MD&M Midwest 2026 · Startup Showcase
Meet LightWell Care at MD&M Midwest
A Care Operating System™ for family caregivers
LightWell Care helps family caregivers navigate the complexity of caring for someone they love—with practical, accessible support designed to complement human expertise and judgment.
October 28–29, 2026
Minneapolis Convention Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Startup Showcase Participant
Care doesn’t stop when the appointment ends.
Healthcare innovation can transform what happens during a clinical encounter. But when care reaches the family, someone still has to understand information, coordinate responsibilities, navigate resources and benefits, prepare for conversations, and determine what comes next.
MD&M Midwest brings together innovators across MedTech, healthcare, design, engineering, manufacturing, and technology. LightWell Care is building a support layer for those moments, and we’re glad to bring that perspective to the Startup Showcase.
The healthcare experience doesn’t end when someone leaves the clinic, hospital, or doctor’s office. For many families, that’s when the work begins.
LightWell Care at a glance
What we’re building
A Care Operating System™ designed around the needs of family caregivers.
Who it’s for
Family caregivers and the employers, health plans, healthcare organizations, and community partners that support them.
What we’re working toward
Making caregiving easier to navigate while keeping people, relationships, and human judgment at the center.
What it looks like in practice
Designed around the caregiver
- Caregiver-first and purpose-built
- Multilingual support
- Available when caregivers need help
- Digital, but not digital-only
- Designed to complement—not replace—human expertise
- Built with defined safety boundaries
- Designed for both organizational and consumer use
Built around real caregiver needs
900+
Adults included in LightWell Care national research
62%
Said they would definitely or probably use a private AI-powered caregiving assistant
46%
Of caregivers providing a substantive time-savings estimate anticipated saving at least one hour per week
These findings reflect survey respondents’ anticipated use and benefits. They are not demonstrated LightWell Care product outcomes.
Technology in service of people
LightWell Care is being developed with clear boundaries around how technology is used: strong privacy protections, transparent limits on what the product does and does not do, and appropriate escalation when a caregiver needs professional or emergency support.
People remain responsible for decisions. Technology can help them navigate the path.
Meet Kathleen Hustad
Founder & CEO, LightWell Care
Kathleen Hustad founded LightWell Care after experiencing firsthand how difficult it can be for families to navigate complex care. Her background spans healthcare strategy, customer experience, human-centered design, and responsible use of emerging technology.
Connect with KathleenLet’s connect at MD&M Midwest
Interested in caregiving innovation, digital health, employer benefits, health plans, healthcare partnerships, research, or pilot opportunities? We’d welcome the conversation.
October 28–29, 2026
Minneapolis Convention Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Part of the MD&M Midwest 2026 Startup Showcase
#MDMMidwest