What We Do
At CareQuest Innovation Partners, we fund, convene, and scale transformative solutions that improve overall health through oral health. Through our ecosystem of industry partners, startups, and investors, we’re committed to making health care more accessible, equitable, and integrated.
Improving Oral Health Through Overall Health
Joined by our mission to improve the oral health of all, CareQuest Innovation Partners is a for-profit subsidiary company of CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. A national nonprofit, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is focused on creating a health care system that is designed for everyone — through its work in philanthropy, research, advocacy, and education, as well as leadership in dental benefits and innovation advancements.
At CareQuest Innovation Partners, we focus our work in three main areas of Innovation Programs (SMILE Health and ACCELERATE), Corporate Partnerships, and Impact Investing.
Innovators on a Mission
For too long, oral health innovation has trailed overall health care advancement — even as reseachers make more connections between poor oral health and increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and adverse maternal health outcomes.
1 in 4
1 in 4 adults lack dental insurance, and 24.7 million people live in dental shortage areas in the US.
$54B
Oral health prevention is a $54 billion market but received less than 1% of VC funding in 2024.
<2%
Funding for US-based digital dental health startups accounts for less than 2% of overall digital health funding annually.
It’s time for things to change. We are committed to transforming oral health and overall health by funding, scaling, and convening real solutions across teledentistry, medical-dental integration, pediatric care, maternal health, and more. Through our innovation programs, impact investing, and strategic corporate partnerships, we are driving real impact and bringing new solutions to the communities that need them most.
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