AI-Powered Startup Transforms Cardiac Care Through Technology and Partnership

For Claire Beskin, co-founder of Empallo, a Future of Healthcare Founder Residency Program, improving cardiac care isn’t just about developing cutting-edge technology—it’s about making that technology work for both patients and providers in the real world. This vision has driven Empallo’s evolution from an ambitious AI platform to a comprehensive virtual cardiology care provider that’s now actively seeing patients across three states.

“We are still solving the same problem [that our AI platform was built for], still pursuing the same mission, improving care for heart failure patients,” explains Beskin. “But we’ve learned that technology alone isn’t enough—you need to be hands-on in care delivery to truly make an impact.”

This insight led to one of Empallo’s most significant pivots during their participation in the inaugural cohort of the Roux Institute’s Future of Healthcare Founder Residency. The company has transformed its AI-powered platform into a full-service virtual cardiology clinic, now operating in Florida, Massachusetts, and Maine.

The evolution is already showing promising results. In Q4 2024, Empallo launched their virtual cardiology services and is actively generating revenue. They’ve also secured a patent for their AI diagnostic technology and received a significant  grant from Maine’s PRIME Fund to expand operations in Maine, increasing local access to cardiovascular care..

“Healthcare is complex, and implementation is everything,” Beskin notes. “By providing care directly through our platform, we can ensure our technology is making the maximum impact while generating the outcomes data that will drive wider adoption.”

Innovation Meets Implementation

Empallo’s technology goes beyond traditional telemedicine. Their Care Copilot module automates risk score calculations in the outpatient environment, optimizing how provider resources are allocated. The platform includes custom patient and provider portals specifically designed for cardiovascular care, built with modern architecture that enables rapid iteration and scaling.

The company’s innovative approach has caught the attention of major healthcare institutions. Empallo is currently working with MaineHealth’s cardiac surgery team, under Dr. Robert Kramer’s leadership,  on a pilot research program that integrates AI models into care planning. The initial results in predicting 30-day readmission risk, by incorporating features from a limited registry dataset, are promising. The team are hopeful larger and more granular data could yield an even more accurate model.

Their latest research with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, featured at the American Heart Association 2024 Scientific Sessions, demonstrated how machine learning can predict key biomarkers 24 hours in advance, suggesting new possibilities for managing heart failure care.

Growing Roots in Maine’s Healthcare Ecosystem

Empallo’s commitment to Maine’s healthcare ecosystem runs deep. The company has not only established successful research collaborations with MaineHealth but is also investing in local talent, having hired two Northeastern University co-op students to help develop their algorithms and platforms. In a significant move that underscores their commitment to the region, Empallo is growing its team in Maine .

The company’s expansion continues with their recent joining of the traditional Medicare network, gaining access to approximately 2.4 million covered lives in Florida, 1 million in Massachusetts, and 200,000 in Maine. They’ve also implemented robust HIPAA compliance programs and are in discussions with several risk-bearing provider organizations for patient referrals. This past month they started seeing patients in Maine through their virtual clinic.

Looking Ahead

As Empallo continues to grow, they’re focused on building partnerships that can help scale their impact. They’re actively seeking connections with risk-bearing primary care clinics to explore partnerships that would empower PCPs to manage more cardiovascular disease in-house with value-aligned partners.

“The future of healthcare is about collaboration and smart resource allocation,” says Beskin. “By combining AI-powered insights with virtual care delivery, we can make specialist-level cardiac care more accessible while improving outcomes and reducing costs.”

Selected as one of 30 finalists from over 260 applicants to pitch at the Global AI Pitch Summit at the Plug and Play Tech Center, Empallo is gaining recognition beyond the healthcare sector. But their focus remains clear: transforming cardiac care through the thoughtful application of technology and human expertise.

For the Roux Institute and Maine’s healthcare ecosystem, Empallo represents exactly the kind of innovation and growth they aim to nurture—companies that combine cutting-edge technology with practical healthcare solutions while creating new opportunities in the state.

The Future of Healthcare Founder Residency

Designed in partnership with The Roux Institute, Northern Light Health, MaineHealth, and Maine Venture Fund, the Future of Healthcare Founder Residency is a novel collaboration between academia, healthcare systems, venture capital, and emerging start-ups.

This health tech residency is purposefully designed to accelerate the development and scalability of innovative technologies by breaking down the traditional barriers that prohibit advancement. The program has three shared goals with it’s partners (1) to solve for the complex challenges of caring for Maine’s patients and communities, (2) to accelerate health tech ventures, and (3) to grow the health tech ecosystem within the region.