in Arkansas.
Arkansas Department of Health (ADH)
The Arkansas Department of Health protects, improves, and promotes the health of Arkansans through statewide programs in disease prevention, emergency preparedness, and public health services that support individuals and communities across the state.
Arkansas Rural Health Partnership (ARHP)
The Arkansas Rural Health Partnership is a collaborative network of 22 community hospitals and five federally qualified health centers working together to strengthen rural healthcare access, workforce development, and hospital sustainability across the state.
Community Clinic
Community Clinic is a leading healthcare system in Northwest Arkansas, empowering individuals to live healthier, happier lives. Guided by a mission to transform exceptional care and build healthy communities, it provides accessible, comprehensive, patient-centered services to more than 70,000 patients each year. With 30 locations and same-day access to primary care, pediatrics, women’s health, dental, and behavioral health, Community Clinic ensures high-quality care is always within reach.
Havenwood
Havenwood’s mission is to empower single mothers and their children to move from crisis to self‑sufficiency by providing a safe, stable, and structured living environment alongside tailored support services such as case management, life-skills training, and educational and financial guidance. Our vision is to break generational cycles—creating a community in Northwest Arkansas where single-moms coming out of crisis can meet their needs, build stable futures, and transform their lives. Havenwood’s core values center on safety, stability, community support, and a commitment to dignity and healing, ensuring that families receive compassionate care and essential resources as they transition to independence.
Mercy
Mercy is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit health system serving communities across four states, including Northwest Arkansas, with an integrated network of hospitals, clinics, and telehealth services focused on compassionate, innovative patient care.
Our Blood Institute
Our Blood Institute is the seventh-largest independent blood center in the nation, with 17 donor centers in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. OBI is the nonprofit blood provider for patients at more than 240 hospitals, medical facilities and air ambulances across all three states. In Arkansas, OBI operates five donor centers located in Fort Smith, Hot Springs, Little Rock, North Little Rock and Russellville, ensuring convenient access for blood donors statewide. Each year, OBI also partners with community organizations to host just over 2,000 blood drives in Arkansas, providing a steady supply of essential blood products for medical partners.
Spring Creek Food Hub
Spring Creek Food Hub is a Northwest Arkansas nonprofit that connects local farmers, food producers, and community organizations to increase access to fresh, healthy foods and strengthen the regional food system.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)
UAMS is the state’s only academic health sciences university, combining education, research, and clinical care to improve the health and well-being of Arkansans and serve as a leader in medical innovation.
Washington Regional Medical System
Washington Regional, named the #1 hospital in Arkansas by U.S. News & World Report for five consecutive years, is the only non-profit, locally owned and governed health care system in Northwest Arkansas, serving the region with a 425-bed medical center, five centers of excellence, the region’s only Level II Trauma Center and over 40 clinic locations.
