An Ohio-based startup founded by a University of Cincinnati graduate is adding to its C-suite for the second time this year as it looks to expand its product portfolio.
IncludeHealth, which is developing digital platforms for musculoskeletal care and training, on Tuesday announced Chris Slee as the company’s first chief technology officer. Slee joins IncludeHealth’s executive team after spending more than five years as a consultant and adviser to the company. His hire was effective Jan. 2.
Most recently, Slee was principal and chief product officer at Allen, Williams & Hughes Co., or AWH, a Dublin, Ohio, software engineering firm. There, he spent more than 25 years overseeing the formulation and execution of product strategy, and the transformation of numerous early stage product ideas to commercially complete products in the market.
At IncludeHealth, Slee will continue his focus on building a team and musculoskeletal platform that pushes the boundaries on delivering in clinic and remote care. He will be based in the Columbus area.
“We have been waiting for the right time to officially bring Chris aboard and now couldn’t be more perfect,” Ryan Eder, IncludeHealth founder and CEO, said in a release. “He is an asset to our company, and we believe our technology will truly evolve under his purview as we enter the next chapter.”
IncludeHealth’s product portfolio includes its flagship product, IncludeStrength, an all-inclusive exercise machine; as well as IncludeCloud, a medical-grade, HIPAA-compliant cloud infrastructure that allows users to develop online protocols for a workout; and IncludeConnect, a palm-sized sensor that attaches to exercise equipment to collect data in real-time.
In 2019, IncludeHealth entered into a licensing agreement with Cincinnati Children’s for a digital health technology it developed called aNMT. Pronounced animate, and short for Augmented Neuromuscular Training, the digital coach, when combined with IncludeHealth’s cloud platform and data analytics, can objectively measure and correct movement.
IncludeHealth is currently working to pilot and commercialize that tech.
“I believe in the IncludeHealth mission and have for years,” Slee said in the release. “The cutting-edge technology we're working on, forming partnerships and driving the space forward — it’s incredible. The progression from hardware to an IoT sensor platform then on to real-time machine learning and AI — I am so proud to be a part of what is ahead.”
Slee is the second addition to IncludeHealth’s executive team this year. In January, the startup named Anang Chokshi, previously chief clinical officer at San Diego-based Reflexion Health, its chief clinical officer, also a new role for the company.
IncludeHealth, which counts CincyTech, the local seed capital firm, as its largest investor, has around 20 employees based in Cincinnati and Columbus with plans to hire. The startup is also nearing completion of an innovation lab at the 1819 Innovation Hub in Avondale. Eder said equipment has been moved in with a final branding taking place over the next couple of weeks.
