February and March were exciting months with big news! We revealed the 8 companies that will be joining the third round of 1501 Health, who will receive up to $125K in funding and get a first look at our revamped curriculum.
Additionally, our cohort one alums are gaining momentum. Even Health received a significant grant to fund their efforts to prevent veteran suicide and Live Chair Health was featured in a meaningful profile from the Baltimore Banner, noting its recent partnership with CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Ryse Health shared a huge funding announcement, and Frame Fertility was mentioned in MobiHealth News for a special feature on reproductive care innovation. Explore below!
The Brief:
Live Chair Health, a community outreach platform that targets Black men as well as other hard-to-reach groups, is working to counteract that distrust and close the life expectancy gap by connecting members of low-income communities with primary care providers and other services to improve their health.
They do so by “meeting people where they’re at” — in community hubs such as barbershops, beauty salons, churches, apartment complexes and parks — and providing practical assistance, education and incentives to take care of their health.
Live Chair Health recently forged a partnership with CareFirst Community Health Plan of Maryland, the Medicaid plan administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield, to bring outreach efforts to its members. Forty percent of CareFirst members have not seen a primary care provider in the last year — a number the organization is looking to drastically reduce, according to president and CEO Mike Rapach.
“We’re excited to see what we learn probably more than anything else, because it’s a new way to try to reach a difficult-to-reach community of people,” Rapach said. “It’s huge for us just to be able to know more and understand more of what they need and why.”
Read the full article here.
The Brief:
Mission Daybreak is part of VA’s 10-year strategy to end Veteran suicide through a comprehensive, public health approach, and is the largest cash federal incentive prize since the establishment of the Prize Authority.
The five third-place winners each received $500,000:
Even Health’s Cabana® is a virtual reality-based group support platform for Veterans who have survived a suicide attempt. The solution adapts an established support group model shown to reduce suicide and associated factors as well as increase resilience and a sense of belonging.
For more, check out Even Health's LinkedIn post here celebrating the news.
The Brief:
In 2019, a collaboration between LifeBridge Health, a Baltimore-based healthcare system, and Healthworx, the innovation division of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, resulted in the establishment of a startup incubator called 1501 Health. The Canton-based incubator for healthcare solutions recently announced the eight companies, whose innovations span such fields as oncology and behavioral health, in its latest cohort.
Soo Jeon, the incubator’s co-lead, said that the latest group was selected from a pool of 147 highly qualified applicants — the largest in the incubator’s history. The incubator is not restricted to Baltimore-based companies, which had no presence in this cohort.
“We’re looking for the companies that fill the most important gaps for the members and patients who we serve in the region, so these happened to be the best potential solutions and innovations for those we serve in greater Baltimore,” explained Emily Durfee, the incubator’s former co-manager and Healthworx’s director of corporate venture capital, to Technical.ly.
Read the full article here.
The Brief:
Ryse Health draws $6.5M for virtual and in-person diabetes care in a Series A round led by Route 66 Ventures with support from W Health Ventures and Healthworx.
"If you have an A1C under 8 and don’t use insulin, we won’t take you," CEO Richard Gurley tells Axios. "We’re built for folks with more complexity."
Read the full article here.
"Ryse Health Eyes Big Expansion After Securing Millions in Fresh Funding"
Arlington diabetes care startup Ryse Health Inc. wants to increase its headcount and patient base, break into new markets and strike partnerships with health plans and employers this year after raising $6.5 million in a Series A financing round.
Armed with that fresh funding, the roughly 2-year-old company is preparing to expand its care model that it says is already driving improvements for patients with Type 2 diabetes.
“We’re proud of the clinical outcomes we’re driving, but there’s still work to do on driving those outcomes more efficiently,” Gurley said. “We’re better defining our roles and processes every month.”
Read the full article here.
"Why Digital Health is Fertile Ground for Reproductive Care Innovation"
The Brief:
To this day, reproductive care remains fragmented, expensive and inaccessible. A lack of solutions to solve these problems has led to the proliferation of startups attempting to plug care gaps.
After speaking with over 75 fertility tech companies and clinicians, we distilled a few points of advice for investors and founders in this space.
Digital-first care delivery and coordination: Fertility-treatment delivery spans a continuum of models bolstered by brick-and-mortar, hybrid solutions, and virtual consultation and coaching platforms. Care coordination is an important part of this ecosystem to help women navigate the complex treatment landscape. Frame Fertility aims to be women's dedicated fertility and family-building advisor. It provides personalized plans and ongoing support.
Read the full article here.
The Brief:
“The reason why Health in Her HUE is particularly important for Black women is because Black women have some of the worst health outcomes and not because of anything that we’re doing wrong, but because of the structural, institutional, and interpersonal racism,” Wisdom told AfroTech. “And so because we have some of the worst health outcomes, it’s important for there to be equitable health care solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of Black women.”
Health In Her HUE aims to help both Black women and women of color stay informed when making choices about their health, but, just as important, the digital space is there to help them feel empowered.
Read full article here.
About 1501 Health
1501 Health is a unique partnership between Healthworx and LifeBridge Health, representing expertise in both health insurance and financing (payers) and healthcare delivery and services (providers). The investment and incubation program empowers entrepreneurs to get their innovative solutions to market and expand their impact in healthcare quality, access and affordability. To learn more about 1501Health, visit www.1501Health.com.
About Healthworx
Healthworx operates at the intersection of healthcare and innovation by creating, co-creating and investing in companies that are improving healthcare quality, accessibility, affordability and equity. As the innovation and investment arm of CareFirst, Healthworx envisions a healthier future for all people by changing the way health works. To learn more about Healthworx, visit https://www.healthworx.com.
About LifeBridge Health
LifeBridge Health is one of the largest, most comprehensive providers of health services in Maryland. LifeBridge Health includes Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Northwest Hospital, Carroll Hospital, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, Grace Medical Center and related affiliates. For more information, visit www.lifebridgehealth.org.