A group of Arizona-based bioscience startups is joining the Flinn Foundation’s entrepreneurship program where they will gain access to funding and resources.
Six early-stage startups, including four from the Valley, represent the 10th cohort of the Flinn Foundation’s bioscience entrepreneurship program held annually. The companies were selected from a record-breaking number of 48 applicants nationwide.
“These companies are developing cutting-edge diagnostics and treatments — for someone suffering from cancer to social isolation — which are critical to our physical and mental health,” Tammy McLeod, Flinn Foundation president and CEO, said in a statement.
The companies will each receive $30,000, a personalized learning plan with support services via the Arizona Bioindustry Association, and invitations to gatherings with entrepreneurs, bioscience and policy leaders.
Scottsdale-based companies selected for the cohort include EMR Data Cloud, which provides a platform for clinical genetic testing with electronic medical record integration, and the Patient Company, a firm that developed SimPull, a device that can be operated by a clinical staff member allowing for safe and efficient lateral patient transfer.
Reference Medicine and Televeda, both headquartered in Phoenix, are also participating in the cohort. Reference Medicine aims to become a one-stop-shop for oncology biospecimens, allowing researchers to build cancer diagnostics at a reduced cost.
Televeda developed a mental health platform that’s used by public health and community organization to combat social isolation for vulnerable populations. Televeda was recently named as a first-place winner for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Mission Daybreak program, which awarded the company $3 million for Project Hózhó, a mental health app and comprehensive operational plan for American Indian and Alaska Native populations.
Tucson-based refrigeration system maker Delta Development Team and TheraCea Pharma, which provides clinical diagnostic products for patient and therapy guidance, round out the group of companies in the Flinn Foundation entrepreneurship cohort.
The Flinn Foundation, a privately-endowed organization established by Robert and Irene Flinn in 1965, awards grants and operates programs for the biosciences, Flinn Scholars, arts and culture, and the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership.
