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AffirmedRx, nutrition, maternity care deserts in KY, on venture studios and more.

AffirmedRx, nutrition, maternity care deserts in KY, on venture studios and more.

Healthcare through a Kentucky lens. It's niche. But neat!

Andrew Steen
August 18, 2026

🎡 🌭 🐄

AffirmedRx

ICYMI, Louisville-headquartered AffirmedRx was named the fifth fastest-growing private company in America on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list. #5 in America. #2 in healthcare. #1 in Kentucky. Awesome.

Here’s the corresponding profile on AffirmedRx’s CEO, Greg Baker.

This Ex-Walgreens Pharmacist Realized the System Was Broken. His Fix Is a $383 Million Business

After years watching patients struggle with rejected prescriptions, Greg Baker launched a PBM built around transparency, patient advocacy, and capped profits.

Inc • Tim Crino

Henry Ford + MSU Innovation Fund

I just find this aspirational. “Launched in 2025, the healthcare-focused venture fund was established through an initial $10 million commitment from its founding members, Henry Ford Health, Michigan State University and the MSU Research Foundation.”

Henry Ford + MSU Innovation Fund Announces First Investments | Henry Ford + MSU | Michigan State University

Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences has announced the first investments from the Henry Ford + MSU Innovation Fund, providing funding and strategic support to LightHearted AI and M3D, two early-stage companies developing technologies that improve diagnosis, treatment, and patient care.

Michigan State University

Nutrition’s second act

Rock Health’s Rock Weekly this week:

https://rockhealth.com/insights/the-next-glp-1-investment-cycle-building-the-infrastructure-to-support-sustainable-health-outcomes/?mc_cid=f756a6cb9d&mc_eid=d162ae4d98

Enter Sellersburg, IN-based Intrinsic Genomics. “Nutrition is our flagship focus — and only the beginning.”

The ultimate DNA Driven guide to your best self| Intrinsic Genomics

A DNA nutrition test that turns one blood draw into personalized, food-first guides. See how your genes shape the way you eat, with no supplements to buy.

Intrinsic Genomics

This is from the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions’ Pulse of the Purchaser 2026 Survey Results. Nutrition is part of employers overall obesity strategy.

https://www.nationalalliancehealth.org/resources/pulse-of-the-purchaser-2026-survey-results/?_bhlid=43b4238cfe37d78c594bdaaadd7034fbd875deb1#

Maternity Care Deserts

Kentucky, you have some.

https://www.marchofdimes.org/maternity-care-deserts-report?_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_K6yWb3dFly09P6zZHAeFRPZWVXcE46953O1Pren5ta-o19Psflp0mLoTBAKpNAD3fiozYDPoum6T5QaeNBGNKxtneDA&_hsmi=433402131&utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_content=433402131&utm_medium=email&utm_source=hs_email

I dig this paper so much

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0883902626000303

Rather than supporting founder-led ventures, venture studios create ventures from scratch – often starting from an internally generated idea rather than supporting an already-existing founder-idea pair – and subsequently recruit founders (sometimes earlier, sometimes later) to lead the ventures they create (Blank, 2022; Coelsch-Foisner et al., 2024; Patel & Chan, 2024).

That’s what a venture studio is. If it’s not that it isn’t a venture studio.

Louisville--venture studio(s). A good idea for you.

Read the whole paper.

Louisville Health Innovation Meetup

Tuesday, August 25 at KYX’s the Block.

Get in the game.

Louisville Health Innovation Meetup · Luma

This is where the people building the future of healthcare in Louisville connect. If you want a better understanding of what's happening in Louisville…

luma.com/mflm4zq8

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or to participate.