Baltimore-based national startup incubator program, 1501 Health, hosted 15 of the nation’s most innovative healthcare startups on April 11 to honor their second cohort of founders for completing the year-long program and welcomed the third cohort into the fold.
Driving the future of healthcare, 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.
“We’ve got to give space to new opportunities, new ideas, new perspectives, stronger representation from a broader scope of the community in order to have the impact that we want and need to have in healthcare to drive a better future and better outcomes,” said CareFirst president and CEO Brian Pieninck in his welcome comments. “Not all of the best ideas, not all of the greatest value, not only all the biggest impact will come from existing players.”
Graduating Cohort 2 companies include: Candoo Tech, Health in her HUE and Lantern of New York, Flowly of Los Angeles, Frame Fertility of San Francisco, Ryse Health of Arlington, Va. And Baltimore, and Xploro of Cleveland, Ohio.
Many of these companies were able to make significant advancements and hit major growth milestones during their time in the cohort, notably:
Ryse Health drew $6.5 million in Series A funding for its diabetes care services, while Xploro, which originally began in Manchester, moved to Cleveland and raised its first investment round led by U.S. investors. Frame Fertility also raised a $2.8 million seed round. Health in Her Hue partnered with startup, Violet, to create a tool that better diagnosed monkeypox in darker skin, and Flowly, the VR-enabled app for autonomic nervous system regulation, launched a program specific to providers.
The newly welcomed third cohort, chosen from a competitive pool of 147 international applicants, include Athelo Health of Nashville, Tenn., CareAdvisors of Chicago, Ill., Delfina, Gritwell and Mighty Health of San Francisco, MapHabit of Atlanta, Ga., Tembo Health of New York, and Visana Health of Minneapolis.
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 connect with Healthworx about partnering, media interviews or speaking opportunities, email comms@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.