10 tech startups build innovative health solutions
It’s hard to imagine day-to-day life without technology. For the health care industry, it makes a world of difference. That’s why modernizing the health system is a fundamental priority for UnitedHealthcare, which invests more than $3 billion annually in data, technology and innovation to reduce health care costs, improve patient outcomes and simplify the member experience.
To help promote the future of health care, 10 promising startups — including more than 50% led by female CEOs— have been selected to participate in the third UnitedHealthcare Accelerator Powered by Techstars. The 13-week mentorship-driven accelerator begins Sept. 7 and focuses on digital health innovation with the support of executives and subject matter experts from UnitedHealthcare, alongside the worldwide network of Techstars.
The 2021 class hopes to build off the success of last year’s program, which included AI technology that helps detect depression, a training tool for doctors to deliver better care to people of color and a smartphone app that helps manage digestive health.
This year’s applicant pool includes companies from 36 countries aiming to accelerate their efforts toward improving health access, quality of care and the consumer experience.
“Innovation is core to our work at UnitedHealthcare, and the UnitedHealthcare Accelerator Powered by Techstars is emblematic of that commitment,” said Kaylene Thompson, vice president of Innovation at UnitedHealthcare. “This program is unique in bringing together the speed and agility of a small company and the resources and expertise of a large company to create a ripe environment for rapid innovation.”
The 10 companies, chosen through a rigorous and competitive review process, for the 2021 program class include:
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Awake Labs
Awake Labs is a software platform that manages the stress levels of a person with a cognitive disability to improve care, reduce burnout and increase quality of life for their caregivers. Through a smartwatch and mobile app, stress levels can be monitored by self-advocates or their caregivers.
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Clinify Health
Clinify Health’s platform helps provide financial stability for providers in underserved communities by easing the transition to value-based care. Clinify automates many of the core activities needed to transition to value-based contracts, resulting in improved financial stability for physician practices, achievement of cost and quality measures for plans and improved population health outcomes for members.
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Confidante
Confidante’s artificial intelligence software platform supports people’s mental health, differentiated by fostering deep interpersonal connection and rapport through non-clinical, human-like conversation to make a person feel heard and understood.
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MedZoomer
MedZoomer provides a safe and reliable on-demand prescription delivery solution for pharmacies. Through a fleet of drivers, scalable software and automation of heavy workflows, they unlock on-demand delivery for pharmacies in as little as 48 hours.
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Reactiv
Reactive is a mobile-based virtual clinic for occupational therapy, centered around interactive experiences, helping patients recover faster through mobile games. Their application uses a phone’s camera to track the patient's movements, and matches rehab motions with games, to help increase engagement with therapy.
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Remmie Health
Remmie Health’s ear, nose and throat (ENT) monitoring device provides a remote, homecare solution to help address unnecessary in-person visits for common ENT issues for adults and children.
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Robyn
Robyn is a maternal health and wellness company powering prenatal and postpartum virtual care, improving patient outcomes and reducing overhead for payers and providers. They offer 24/7 text-based support to expecting and new parents in their urgent moments of need, through conversational AI, which is vetted by specialized providers.
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Ruth Health
Ruth Health is a digital clinic for pre-natal care, providing in-home house calls through a network of physicians. Ruth Health offers at-home ultrasound tech appointments, one-on-one pregnancy coaching via phone or video call and group telehealth with a birth-worker moderator and fellow moms.
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Venteur
Venteur is a benefits marketplace that provides independent workers with access to comprehensive benefit options including health insurance, life insurance, disability and more. Venteur allows users to pick benefits based on their health and wellness goals, customized for independent workers and entrepreneurs.
