MayaAI at Digital Health Festival 2026 — Two Days, Hundreds of Conversations, and a Movement Beginning

NEWS & UPDATES

By Kotresh | May 23, 2026 | Melbourne, VIC

Digital Health Festival 2026 · Startup Arena, Booth S97

The Digital Health Festival 2026 in Melbourne was everything we hoped it would be — and more. Over two remarkable days at Startup Arena Booth S97, the MayaAI team had the privilege of speaking with hundreds of healthcare professionals, clinic owners, and industry innovators who stopped, listened, and truly understood the problem we are here to solve.

The problem we are solving

Australian medical practices, allied health clinics, and dental practices lose thousands of dollars every week to a problem that rarely makes headlines — missed calls, unanswered after-hours enquiries, and front desk staff overwhelmed by the constant flood of booking requests. Patients get frustrated. Staff burn out. And practices unknowingly turn away the very people they are trying to serve.

"MayaAI was built to be the voice receptionist that never sleeps — answering every call, booking every appointment, and freeing your team to focus on patient care."

Conversations that validated everything

At DHF26, we had the chance to share this vision face to face. We spoke with GPs, practice managers, registered nurses, psychologists, and allied health professionals who nodded knowingly when we described the daily booking chaos at their clinics. The problem resonated instantly — because it is real, it is daily, and it has been unsolved for far too long.

The receptionist has to deal with attending patients on-site and attending calls simultaneously. Patients who call to book appointments go through long waiting periods, or their calls go to voicemail. After hours, there is no facility to book an appointment at all. MayaAI voice receptionist solves these problems — answering every call instantly, booking appointments 24/7, and ensuring no patient is ever left waiting.

What moved us most was the quality of the conversations. Visitors did not just listen politely — they leaned in. They asked sharp, thoughtful questions. They shared their own experiences of calls going unanswered, staff stretched thin across reception and clinical duties, and patients choosing a competitor simply because no one picked up the phone. These were not just conversations. They were validations.

We were equally humbled by the number of professionals who expressed genuine interest in collaborating and partnering with MayaAI. From practice software providers to clinic networks, the appetite for an AI voice receptionist built specifically for Australian healthcare — one that understands Medicare, clinical language, and the nuances of the Australian patient experience — was unmistakable.

A special thank you — the people who made this possible

Doug Gilbert

MayaAI almost did not make it to DHF26. It was Doug Gilbert who stepped in at the last minute and opened the door for us to be part of this incredible event. Doug, your generosity and belief in what we are building gave MayaAI a platform we will never take for granted. We are genuinely grateful — thank you for seeing something worth backing.

Terry Cornick — General Manager, Digital Health Festival

Behind every great festival is someone who quietly makes everything work — and for DHF26, that person is Terry Cornick. Terry not only introduced us to Doug, but has built a platform that genuinely champions startups and innovators who are trying to change healthcare for the better. Terry, your vision for what DHF can be — a space where ideas like MayaAI get a real chance to shine — is something the Australian digital health community is richer for. Thank you for arranging DHF so brilliantly and for believing that startups deserve a seat at the table.

To every visitor — thank you

A heartfelt thank you to every visitor. To every person who walked up to Booth S97, asked a question, shared your story, or simply stayed to hear ours — thank you. You are the reason MayaAI exists. Your practices, your patients, and your teams are who we go to work for every single day. We are deeply grateful for the time you gave us, the challenges you shared, and the trust you placed in a conversation with us.

To those who expressed interest in piloting, partnering, or collaborating with MayaAI — we have not forgotten you, and we will be in touch. This is only the beginning.

Australia's healthcare system deserves a front desk that works as hard as the clinicians behind it. MayaAI is here to make that happen — one answered call at a time.

— Kotresh, Founder & CEO, MayaAI

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