LaunchKC winner acquired by Gradient Health, pushing equitable AI innovations to market faster

The founding team behind DataAppraisal — a startup that earned early backing from LaunchKC and Digital Sandbox KC in 2022 — believes their shared vision with leaders at Gradient Health will help their combined company “improve healthcare AI and make an even bigger impact.”

Tam Tran and Roger Ngo, DataAppraisal, in 2023; courtesy photo

DataAppraisal, led by Tam Tran and Roger Ngo, announced its acquisition by North Carolina-based Gradient Health Monday, signaling a new chapter for the founders and their startup, which was launched in 2021 and evolved to specialize in unlocking the value of anonymized healthcare data from health systems across the world.

Financial terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.

“This is a game-changing moment for us as we join forces with a company that shares our passion for advancing healthcare through AI and data innovation,” said Tran, co-founder and CEO at DataAppraisal. “With Gradient’s incredible resources and aligned vision, we’re poised to unlock the full potential of healthcare data, including some of the most unique and hardest-to-reach datasets worldwide.”

The acquisition is expected to accelerate AI-driven solutions at Gradient Health — the leading provider of medical imaging data for AI development — that will transform patient care and the future of medicine, Tran noted.

It also helps to ensure that patients across the globe, especially in traditionally underrepresented communities, benefit from new technologies, added Josh Miller, CEO of Gradient Health.

“By combining forces with DataAppraisal we’re taking a huge leap forward in our mission to provide the data layer that underpins all medical AI development,” said Miller, emphasizing his company’s work to get more equitable innovations to market faster.

“Our combined expertise will open doors to new regions, providing AI developers with even more of the robust, diverse datasets needed to build accurate and equitable medical tools,” he said of the opportunities opened by the DataAppraisal deal. “By partnering with healthcare providers across the U.S., including in rural and traditionally underserved areas, we’re ensuring that the next generation of AI-driven diagnostics will work for everyone.”