CareQuest Innovation Partners and MATTER Introduce 2026 SMILE Health Cohort and Newest ACCELERATE Pilots
This year’s selections reflect growing momentum around medical-dental integration and connected care
CareQuest Innovation Partners®, in collaboration with MATTER, today announced the 10 emerging startups selected to participate in the fifth year of SMILE Health. Chosen with input from a cross-sector ecosystem of industry leaders committed to advancing oral and overall health, this year’s accelerator will support startups advancing innovation and access across dental and medical care. Additionally, CareQuest Innovation Partners and MATTER unveiled the four new companies participating in ACCELERATE, which advances established, in-market innovation through real-world initiatives with startups and industry leaders.
10 startups kick off SMILE Health’s fifth year
From an applicant pool spanning 18 countries and 27 states, the 2026 SMILE Health cohort was selected for its ability to advance more connected, equitable and accessible care. Selected companies are Bitewing AI, Drul, Empallo, Hibiscus Health, Inoculus Ventures, Intelibly, Rheyo, TechNovaTime, Toothlens and Unique Minds.
“With policy changes, advances in AI and growing recognition of the connection between oral and overall health, this is a pivotal year for the industry. We’re accelerating this momentum by convening founders and industry leaders advancing innovation at the intersection of oral health, overall health and technology,” said Katie D’Amico, Vice President of Growth and Innovation at CareQuest Innovation Partners. “The companies in this year’s SMILE Health and ACCELERATE programs are tackling some of the industry’s biggest challenges — from a lack of affordable and accessible care to administrative inefficiencies and workforce burnout — driving measurable impact for patients, providers and communities.”
Over the next few weeks, the SMILE Health cohort will receive dedicated pitch support, non-dilutive funding and mentorship. SMILE Health culminates with Demo Day at MATTER headquarters (July 28-29, 2026), featuring actionable insights for health care innovators and curated connections to industry leaders. Industry participants include Abova, Altus Dental Insurance Company, American Dental Association, Apple Tree Dental, Cigna Healthcare, Colgate-Palmolive, Delta Dental of Illinois, Delta Dental of Massachusetts, Delta Dental of Washington, Dental Network of America, DentaQuest (part of Sun Life U.S.), Glidewell, Haleon, Heartland Dental, Henry Schein, National Network for Oral Health Access, PDS Health, Solventum and Young Innovations. Investor participants include 7wire Ventures, Aphelion Capitol, BOLD Capital Partners, Dental Innovation Alliance, Equitage Ventures, Revere Partners, Seae Ventures, SpringRock Ventures and Waterline Ventures.
Learn more about the 2026 SMILE Health cohort:
Bitewing AI
Bitewing AI improves dental claims accuracy and completeness through AI-driven software, reducing administrative barriers to covered dental care.
Drul
Drul delivers actionable insights to support more precise diagnosis and treatment through a DNA-based, point-of-care saliva test.
Empallo
Empallo expands access to cardiac care through a virtual model that supports comprehensive care management, including oral health.
Hibiscus Health
Hibiscus Health screens for cardiometabolic conditions using AI, camera-based screening to bring systemic health screening anywhere, including dental visits.
Inoculus Ventures
Inoculus Ventures disrupts pathogenic biofilms, including a targeted mouth rinse to reduce dental plaque.
Intelibly
Intelibly connects patients with in-network dental providers, increasing access and simplifying care navigation.
Rheyo
Rheyo advances non-invasive caries and cosmetic dental treatment using microcurrent technology.
TechNovaTime
TechNovaTime deploys autonomous AI agents to fill vacant billing and front office positions, improving efficiency and reducing administrative burden.
Toothlens
Toothlens expands access for uninsured and underserved populations through an employer-sponsored alternative to dental insurance.
Unique Minds
Unique Minds supports neurodivergent individuals in building healthy daily habits, including improved oral hygiene, through personalized AI-powered support.
ACCELERATE pilots advance in-market innovation
In addition to the focus on emerging startups, CareQuest Innovation Partners and MATTER also unveiled the latest additions to ACCELERATE, which advances established, in-market innovation. The program is open to companies with proven market traction, a committed industry partner and mission alignment focused on improving oral and overall health. Companies receive non-dilutive funding up to $100,000, data and analytics support and pilot guidance. The newest ACCELERATE companies selected to participate include Firstgrin, Overjet, Social Cascade and Virtual Dental Care.
“Innovation happens faster when startups, health systems, industry leaders and investors come together around shared challenges,” said Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER. “The companies selected for this year’s SMILE Health and ACCELERATE programs reflect the kind of collaboration and practical innovation needed to improve care delivery and build a more connected health care system.”
Newest ACCELERATE pilots:
Firstgrin
Firstgrin is improving maternal and infant oral health by enhancing benefits and integrating workflows across dental & maternal care with a national commercial payer.
Overjet
Overjet is launching OASIS (Oregon AI Scoring Initiative for Smiles), deploying a peer-reviewed, AI-derived oral health score at Capitol Dental Care. This initiative serves adults on Medicaid to enable equitable care standards, population-level risk identification and patient-driven engagement in oral health.
Social Cascade
Social Cascade leverages its proprietary digital platform to drive oral health awareness and engagement in care across a multi-state, Medicaid-focused provider group.
Virtual Dental Care
Virtual Dental Care is deploying AI-enabled virtual dental screenings for young children in a large California county to expand access to early oral health assessments, identify unmet dental needs sooner and connect families to timely preventive and restorative care for improved health outcomes.
Applications for ACCELERATE projects are accepted year-round.
To learn more, visit the SMILE Health web page and the ACCELERATE web page.
About CareQuest Innovation Partners
CareQuest Innovation Partners® funds, scales, and convenes transformative solutions to improve overall health through oral health. Together, with our ecosystem of leading industry partners, startups and investors, we make health care more accessible, equitable and integrated. CareQuest Innovation Partners is the for-profit subsidiary of CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, and they are joined by the mission to improve the oral health of all. To learn more, visit carequestinnovation.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
About MATTER:
MATTER, the premier health care incubator and innovation hub, includes more than 1,100 current and alumni startups from around the world, working together with dozens of hospitals and health systems, universities and industry-leading companies to build the future of health care. Together, the MATTER community is accelerating innovation, advancing care and improving lives.