Four local businesses engaged with the AMPED Russell Technology Business Incubator were recently surprised with investments totaling $207,500.
It's a part of a larger partnership between the minority-owned business incubator and Humana (NYSE: HUM) to champion health equity in West Louisville, according to a news release.
In the release, Dave Christopher Sr., founder and executive director of AMPED, said that it “takes a village to get this done” regarding the AMPED Russell Technology Business Incubator (RTBI) and Humana’s support. “We are greatly appreciative of the partnership with Humana to come alongside AMPED to make this all work.”
The entrepreneurs behind the businesses were surprised with the investment during a video interview, which you can check out below.
The four businesses include:
- Creative Spirits Behavioral Health — Founded and led by CEO Cassandra Gray, Creative Spirits Behavioral Health provides comprehensive mental health care and community-based services. Gray also served as the mental health practitioner for AMPED RTBI cohort.
- Garden Girl Foods — Whitney Powers, owner of Garden Girl Foods, started a garden in her Germantown neighborhood during the coronavirus pandemic, which quickly evolved into a full-blown business opportunity. She's now focusing on teaching others how to use inner-city spaces to grow there own foods.
- P.E.P. Rally — P.E.P. Rally, co-founded by Sean Smith and Nikki Patterson, look to increase student engagement in a post-Covid-19 learning environment via a new smartphone application that offers high schoolers critical resources and builds communities within schools. Check out this profile on P.E.P. Rally from September.
- Transitions Caregiver Solutions — Transitions Caregiver Solutions focuses on providing resources to all caregivers. Monica Stewart, founder and chief executive officer, said that the AMPED RTBI helped provide additional resources such as website development and assistance with addressing disparities to ensure better health outcomes.
"At Humana, we are excited to have a continuous relationship with AMPED RTBI," said Keisha Smith, associate director of Health Equity Louisville Community of Opportunity at Humana. "Through our partnership with AMPED and these entrepreneurs, we’re able to take intentional action to address health disparities, making it easier for people in West Louisville and all the communities Humana serves to achieve their best health."
The partnership will continue to grow as Humana plans to invest further in AMPED RTBI in 2022.
