OCTO Expands Health Tech Leadership By Strengthening Alliance with NEMIC
The company becomes a NEMIC corporate member, and its CEO joins the expert advisory group to empower health tech startups
Providence, RI & Lyon, France – February 18, 2025
Today, OCTO, a leader in leveraging design strategies to transform business outcomes, is strengthening its leadership position in the health tech field by forging a stronger partnership with the New England Medical Innovation Center (NEMIC). As NEMIC’s latest Corporate Member, OCTO will connect health tech ventures to an extensive local support network, a vital resource for fostering growth and success in the industry. In addition, Justin Sirotin, founder and CEO of OCTO, has joined NEMIC’s Expert Advisory Group of 30 healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors advancing health innovation in southern New England and beyond.
OCTO has been a close collaborator with NEMIC over the last several years, supporting health tech startups in areas such as commercial strategy, product design, and development. This deepening collaboration illustrates a shared commitment to driving meaningful change within Rhode Island’s rapidly growing life sciences ecosystem. Since its inception, NEMIC has served 460 startups and entrepreneurs, and cohort fellows have gone on to raise over $114M. This local increase in digital health innovation is also part of a broader global shift, as the latest health tech breakthroughs are happening at consumer touchpoints rather than within clinical settings.
“NEMIC is proud to welcome our newest Corporate Member in OCTO and also excited to have Justin Sirotin join our inaugural Expert Advisory Group,” said Maey Petrie, Executive Director of NEMIC. “As a multidisciplinary, global team of strategists, designers, and technologists, OCTO has long-supported NEMIC’s work with health tech startups to build out commercial strategies, product design and development, and more. This makes OCTO an ideal addition to our Corporate Membership cohort, which comprises financial, legal, QMS management, design, and other Life Science innovation sectors.”
“We’re thrilled to officially join NEMIC as a Corporate Member, and I’m honored to be part of its Expert Advisory Group alongside industry leaders who are focused on advancing health tech innovation,” said Justin Sirotin, founder and CEO of OCTO. “By enabling health tech startups to capitalize on thoughtful design, tomorrow’s innovators can deliver significant value to all healthcare stakeholders, from patients and providers to insurance plans - and ultimately advance healthcare for the benefit of humankind.”
OCTO's commitment to healthcare innovation extends beyond the NEMIC partnership. Since formally launching its dedicated Health Tech Practice in August 2024, the company has expanded its portfolio, building on work with established health tech clients such as the Institute for Healthier Living, Iris, Brown University School of Public Health, and Plans4Care.
For over 15 years, OCTO has consistently demonstrated the transformative power of design in enhancing human-centered care and delivering business value to stakeholders. OCTO continues to build on this legacy, focusing its expertise on creating solutions that integrate seamlessly into the broader healthcare ecosystem. OCTO’s growing footprint in health tech underscores its commitment to shaping a future where thoughtful design and strategic innovation deliver transformative business and patient outcomes.
About OCTO
OCTO is the leader in leveraging design to deliver transformative business outcomes. For over 15 years, its multidisciplinary, global team of strategists, designers, and technologists has used design as a proactive strategic tool to discover and solve challenges for its clients. By integrating design into the operating systems of global organizations and discrete teams, OCTO charts an ability to innovate and lead rather than respond. The results enable technology-driven companies to drive innovation with industry-changing products, services, and brand experiences.