An app designed to help pregnant people and new parents reduce stress and boost wellness took first place and a $75,000 grant in a startup competition from the American Heart Association.
Called Carry, the app is founded by Maya Page, and it offers movement and meditation exercises as well as other wellness information for users. The grant award is part of the EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator for Oregon and Southwest Washington.
The accelerator was open to women founders and entrepreneurs whose businesses and organizations enable equitable access to good health.
“This is a huge accolade and will be used for new app features, recording sessions with incredible prenatal and postpartum teachers, and getting the word out about the Carry app,” Page said in a written statement. “We’re here to raise the well-being of all parents and this blows wind in our sails towards that end."
In addition to Carry, two other winners were announced:
- Caregiven, an app designed to help families and friends cope with end-of-life care for a loved one, received a $30,000 grant. The company is co-founded by CEO Candice Smith.
- Hands that Help, a project from founder Tylia Johnson-Allen, received a $15,000 Fan Favorite grant. Hands that Help connects African, African-American and Black, Indigenous and people of color to resources for personal growth and family development.
The accelerator was a six-week program that included training to help founders scale existing models to address health equity problems in their communities. The final competition had six companies vying for grants.
The final pitches were judged by Sam Yamoah, chief strategy and innovation officer at Cambia Health; Dr. Stephen Noble, cardiothoracic surgeon and lead medical adviser to Live Chair Health; and Sally Bany, co-founder and trustee of Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation.
The winner will go on to a national competition. The grant funding for the competition comes from the Lamfrom Charitable Foundation.
