What CaroNova does

CaroNova is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit healthcare innovation organization founded in 2021 and headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. The company operates as a neutral convener that brings together healthcare payors, providers, community organizations, government agencies, academic institutions, and philanthropic partners across North and South Carolina to co-design, pilot, and scale systemic health innovations. Its core technology consists of two proprietary methodologies — a seven-step "Design, Test & Scale" process (Cultivate, Co-Design, Catalyze) and an "Accelerate Learnings" framework — applied through a portfolio of accelerator programs addressing healthcare workforce, youth mental wellness, opioid stewardship, behavioral health integration, palliative care, and home hospital care.

The organization runs programs including the Healthcare System Workforce Experience Accelerator (11 hospital systems), Mental Wellness Through Schools (MWTS) framework with implementation toolkits, the Innovation in Behavioral Health Model support in South Carolina (one of three states selected by CMS for $7.2M first-round funding), Comprehensive Palliative Care for Serious Illness pilots, and resource libraries such as the Online Library for Opioid Stewardship. Distribution is achieved through direct partnerships with health systems and state agencies rather than traditional sales channels; outputs include implementation toolkits, policy frameworks (e.g., SC Behavioral Health Action Plan), and measurement-driven pilot outcomes (e.g., Tidelands Health's 30.6% reduction in first-year turnover).

CaroNova's business model is grant-funded philanthropy and government contracting rather than commercial product revenue. Funding sources include The Leon Levine Foundation ($2.5M, five-year grant in May 2026), The Duke Endowment, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services ($7.2M IBH Model), and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. With approximately 13 employees, CaroNova operates a lean team of public health leaders, policy experts, and clinicians that convenes regional stakeholders to convert isolated pilot wins into regional transformation across the Carolinas.

Name

CaroNova

Legal name

CaroNova

Website

https://caronova.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CaroNova is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit healthcare innovation organization that convenes payors, providers, government agencies, and community partners across North and South Carolina to co-design, pilot, and scale evidence-based programs in workforce, mental wellness, opioid stewardship, and serious illness care.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Innovation Services

NAICS

Home Health Care Services (621610), Home Health Care Services (62161), Health and Welfare Funds (525120)

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Health Systems Strengthening & Primary Care Development (HLAJAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Health Policy, Planning & Governance (BPAIAJAB), Health Equity, Access & Social Determinants Programs (BPAIAJAO), Integrated Behavioral Health (Collaborative Care) Platforms (HLALAEAC)

Keywords

• Healthcare innovation consulting
• Healthcare workforce solutions
• Mental wellness programs
• Opioid stewardship services
• Implementation science methodologies

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants and Philanthropic Funding: CaroNova operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded primarily through grants from foundations including The Leon Levine Foundation ($2.5 million grant), The Duke Endowment, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, and other philanthropic partners. These grants support specific programs and initiatives.
2. Government Contracts and Grants: Government funding from agencies such as SCDHHS (South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services), which awarded $7.2 million to improve integration of behavioral health services. Additional funding from NC DHHS and other state agencies for specific health transformation initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CaroNova is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit healthcare innovation convener and accelerator operating across North and South Carolina. The organization co-designs, pilots, and scales innovative care models with hospital systems, payors, government agencies, and community partners through accelerator programs (workforce experience, opioid stewardship, behavioral health, palliative care, youth mental wellness), implementation toolkits, and resource libraries. Its core methods apply implementation science and human-centered design through a structured seven-step innovation process to address systemic healthcare challenges.

