Meet the Team

Michael Brouthers is a proven healthcare leader with experience at some of the world's largest healthcare payers, providers, and IT firms (United, Humana, CIGNA, DaVita, and DXC Technology) as well as in some of its most creative entrepreneurial niches (hospitalist medicine, e-healthcare directives, quality and pricing transparency). Most recently, Michael was the Founder/Principal of Ikigai Growth Partners, a growth consultancy that focused on uncovering the best early-stage healthcare technology or tech-enabled services firms and connecting them with name-brand Payers, Providers, Self-Insured Employers, and TPAs. By doing so, both the early-stage firm and the name-brand customer accelerated the kinds of innovations that improved healthcare delivery for patients, employers, and providers of care. At the core of Michael's experience is his grounding with Payers. From his roots in provider contracting and customer service at CIGNA to his leadership of Humana's North Florida health plan, to his Regional Vice President position with UHG's Specialty Care Services division (now Optum), Michael has lived in and understands the Payer world and the world of delivering cost-effective, high-quality care. Michael has always enjoyed working closely with clinicians. At DaVita, for example, he worked with clinical leadership to create and implement a new clinical strategy and a more effective clinical program delivery model (called the DaVita Clinical Quality Pyramid) in order to achieve the firm's goal to become the clear, clinically differentiated leader in the dialysis industry. At DXC Technology, Michael worked with Market Leaders, Account General Managers, and Salespeople in the US Payer, Provider, and Life Sciences segments to grow their revenues, create new partnerships and products, and evaluate potential acquisitions. He has also been the CEO or a senior executive in several cutting-edge entrepreneurial healthcare niches. He created and was the CEO of Embark Health, Inc., the nation's most comprehensive end-of-life planning firm (electronic advance directives and database). He was the CEO of Cogent Healthcare, Inc., (now a part of Sound Physicians) one of the nation's first hospitalist organizations. At Healthcare Bluebook (quality and pricing transparency) Michael was responsible for establishing and maintaining outstanding long-term strategic and operational relationships with the firm's largest employer, payer, and provider clients. As a young engineer shortly out of college, Michael was the Founder and CEO of one of the world's first video game cartridge companies, Funware, Inc. Michael has an MBA and a BS in Management Systems Engineering, both from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

Mr. Upchurch is a seasoned entrepreneur and business leader with a distinguished track record of founding, scaling, and successfully exiting high-growth companies. With deep expertise in healthcare and financial services, he has led companies through the full business life cycle—from inception and expansion to private equity integration and successful exits. As the Founder of NeuLife Rehabilitation, one of the nation’s largest residential post-acute neurorehabilitation programs, Mr. Upchurch built a premier healthcare organization dedicated to specialized rehabilitation for individuals with catastrophic injuries and neurological disorders. Under his leadership, NeuLife became a market leader, known for delivering exceptional patient outcomes while optimizing operational efficiency and business performance. His strategic vision and execution paved the way for the company’s successful integration with private equity, ensuring its long-term impact in the healthcare space. Expanding his influence beyond healthcare, Mr. Upchurch made a significant mark in the insurance and financial services sector as the Founder of Independent Life Insurance Company. Focused on structured settlements and complex claims, Independent Life quickly rose to prominence by offering innovative insurance solutions tailored to the needs of claimants and settlement professionals. His leadership propelled the company through rapid expansion, market differentiation, and a successful private equity integration, reinforcing his ability to drive growth and create lasting enterprise value. Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, Mr. Upchurch is a trusted mentor and strategic advisor to executives and early-stage companies. As a key leader within Ikigai Venture Partners, he provides hands-on guidance to portfolio firms, helping them scale operations, optimize performance, and position themselves for successful fundraising and long-term growth. With a data-driven approach focused on measurable metrics and operational scalability, he equips leadership teams with the tools and insights needed to navigate complex business challenges and achieve sustainable success. Throughout his career, Mr. Upchurch has demonstrated a keen ability to identify high-potential opportunities, build world-class teams, and execute strategic growth initiatives that generate long-term value. His entrepreneurial mindset, coupled with his experience in private equity- backed transactions, makes him a highly sought-after leader in the business community.