KC's Attane Health Merges to Form National Health-Tech Giant

Kansas City-built health-tech innovator Attane Health has merged with Chicago-based Sifter Solutions, a digital grocery pioneer, to create what the companies are calling the “nation’s most complete food-is-medicine platform.” The announcement on May 28, 2026, marks a significant milestone for the Kansas City startup ecosystem, positioning a locally nurtured company at the forefront of a rapidly growing national industry. The combined entity will operate under the Sifter Solutions name while retaining the Attane brand for its healthcare services.

The merger unites two complementary forces. Attane Health, founded by Emily Brown, built its reputation by embedding food-based wellness programs within major health plans and establishing deep clinical credibility. Sifter Solutions, co-founded by Peapod pioneers Andrew and Thomas Parkinson, brings a powerful technology platform that connects consumers to healthy food through digital grocery commerce. This strategic combination aims to provide a single, end-to-end solution for health plans, retailers, and food manufacturers.

The timing of the merger is critical. The healthcare industry is facing immense pressure to deliver better outcomes more efficiently, with a growing focus on preventative care. According to Sifter CEO Andrew Parkinson, the new platform is built for this moment. “Health plans are being asked to demonstrate measurable outcomes, SNAP compliance deadlines are live, and the cost of chronic disease is unsustainable,” Parkinson stated. The integrated Sifter-Attane platform provides partners with a turnkey solution to address these challenges.

The combined offering addresses the full spectrum of food and nutrition care. For healthcare providers, it offers members curated grocery access and coaching for conditions like diabetes and hypertension. For grocery retailers, it provides the infrastructure for SNAP waiver compliance and health-focused overlays. For food brands, it delivers data on dietary attributes and purchase analytics. Crucially, the platform provides health plans with real-time engagement metrics and HEDIS measure tracking, offering the documented proof of impact that payers require.

While the new entity is a national player, its roots in Kansas City are a key part of its story. Attane Health, formerly known as Free From Market, gained significant momentum locally before this merger. In March 2024, the company was greenlit by Endeavor Heartland, a program that supports high-impact entrepreneurs. This recognition highlighted Attane's potential for global scale and followed the successful acquisition of two major Medicaid contracts.

Founder Emily Brown will now serve as Chief Healthcare Officer for Sifter Solutions, ensuring continuity for the health plan relationships she cultivated, which cover over 18 million members. “Sifter and Attane have been building toward this together for years — and now we've made it official,” Brown said. “We are one company, with one team and one mission: getting the right food to the right people and proving it makes a difference.” This move validates the strength of Kansas City's startup ecosystem and its ability to produce companies capable of leading on a national stage.

With the merger complete, the immediate focus for the combined Sifter and Attane teams is integration and expansion. The company will work to scale its services across its 18 million reachable health plan members and deepen its partnerships with retailers like Brookshire Grocery and Associated Grocers. A key initiative includes deploying its SNAP waiver compliance technology for the State of Arkansas.

The ultimate goal is to prove, at scale, that a coordinated food-is-medicine strategy can produce better health outcomes and lower healthcare costs. Success would not only solidify the company's market leadership but also provide a powerful new tool in the fight against chronic disease across America. For Kansas City, the growth of this platform will be a key story to watch, representing a major success for the local tech scene.