Are We Rockstars or What: Sharing Effectiv at Hackfort

Being listed as an “artist” at a regional music festival hasn’t been on my bucket list since I was about 11 years old—back when a few classmates and I decided to start a band. None of us had taken a single music lesson, but we were convinced we’d be the next big thing. That dream lasted about four days… before we decided playing football was more our style.

Fast forward a few decades, and that childhood dream came full circle—still with zero musical talent required. Thanks to the support of Health Tech Idaho, we had the incredible opportunity to represent Effectiv with a booth in the Hackfort section of the Treefort Music Festival. Since the website listed all Hackfort participants under the “artists” slug, I’m officially counting it.

Our time at Hackfort was filled with meaningful interactions. We spoke with a wide range of people—from curious kids (one said, “I’m just here for the candy, but my mom said I had to talk to you too”) to healthcare executives, physicians, software developers, and some fantastic Boise State grad students in the booth next to us.

One interaction, in particular, left a deep impact. A woman stopped by and quietly began reading our materials. As she read, her expression changed—her face grew solemn, and tears welled in her eyes. When she finished, she looked at me and said with heartfelt sincerity:

“You are doing great things. My mom died last year due to complications with her medications. What you’re doing could have helped save her.”

It was a sobering and humbling reminder of why Effectiv exists.

At its core, Effectiv’s mission is to help patients receive better care through improved visibility for providers and actionable data about the patient experience. We’re here to bridge the gaps in medication management, empower clinicians, and ensure that more stories have better endings.