Twelve entrepreneurs shared their stories at the Shaping the Future of Healthcare Work in the US Startup Showcase co-hosted last week by Johnson & Johnson Impact Ventures and Village Capital. The virtual event kicked off with presentation pitches from the entrepreneurs and culminated in a panel discussion with healthcare impact investors and public health stakeholders on how the pandemic will shape healthcare impact investment over the next decade.
The Startup Showcase is part of a broader investment-readiness program to catalyze startup innovations in the U.S. that address challenges in the health workforce and relieve the burden on overstretched public health systems. Specifically, the entrepreneurs represented founding teams with lived experiences, and whose solutions addressed healthcare disparities in communities of color.
All 12 startups were evaluated based on criteria across impact and business potential, and three were selected to receive the following awards:
Frontline Health Worker Award Winner: NextStep
An accelerated digital healthcare training and job placement company aiming to radically expand the supply of qualified Certified Nursing Assistants to address the nation's caregiver shortage crisis.
Health Equity Award Winner: Clinify
Clinify Health's cloud-based platform works with physician practices located in underserved communities to achieve financial stability, remain independent, and improve population health outcomes.
Overall Award Winner: Health In Her HUE
A digital platform that connects Black women and women of color to culturally competent healthcare providers, services and health content.
The winning ventures will receive grant funding as well as non-financial support in the form of mentorship and network opportunities.
We congratulate the winners who, like their peers, are forging a more equitable future with digital and culturally competent solutions to enhance health access across the U.S.