It's official - our third cohort class of 1501 Health has crossed the finish line. Eight startups graduated from the accelerator program, leaving with a stronger understanding of the healthcare landscape, strategic investment dollars and a supportive network of peers and advisors.
For three years, this partnership program between Healthworx and LifeBridge Health has offered startup companies an in-depth, insightful overview of the evolving healthcare industry. The joint dynamic differs from a typical accelerator, as participants get the benefit of both the payor and provider perspectives, which is exceptionally valuable for founders looking to advance accessible, affordable and equitable care through innovation.
Along with this unique payvider approach, the eight teams were matched with mentors that aligned with their niche industries and solutions.
Below, get a glimpse of the companies, and the successes they’ve seen throughout the past year while working with 1501 Health.
Meet the Graduates
- MapHabit – To restore independence and improve the quality of life for individuals with cognitive impairment, and intellectual or developmental disabilities, Matt Golden founded MapHabit, an interactive scientifically-backed program that leverages the procedural memory to build daily routines. This care management tool lightens the load for caregivers and has been awarded $6.5M in grants from the National Institute of Health.
Read MapHabit's blog here.
- Athelo Health - Navigating cancer treatment is never simple, but the right community can make all the difference. Athelo Health offers that support through peer groups, accurate information and personalized recommendations. As co-founders Jessica Thurmond and Monica Schmiede see it, they are essentially a one-stop virtual doula for women experiencing breast or gynecologic cancers. To discuss their solution, they were featured on the McGuireWoods' Health+Tech podcast.
Read Athelo Health’s blog here.
- Delfina – As soon as Senan Ebrahim, MD, PhD, recognized the alarming racial disparities within the maternal health crisis, he knew he could create a safer path forward. He founded Delfina to improve pregnancy care with the power of AI. His machine learning platform enables early interventions for high-risk patients, resulting in more equitable care and lower healthcare costs. The team has gained great momentum over the past year, such as landing new payor partnership.
- Gritwell – To go beyond surface-level symptom relief for chronic health conditions, Chelsea Rowe founded Gritwell, a virtual platform that helps patients identify and address the underlying cause of their illness with the help of a personalized care plan built by Root Cause Medicine physicians and coaches.
- Tembo Health – Managing a dementia diagnosis can be a challenge, but Tembo Health is paving the way for a more seamless, accessible healthcare experience. With a team of specialists and a 24/7 concierge service, seniors living with dementia and their caregivers can get the personalized and proactive care they need. The platform was designed by Anurag Gupta, MD, and inspired by his experience navigating the complex healthcare system for his grandfather. Within this year, the team secured a spot on the Digital Health Top 100 list of startups.
Read Tembo Health’s blog here.
- Visana – While the current healthcare system often fails to provide wraparound care, particularly for female populations, Visana is a promising solution. Co-founded by Shelly Lanning, Visana is a virtual women’s health clinic that provides coordinated, comprehensive care for common conditions women face at all life stages, from menstruation to menopause. In August 2023, the team secured $10.1M in seed funding.
- Mighty Health – According to AARP, nearly 77% of seniors over the age of 50 prefer to age at home. To give them the right resources to live independently and engage with a supportive community, James Li created Mighty Health, an all-in-one exercise, nutrition and daily health program. The digital classes aim to have a positive impact on health, including lowering blood pressure, losing weight, and reducing joint pain.
Read Mighty Health’s blog here.
- CareAdvisors - Improving access to social services comes down to connection. CareAdvisors, founded by Christopher Grace, bridges the gap between hospitals, health plans, and patients in need of government benefits and community-based social services.
Learn more about CareAdvisors here.
To learn more about the companies and the program, visit 1501health.com/cohort