Rural Tech Catalyst Fund (RTCF)

Louisiana is building the nation’s leading rural health innovation ecosystem by connecting healthcare, technology, investment, and economic development to improve outcomes for rural communities.

rural tech catalyst fund updates

Program Updates

Thank you to everyone who submitted an application for the inaugural Rural Tech Catalyst Fund (RTCF). We received an overwhelming response from healthcare innovators across Louisiana and the nation, demonstrating the strong interest in advancing rural healthcare through technology and innovation.

Applications are currently under review by Louisiana Economic Development (LED) and the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH).

As the program has continued to develop, the review process and evaluation criteria have been refined to align with finalized federal program guidance. These updates ensure all applications are evaluated consistently and that awarded projects meet the objectives of the Rural Health Transformation Program.

At this time, no action is required from applicants. If additional information or clarification is needed, our team will contact applicants directly.

Updated Timeline
  • Application Review: Currently underway
  • Award Announcements: Anticipated mid-October 2026
  • Program Launch & Contracting: Following award notifications

Applicants will receive direct communication as additional milestones are reached.

Updated Eligibility & Evaluation Criteria

As federal program guidance has been finalized, several eligibility and evaluation criteria have been clarified.

Eligible organizations should:

  • Be a U.S.-based company or organization
  • Have been founded within the past 10 years
  • Have raised less than $50 million in prior funding
  • Propose an innovative solution that addresses a meaningful rural healthcare challenge
  • Demonstrate readiness to implement and validate the proposed solution within the program period

Applications are also evaluated based on factors including:

  • Innovation and novelty
  • Rural healthcare impact
  • Technical and operational feasibility
  • Ability to achieve measurable implementation milestones
  • Alignment with Louisiana’s rural health priorities

Solutions should be beyond the idea stage and ready for real-world testing or deployment.

  • Eligible technologies should generally be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or higher (proof of concept or functional prototype).
  • Early-stage concepts without technical validation and fully commercialized products that require no meaningful innovation or adaptation are generally not eligible.

RTCF is a milestone-based funding program, not a traditional grant.

  • Funding will be distributed in phases as project milestones are completed and verified.
  • Initial funding is generally limited to 20% of the total award, with future payments tied to successful milestone completion.

About the RTCF

The Rural Tech Catalyst Fund (RTCF) is a segment of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The RTCF is a partnership between the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO), a division of Louisiana Economic Development (LED). The partnership is designed to support innovative companies, entrepreneurs, healthcare organizations, and partners working to improve healthcare access, delivery, and sustainability across rural Louisiana. This initiative reflects a whole-of-government approach to healthcare modernization and economic growth.

More than 1.1 million Louisianans live in rural communities. RTCF is focused on helping rural healthcare providers, communities, and innovators work together to improve outcomes, strengthen workforce capacity, expand preventive care, and build sustainable models of care that put rural patients first.

The RTCF is designed to:

  • Accelerate rural healthcare innovation
  • Support deployment of healthcare technology solutions
  • Strengthen healthcare workforce capacity
  • Expand partnerships between providers, startups, and investors
  • Create opportunities for companies to pilot and scale in Louisiana
  • Improve healthcare access, quality, and sustainability in rural communities

This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $208,374,447.57, with 100 percent of funding provided by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CMS/HHS or the U.S. Government.

Key Federal Requirements

  • The company has been in operation for less than 10 years
  • The company has raised less than $50m
  • The company is a U.S.-based entity

Why Louisiana and Why Now

Louisiana is uniquely positioned to lead rural healthcare innovation.

Through Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO), the state has built a growing startup and investment ecosystem focused on attracting and scaling high-growth companies solving major industry challenges.

In 2025:

  • Louisiana startups received more than $50 million in investment
  • Capital deployment increased 100% year-over-year
  • Public investment helped attract significant private-sector participation

Louisiana offers:

  • Real-world rural deployment environments
  • Strong healthcare and public-sector partnerships
  • Access to providers and community stakeholders
  • Growing investor and innovation networks
  • Statewide collaboration across healthcare and economic development

Louisiana is bringing together healthcare transformation, technology innovation, workforce development, and economic growth in a coordinated statewide effort. RTCF creates an opportunity for providers, startups, investors, and communities to align around shared rural health goals and scale solutions that deliver measurable impact. We are building an environment where companies can launch, validate, and scale solutions that improve rural healthcare outcomes.

Who Should Engage

We are interested in connecting with:

  • Health technology startups
  • Rural healthcare innovators
  • Investors and venture partners
  • Healthcare providers and systems
  • Universities and research institutions
  • Community and rural health organizations
  • Strategic partners focused on healthcare transformation

Other Louisiana Opportunities

The Rural Tech Catalyst Fund is one component of Louisiana’s broader Rural Health Transformation Program.

We recognize that many strong healthcare solutions may not align with the specific objectives of this funding opportunity. As additional programs become available, applicants may be connected with other resources offered through the Louisiana Department of Health, Louisiana Economic Development, and partner organizations that support healthcare innovation, commercialization, workforce development, and rural healthcare delivery.

 

APPLICATIONS FOR COHORT 1 HAVE CLOSED.

COHORT 2 APPLICATIONS WILL BE OPEN SOON.

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Together, we are building the future of rural healthcare innovation in Louisiana.

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