Attane Health
Founded in 2021 by Emily Brown, Attane Health operates within the food as medicine sector, focusing on integrating food and nutrition care into the healthcare system. The company offers a food treatment marketplace, educational resources, and data analytics designed to improve healthcare access and health outcomes. Attane Health specializes in delivering nutrient-dense foods directly to patients, particularly targeting those with chronic conditions like Type 2 diabetes and maternal health issues. Recognized as a key innovator in community health, it has received prestigious awards such as the Spark Prize and has been featured as a startup to watch in Kansas City. With a focus on culturally relevant food options and community engagement, Attane Health aims to transform healthcare through dietary interventions and policy advocacy.
News Summary
Emily Brown, founder of Attane Health, has received the inaugural Spark Prize from the Missouri Foundation for Health, along with $200,000 in funding. Announced at the Startland News Innovation Exchange, her startup focuses on integrating food and nutrition care into healthcare. Nominated by Dr. Bridget McCandless, Brown was chosen from over 170 candidates, and her venture aims to address nutritional deficiencies directly for patients with chronic health issues. The Spark Prize highlights her efforts to transform community health through innovative solutions.
Kansas City, MO – Emily Brown, the founder of Attane Health, has been awarded the inaugural Spark Prize by the Missouri Foundation for Health, along with a financial boost of $200,000. The award was announced during the Startland News Innovation Exchange event held in May 2025 at Spark Coworking, sponsored by Morgan Stanley.
Attane Health, launched in 2021, operates within the food as medicine sector, aiming to integrate food and nutrition care into the healthcare system. The startup features a food treatment marketplace, educational resources, and data analytics specifically designed to improve healthcare access and health outcomes.
Brown expressed that enhancing patient access to healthy food treatments can lead to significant benefits for the healthcare industry, notably in terms of reducing costs associated with chronic conditions. The Spark Prize is intended to support transformative health initiatives by providing unrestricted funding to visionaries focused on improving community health.
Brown was nominated for the Spark Prize by Dr. Bridget McCandless, a city council member in Independence, Missouri, and a former CEO of the Health Forward Foundation. She was selected for the award from over 170 nominations, highlighting her bold leadership and the potential long-term impact of her work on community health.
Attane Health seeks to tackle systemic nutritional deficiencies by delivering nutrient-dense food directly to patients’ doors, with a focus on those suffering from chronic health issues such as Type 2 diabetes and maternal health concerns. Brown’s own experiences as a caregiver and a Medicaid recipient shape her entrepreneurial vision, as well as her understanding of the challenges faced by underserved communities.
Brown’s venture offers personalized coaching programs and a curated selection of over 900 healthy products, which align with various health plans and partner subsidies. She emphasizes the importance of including culturally relevant food options and engaging communities in health solutions, recognizing food’s role in cultural identity.
Previously recognized as one of Startland News’ Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2023, Attane Health, initially known as Free From Market, has garnered attention for its innovative approach. Brown is also pursuing elevation as an Endeavor Entrepreneur, looking to expand Attane Health’s impact on a global scale through an international selection panel.
Brown is aware of the need for adjustments at the policy level alongside her entrepreneurial ambitions. She advocates for commercial strategies and evidence-based discussions regarding food and nutrition care, acknowledging that significant changes in the healthcare landscape often require either regulatory mandates or financial incentives for organizations to adapt.
The creation of the Spark Prize reflects a broader effort to recognize and address health inequities and develop community-based health solutions. Brown’s work aligns with these goals, illustrating a model of how integration of food into healthcare can transform patient experiences and outcomes.
As challenges surrounding health and nutrition continue to evolve, initiatives like Attane Health present innovative pathways to improve the well-being of individuals and communities. Brown’s recognition with the Spark Prize marks a significant step toward advancing the conversation on food as medicine and the need for comprehensive support systems in healthcare.
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Additional Resources
- Startland News: Spark Prize for Emily Brown
- Wikipedia: Nutrition
- Startland News: Attane Health and Endeavor
- Google Search: Food as Medicine
- STL Magazine: Missouri Health Spark Prize
- Google Scholar: Health Equity
- Startland News: MTC Idea Fund Grants
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Health Disparities
- STL Today: Local Business News
- Google News: Food Health
