The Journey Venture Studio has selected four Phoenix-area entrepreneurs to participate in its second cohort intended to address gaps in health care.
The Phoenix-based nonprofit studio, which supports entrepreneurs starting health care companies, selected Kasai Rogers, Neda Hassanzadeh, Silver Horsley and Victoria Huang for the eight-month founder-in-residence program, which begins in September.
The entrepreneurs will receive leadership coaching and venture development training, in addition to $100,000 to help build their companies to address critical gaps in health care, according to a company release.
"We are thrilled to welcome this talented cohort to The Journey Venture Studio," Mark Moeremans, managing director at The Journey Venture Studio, said in a statement. "Each founder brings unique perspectives and innovative solutions to pressing societal issues. We are excited to support their journeys and see the impactful changes they will bring to the market.”
Hassanzaeh, a New Jersey native who lives in Phoenix, holds a bachelor’s degree in global health from Arizona State University and a master’s degree in narrative medicine from Columbia University. Hassanzaeh pivoted her plans of becoming a doctor to explore a storytelling role in medical device technology sales. She uses her narrative talents to drive health care innovation and advocate for medical advancements.
Horsley, an Atlanta native, founded StoneFaced Organx, an all-natural skincare brand addressing hyperpigmentation. Horsley graduated from Morehouse College with a bachelor’s degree in business marketing. His background includes developing investment strategies and analyzing financial statements.
Huang obtained an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied finance and entrepreneurship, in addition to serving as the co-president of the Wharton Femtech Club.
Rogers graduated from Morehouse College with a bachelor’s degree in economics and was among a team that won first place in Ally Bank’s Moguls in the Making 2022 pitch competition with a product that helps low-income renters become homeowners.
Journey Venture Studio focuses on minority-owned startups
As part of the cohort, participants will receive hands-on support, investment, mentorship, and programming from The Journey Venture Studio, allowing them to develop, prototype, and scale their startups.
The cohort participants will research, prototype and test venture concepts. At the end of the eight-month residence program, founders will pitch their startups in front of the Journey Venture Studio's board, sponsors and partners for a chance to secure additional funding for their companies.
Moeremans, along with Justin Bayless, founded Journey Venture Studio to close racial and gender opportunity gaps by providing support to diverse founders wanting to pursue entrepreneurship.
Bayless, who is president of the studio, is the former CEO of Bayless Integrated Healthcare, a family business that he helped scale from six to 600 employees and nine locations prior to selling a majority stake to a Fortune 25 health care company. He rebooted Bayless Integrated Healthcare in January after his noncompete agreement ended.
The nonprofit launched its inaugural founder-in-residence cohort in September 2023 with three entrepreneurs: Imen Maaroufi Clark, Terrance Range and Ekene Nkem-Mmekam.
The Journey Venture Studio occupies a building at 3620 N. Third St., which is also the home of Ten Figures, a consulting and venture capital firm founded by Bayless.