Product overview

CaroNova is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit healthcare innovation organization that serves as a convenor and accelerator rather than a traditional product company. The organization operates a portfolio of accelerator programs and resource libraries centered on healthcare transformation in North and South Carolina. Core offerings include the Design, Test & Scale and Accelerate Learnings methodologies, which guide seven-step processes for cultivating, co-designing, and catalyzing health improvements. The main program portfolio includes: Comprehensive Palliative Care for Serious Illness (CPCSI) Pilots; Universal Youth Mental Wellness Supports with the Mental Wellness Through Schools (MWTS) Framework and associated Implementation Toolkit; Healthcare System Workforce Experience Accelerator; Opioid Stewardship Accelerator (completed); and Home Hospital Early Adopters Accelerator (completed). Supporting resources include the Online Library for Opioid Stewardship and the SC Implementation Toolkit for Emergency Department Buprenorphine Treatment. CaroNova does not offer a traditional software product but rather provides evidence-based frameworks, implementation toolkits, resource libraries, and accelerator programs to healthcare stakeholders across the Carolinas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Healthcare System Workforce Experience Accelerator Accelerator program working with 11 hospital systems across North and South Carolina to co-design strategies for improving workforce experience and reducing turnover. Includes online resource suite of best practices and innovative strategies, with measurable outcomes tracking including workforce pulse surveys and retention data.
• Comprehensive Palliative Care for Serious Illness (CPCSI) Pilots Pilots implementing a comprehensive care model and payment infrastructure for seriously ill patients. Pilots operate in SC (with MUSC Health and BlueCross BlueShield of SC) and NC (with Carolina Caring and Piedmont HealthCare) to validate a scalable delivery and financing model.
• Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH) Model Support Convenor and implementation support for the CMS Innovation in Behavioral Health Model in South Carolina. CaroNova facilitates statewide care delivery framework design and value-based payment approach development with SCDHHS.
• Mental Wellness Through Schools (MWTS) Framework Comprehensive framework for simplifying, strengthening, and standardizing foundational elements needed to support youth mental wellness through school-based collaborations. Includes implementation toolkit, worksheets, and active pilot programs in school districts across SC and NC.
• Online Library for Opioid Stewardship Centralized curated collection of evidence-based and promising opioid stewardship strategies, tools, and resources for healthcare professionals in the prevention, intervention, and treatment of opioid use disorder. Includes implementation technical assistance for hospitals adopting library strategies.
• SC Implementation Toolkit for Emergency Department Buprenorphine Treatment Practical toolkit for South Carolina hospitals and ED clinicians implementing or expanding buprenorphine programs, providing recommended workflows, implementation checklists, and key considerations for connecting patients to ongoing outpatient care.
• Opioid Stewardship Accelerator Accelerator initiative supporting hospitals and health systems responding to the opioid epidemic. Supported adoption of best practices for opioid use disorder prevention and treatment and enabled nine hospitals to adopt or expand ED-based buprenorphine programs.
• Home Hospital Early Adopters Accelerator (HHEAA) Completed accelerator supporting hospitals to provide healthcare services in patient homes, preserving hospital beds for higher-acuity patients. Developed knowledge products including implementation guides for home hospital programs.
• South Carolina Behavioral Health Action Plan (SCBHAP) Statewide behavioral health roadmap developed through an MPAC advisory committee process. Includes recommendations for crisis stabilization, Medicaid services, and youth mental health supports.
• MWTS Implementation Toolkit Comprehensive toolkit with worksheets and practical guides for schools implementing mental wellness supports, covering resource mapping, referral workflows, and professional development. Available as a downloadable PDF.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tidelands Health achieved 30.6% decrease in first-year employee turnover and reduced time to fill positions by 5 days through Workforce Experience Accelerator program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

