Fierce Healthcare's Fierce 15 is one of our favorite projects each year. Now in its eighth year, the list highlights companies bringing new ideas and innovation to some of healthcare’s most persistent challenges.

In this episode, members of the Fierce Healthcare editorial team discuss the Fierce 15 of 2026 and the trends shaping this year’s honorees—from AI-powered clinical tools to companies tackling insurance denials, behavioral health integration and early cancer detection.

The conversation also looks at what these companies reveal about the direction of healthcare, including the growing role of AI, the push for accountability across the system and the different paths startups are taking to build sustainable businesses.

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The Fierce Healthcare team on the Fierce 15 of 2026