Innovative collaboration aims to develop AI-driven solutions to improve healthcare access and outcomes in rural communities
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – December 16, 2025 – Parkview Health, the 1842 Fund (powered by Alloy Partners) and the University of Notre Dame today announced a collaboration to co-create new digital health startups focused on addressing critical challenges faced by rural communities. The initiative aims to launch up to two venture-backed startups in 2026, with a significant initial investment from 1842 Fund for each startup.
This partnership builds on Notre Dame's R.I.S.E. (Responsible, Inclusive, Safe and Ethical) AI Conference and Health AI Forum, hosted by the Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society and the Health Data Exploration & Analytics Lab (HEAL), which explored the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and rural health in October of 2025.
"Parkview Health has a longstanding commitment to improving health and inspiring well-being across Indiana, including the rural communities we serve," said Dr. Sarah GiaQuinta, Senior Vice President of Community Impact at Parkview Health. "This partnership with the 1842 Fund represents an innovative approach to addressing healthcare access and outcomes in rural areas. 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."
Rural communities face unique healthcare challenges, including provider shortages, longer travel distances to care and higher rates of chronic disease. This collaboration aims to develop AI-enabled solutions that can help bridge these gaps and improve health outcomes.
"Notre Dame's mission calls us to address society's most pressing challenges, and improving rural health is certainly among them," said Jeffrey F. Rhoads, John and Catherine Martin Family Vice President for Research and professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering at the University of Notre Dame. "The R.I.S.E. AI Conference brought together researchers, clinicians, community leaders and entrepreneurs to identify real problems and explore innovative solutions. This partnership with Parkview Health and the 1842 Fund creates a powerful pathway to transform those insights into actionable ventures that can create lasting impact in rural communities across Indiana and beyond."
The 1842 Fund is an inception, pre-seed and seed venture capital fund anchored by the University of Notre Dame and managed by Alloy Partners. The 1842 Fund co-creates and funds new startups through the 1842 Studio, a venture studio that works closely with Notre Dame faculty and researchers as well as industry partners such as Parkview Health to build mission-driven companies from the ground up.
"The 1842 Fund exists to create and fund startups that align with Notre Dame's mission while generating meaningful impact in communities," said Mike Joslin, Partner at the 1842 Fund and Director at Alloy Partners. "Parkview Health is an ideal partner for this work. They bring both deep clinical expertise and a genuine commitment to serving the rural community. By working together, we can build ventures that are not only commercially viable but also serve as a force for good."
Alloy Partners, the Indianapolis-based venture builder that operates the 1842 Fund and 1842 Studio, has co-created over 35 companies and seven venture studios, with a deep background in healthcare and digital health. The 1842 Fund has invested in three health-related startups, and the Alloy portfolio includes 12 companies launched in the healthcare or life sciences areas.
"Rural health challenges require innovative thinking and collaborative approaches," added GiaQuinta. "We're excited to work alongside Notre Dame's researchers and the 1842 Studio team to develop solutions that can scale and create meaningful change for the patients and communities we serve."
About Parkview Health
Parkview Health is a nonprofit, community-focused health system serving Indiana and northwest Ohio with a mission to improve health and inspire well-being. Based in Fort Wayne, Parkview is northeast Indiana’s largest employer with approximately 17,500 co-workers.
Parkview Health includes 15 hospitals and an extensive network of primary and specialty care physicians, anchored by the flagship Parkview Regional Medical Center campus.
The health system is making significant investments to expand access to care, including plans for two new Indiana hospitals in West Lafayette and Lebanon and expanded services in Grant and Hamilton counties. At the same time, Parkview demonstrates leadership in addressing healthcare affordability, renegotiating contracts with major insurers to deliver more than $1.1 billion in hospital rate reductions through 2025 and securing a new long-term agreement with Anthem that extends reduced rates through 2029. In 2025, Parkview also introduced a new Signature Care direct-to-employer plan that can save employers up to 25% compared to commercial insurance.
Parkview consistently earns multiple “A” Hospital Safety Grades from The Leapfrog Group, is ranked among Indiana’s Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, recognized by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, and named NRC Health’s No. 1 overall system for Excellence in Patient Experience among medium-sized health systems.
About the University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame is the leading global Catholic research university, providing a distinctive voice in higher education. Rigorously intellectual, boldly moral in orientation, and firmly embracing of a service ethos, Notre Dame is rated among the top 20 of all U.S. institutions of higher learning and is a member of the Association of American Universities. Founded in 1842 and located adjacent to South Bend, Indiana, the University is advancing human understanding through research, scholarship, education and creative endeavor to be a powerful means for doing good in the world. For more information, visit nd.edu.
About the 1842 Fund
The 1842 Fund invests in mission-driven, advantaged startups aligned to the strategic framework of the University of Notre Dame. In addition to investing in faculty, researcher and student startups emerging from campus, the 1842 Fund funds new startups launched from the 1842 Studio, a venture studio that co-creates de novo startups alongside university researchers and industry partners. The 1842 Fund and Studio are managed by Alloy Partners and focus on building and funding ventures that address important societal challenges tied to the mission of the University of Notre Dame. For more information, visit www.1842fund.com.
About Alloy Partners
Alloy Partners is a venture builder that co-creates advantaged startups and venture studios with corporations. Alloy Partners works with partners through their journey from defining a venture strategy to systematically conceiving, launching, investing in and scaling a portfolio of venture-backed startups. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Indianapolis, the Alloy Partners portfolio includes over 40 companies and seven venture studios started in partnership with leading organizations, including Elanco, Huntington Bank, Eli Lilly, Capital One, Catalyst by Wellstar, University of Notre Dame, Purdue University, University of North Carolina and more. For more information, visit www.AlloyPartners.com.
Media Contacts:
PANBlast for Alloy Partners / 1842 Fund
Parkview Health
Notre Dame Research
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