39 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of North CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Cross NC provides funding and strategic partnership for youth mental health initiatives including the NC Youth Mental Health Action Plan.
• South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCDHHS partners with CaroNova on multiple initiatives including the Innovation in Behavioral Health Model, Behavioral Healthcare Delivery Infrastructure optimization, and Youth Mental Wellness Supports. CaroNova received $7.2 million through SCDHHS for behavioral health integration.
• McLeod HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcLeod Health is one of eleven hospital systems participating in CaroNova's Healthcare System Workforce Experience Accelerator, co-designing strategies to improve workforce experience and reduce turnover.
• ECU HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECU Health is a pilot site for the Healthcare System Workforce Experience Accelerator, working with CaroNova to address workforce challenges.
• Duke HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuke Health participates in the Healthcare System Workforce Experience Accelerator as one of eleven hospital systems across the Carolinas.
• UNC HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNC Health is a pilot site for the Healthcare System Workforce Experience Accelerator and also partnered in the Home Hospital Early Adopters Accelerator.
• Advocate HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocate Health participates in the Healthcare System Workforce Experience Accelerator as one of eleven hospital systems across the Carolinas.
• Prisma HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrisma Health participates in the Workforce Experience Accelerator and is a partner in multiple CaroNova initiatives including Youth Mental Wellness Supports and Innovation in Behavioral Health Model.
• Novant HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNovant Health is a pilot site for the Healthcare System Workforce Experience Accelerator.
• Behavioral Health GroupsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerBehavioral Health Group is a partner in the Innovation in Behavioral Health Model implementation in South Carolina.
• Tidelands HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTidelands Health, the largest healthcare provider in South Carolina's coastal region, participates in the Workforce Experience Accelerator and implemented the First Year Experience Program resulting in significant turnover improvements.
• Beaufort Memorial HospitalsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeaufort Memorial Hospital is one of the eleven hospital systems participating in the Healthcare System Workforce Experience Accelerator.
• MUSC HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMUSC Health partners with CaroNova on multiple initiatives including Comprehensive Palliative Care for Serious Illness pilots, Workforce Experience Accelerator, and Youth Mental Wellness Supports.
• Spartanburg Regional Healthcare SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpartanburg Regional Healthcare System is a pilot site for the Healthcare System Workforce Experience Accelerator and partner in Youth Mental Wellness Supports.
• BlueCross BlueShield of South CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina partners with CaroNova on Comprehensive Palliative Care for Serious Illness pilots in South Carolina alongside MUSC Health.
• Carolina CaringsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarolina Caring is a pilot partner in the Comprehensive Palliative Care for Serious Illness pilots in North Carolina alongside Piedmont HealthCare.
• Piedmont HealthCaresecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPiedmont HealthCare partners with CaroNova on Comprehensive Palliative Care for Serious Illness pilots in North Carolina.
• Florence 1 SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlorence 1 Schools is the initial pilot district for the Mental Wellness Through Schools (MWTS) framework in South Carolina's Pee Dee region, launching in middle schools during 2024-25 school year.
• Spartanburg County School District 2coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpartanburg 2 School District is co-designing a second MWTS pilot with CaroNova and partners, with launch planned for 2026-27 school year.
• Pickens County School DistrictsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPickens County School District in South Carolina will co-design an MWTS pilot in spring 2027, with launch during 2027-28 school year.
• South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCHA partners with CaroNova on the Opioid Stewardship Accelerator, ED Buprenorphine Support program, and SC Implementation Toolkit for Emergency Department Buprenorphine Treatment.
• South Carolina Center of Excellence in AddictioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Center of Excellence in Addiction (a partnership of Clemson, MUSC, USC, and state agencies) provides scientific foundation for opioid initiatives and collaborated on the ED Buprenorphine Treatment Toolkit.
• North Carolina Healthcare AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCHA partnered with CaroNova on the Opioid Stewardship Accelerator and co-designed the Online Library for Opioid Stewardship.
• Bridge (Program of Public Health Institute)secondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBridge provided training and technical assistance to hospital sites participating in the ED Buprenorphine Support for the Carolinas program.
• Clemson UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerClemson University is represented on the SCBHAP Master Plan Advisory Committee and partners through the South Carolina Center of Excellence in Addiction.
• Francis Marion UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrancis Marion University is a member of the SCBHAP Master Plan Advisory Committee working to optimize South Carolina's behavioral healthcare delivery infrastructure.
• Ariadne LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAriadne Labs collaborated with CaroNova on the Home Hospital Early Adopters Accelerator, developing knowledge products using Scrum Agile methodology in a virtual environment.
• NC ChildsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNC Child is a partner in the North Carolina Youth Mental Health Action Plan and co-hosted Youth Design Day events.
• NC Alliance of Boys and Girls ClubssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNC Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs is a partner in the North Carolina Youth Mental Health Action Plan.
• North Carolina Department of Health and Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCDHHS is a partner in Youth Mental Wellness Supports and the North Carolina Youth Mental Health Action Plan, with Secretary Dev Sangvai involved in CaroNova's Advisory Council.
• North Carolina Department of Public InstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCDPI is a partner in the North Carolina Youth Mental Health Action Plan, working to develop universal mental wellness standards delivered through schools.
• Atrium HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtrium Health participated in the Home Hospital Early Adopters Accelerator and is a partner in the Healthcare System Workforce Experience Accelerator.
• Vanderbilt University Medical CentersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerVanderbilt University Medical Center participated in the Home Hospital Early Adopters Accelerator as a knowledge product developer.
• WakeMed Health and HospitalssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerWakeMed participated in the Home Hospital Early Adopters Accelerator, one of the Carolinas' 46 CMS waivered home hospital sites.
• Sentara HealthcareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSentara Healthcare participated in the Home Hospital Early Adopters Accelerator as a knowledge product developer.
• The MetroHealth SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MetroHealth System participated in the Home Hospital Early Adopters Accelerator as a knowledge product developer.
• Medical University of South CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMUSC is a key partner across multiple CaroNova initiatives including Innovation in Behavioral Health Model, Youth Mental Wellness Supports, and Comprehensive Palliative Care pilots.
• Select HealthsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelect Health is a partner in the Innovation in Behavioral Health Model implementation in South Carolina.
• Carolina Treatment CentersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarolina Treatment Centers is a partner in the Innovation in Behavioral Health Model implementation in South Carolina.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ariadne Labs: A healthcare innovation center at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Direct peer because they actually co-developed CaroNova's Home Hospital Early Adopters Accelerator knowledge products and operate similar accelerator-style programs convening health systems to scale care delivery innovations.
• Center for Care Innovations: A California-based nonprofit that convenes safety-net healthcare providers to test and scale innovations in care delivery. Direct peer because of similar accelerator model, health-system convening role, and focus on improving care for underserved populations through design-test-scale methodology.
• North Carolina Healthcare Foundation: The philanthropic affiliate of the North Carolina Healthcare Association. Direct peer because it operates in the same state as CaroNova, was founded by Julia Beck (CaroNova's founder), and pursues healthcare innovation and improvement initiatives for NC providers.

