A Wisconsin firm was was of nine startups from across the country that plugged their ideas at a "Shark Tank"-like forum that brought together Kansas leaders from across the state.
Wichita, Kansas-based NXTUS held its annual NXTSTAGE Community Health & Vibrancy Pilot Competition, which united startups with Kansas businesses, nonprofits and government organizations last week.
“This room is full of tomorrow's thinkers,” said Mary Beth Jarvis, president and CEO of NXTUS. “Innovators can find ways to grow here, and our own state can increase its participation in the innovation economy.”
More than 120 startups from 28 states and 11 countries applied to the competition. Earlier this year, the applicant list was whittled down to nine winners who presented three-minute pitches during the showcase. Four startups were given contracts, including Madison's Polco Inc., with many others getting multiple promises for contracts once the funds materialize.
Six statewide organizations, Hodgeman County Economic Development, LiveWell Northwest Kansas, Russell Regional Hospital, Scott County Development Committee, Thrive Allen County and The Wichita Medical Practice Association of the University of Kansas School of Medicine, either offered contracts or are looking into grants and funding for many of the presenters. Event sponsors included Blue Cross Blue Shield, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the Greater Wichita Partnership, the University of Kansas Medical School’s Wichita Medical Practice Association and NetWork Kansas.
After the "Shark Tank"-type plugs, dozens of community leaders were encouraged to speak with the inventors of the nine startups; each one hoping to get another contract.
The startups are all trying to improve community health and vibrancy:
- Eddii Health (New York City) offers a platform for Type 1 diabetes patients, especially youth, that uses games and real-time glucose data to offer supportive and educational materials that engage the user.
- GoNo Food Finder (Minneapolis, Minnesota) app defines whether foods are good/bad for each person’s medical conditions and wellness goals, using unbiased, peer-reviewed medical studies.
- Medic All (Wichita, Kansas) is a telemedical nonprofit that offers free consultations, medical tests, and prescriptions to eliminate barriers to care.
- Myri Health (Norman, Oklahoma) is an evidence-based postpartum resource that provides personalized rehabilitation techniques based on delivery type, communities for parents to connect with and tracking resources in a low-cost, mobile app format.
- Pear Suite (Tulsa, Oklahoma) empowers community health workers to meet the social and health needs of older adults, Medicaid members, and other underserved groups through a social care navigation platform.
- Polco (Madison) helps government officials understand constituent satisfaction with public services, gathers quality public input and helps users make better data-informed decisions.
- Remble (Tulsa, Oklahoma) is a mental health app with courses, activities and tools created by licensed therapists.
- Serenity (Denver, Colorado) brings together providers of elder care on a single platform, to communicate, collaborate and educate.
A contract was presented to both Myri Health and Pear Suite, and two contracts each were given to Polco and Remble. Myri Health, Pear Suite and Remble are also up for a contract from at least two organizations once funding comes in.
“This is a wonderful, interconnected event,” said Alex Pederson, the founder of Polco. “When we work together, we can create a stronger community for everyone.”
Polco was tapped for pilot project from the Scott County Development Committee, which promotes economic viability and development in the county, and Thrive Allen County, a rural health advocacy organization
Wichita-based Ayaan Parikh, the founder and executive director of Medic All, is a senior at Wichita Collegiate School. Although he did not get contracts signed, he is on at least three institution’s offering lists, meaning once the organization receives funding for Medic All, they will offer a contract.
“It’s interesting to see how it (Medic All) aligns with each organization’s needs,” he said. “I’m super-excited to work with everyone.”
The end goal of the event is to showcase early-stage companies and connect them with resources and capital. In turn, Kansas-based leaders can utilize these new, sometimes out-of-the-box ideas, to help their organizations or communities thrive.
“We know that if people are going to be healthy, they have to have opportunities,” said Virginia Barnes, director of Blue Health Initiatives, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. “They have to have communities that are thriving, that are healthy places to live.”
