04/01/2026: The Next Evolution and Accessibility
Andre Johnson is the Founder and CEO of LiveEquipd, a Chicago-based health tech startup building a tech-enabled platform that streamlines equipment procurement for organizations serving individuals with neurological disabilities while improving patient outcomes. Founded within the 1871 incubator, LiveEquipd is focused on innovating the care journey through more efficient and connected solutions.
He currently serves as a Senior Policy Analyst with the City of Chicago’s Department of Technology and Innovation, focusing on intergovernmental affairs. He previously worked at Kaizen Health, where he helped expand access to care through innovation-driven non-emergency medical transportation.
Andre holds advanced management training from Kellogg Executive Education and earned degrees in Electronics Engineering and Computer Technology from DeVry University. He is a recipient of the DeVry Innovation/Impact Award for developing an assistive technology prototype supporting individuals with tetraplegia.
As a wheelchair user with a spinal cord injury, Andre brings lived experience to his work, driving his mission to translate personal insight into technology-driven healthcare solutions.
LiveEquipd is an intelligent, data-driven platform that optimizes equipment procurement for rehabilitation healthcare organizations by aggregating supplier networks, standardizing workflows, and delivering personalized, patient-specific recommendations. The platform reduces administrative overhead, improves decision-making, and enhances access to essential equipment for individuals with paralysis-related disabilities.
Andre Johnson is uniquely positioned to address systemic gaps in the rehabilitation care journey, drawing from both his professional background and lived experience. He sustained a spinal cord injury as a result of a violent carjacking in Chicago—an event that also claimed the life of his best friend. For over two decades, he has navigated the complexities of this injury, gaining firsthand insight into the challenges faced by individuals with similar conditions and the systems that serve them.