Broad incumbents

• Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI): A globally recognized healthcare quality improvement organization that convenes providers, runs learning collaboratives, and develops frameworks for care transformation. Comparable to CaroNova as a larger, more established convener focused on healthcare improvement methodology and innovation diffusion.

Emerging players

• SC Hospital Association (SCHA): State hospital association that co-partners with CaroNova on the Opioid Stewardship Accelerator and the SC Implementation Toolkit for ED Buprenorphine Treatment. Comparable as a regional convener that runs improvement collaboratives and could potentially develop its own accelerator programs in competition.

Regional players

• The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts: A regional health-focused foundation that funds and convenes healthcare improvement initiatives in central Massachusetts. Comparable as a regional philanthropy that convenes stakeholders to address systemic health challenges through grant-making and program design.
• New York State Health Foundation (NYSHealth): A private statewide foundation that funds healthcare transformation initiatives in New York state. Comparable as a regional conversion organization that supports innovative care models through grant funding and stakeholder convening.
• The California Endowment: A major California-based health foundation that funds and advocates for health equity and community health innovation. Comparable as a regional convener that invests in innovative health system transformation and community-based health initiatives.
• Healthcare Georgia Foundation: A statewide private foundation focused on advancing health equity and healthcare access in Georgia. Comparable as a regional health foundation that funds and supports healthcare innovation, convening, and system transformation programs.

Others

• Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI): The federal innovation center within CMS that runs alternative payment model demonstrations including the Innovation in Behavioral Health Model that CaroNova supports. Relevant as a funder and policy partner rather than direct competitor, but shapes the regulatory and funding environment CaroNova operates in.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@caronova4999
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caronova-health-innovation
• Instagraminstagram.com/caronova.health

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CaroNova