Press Release
Contact: Austin Danforth
Center on Rural Innovation (CORI)
austin.danforth@ruralinnovation.us
For Immediate Release
Feb. 14, 2023
HARTLAND, Vt. — Today, the CORI Innovation Fund II (CIF II) announced an investment in DifferentKind (DifferentKind), a provider of solutions for dental practices to measure and enhance patient experiences and outcomes. The investment represents the first by CORI’s second venture fund, which conducted its initial close in December 2022.
DifferentKind was founded by Dr. Matthew Allen and Dr. Carolyn Brown and is based in Buena Vista, Colorado. CIF II is a venture fund that invests in high-growth technology companies supporting job creation and economic growth in small towns across America.
DifferentKind provides a software platform that automates the collection of patient experience data to allow for accurate measurement and improvement of patient outcomes. The company’s initial product, Ver-i-fy, focuses on the patient experience and how to improve patient satisfaction and medical outcomes.
Ver-i-fy implementation leads to improved patient treatment adherence, generating additional practice income opportunities; higher patient satisfaction and more immediate issue resolution, resulting in more patient referrals and lower employee turnover; and better compliance, resulting in a decrease in the practice risk profile. The company pairs the patient outcome information with targeted and actionable insights that help dental professionals improve their practices and organizations.
“This funding round will help us continue to grow as we seek to support dental professionals, patients, and insurers in improving oral health outcomes and experiences,” said Matthew Allen, DifferentKinds’s CEO. “As a rural digital health company, we’re excited to continue showing that innovation can happen anywhere.”
“DifferentKind has created a compelling product to enable dental practices to access data insights that significantly improve outcomes,” said Jay Bockhaus, Managing Partner of CIF II. “We are pleased to support Matt and Carolyn as they continue to scale their business.”
About DifferentKind
DifferentKind helps dental professionals, patients, and insurers improve oral health outcomes and experiences via innovative software solutions and data insights. Learn more at https://www.differentkind.com/.
About the CORI Innovation Fund
The CORI Innovation Fund II (CIF II) invests in scalable technology startups in the United States to enhance economic growth and job creation in small communities. CIF II seeks out attractive technology-enabled operating businesses in rural geographies that are under-served by traditional venture capital institutions and identifies, funds, and supports the best tech entrepreneurs American small towns have to offer. For more information visit www.corifund.com.
About the Center on Rural Innovation
The Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) is a national nonprofit committed to advancing economic prosperity in rural America through the creation of inclusive tech economy ecosystems that support scalable entrepreneurship and tech job creation. Established in 2017, CORI is at the heart of a dynamic social enterprise focused on closing the rural opportunity gap. To maximize all possible resources to address this critical problem, the organization partners with a taxable nonprofit, Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc. (RISI), and a seed fund, CORI Innovation Fund (CIF), focused on early-stage technology companies located in rural areas.For more information visit www.ruralinnovation.us.