BOSTON, DEC. 14 – MassChallenge, the most startup-friendly accelerator on the planet, today announced the 32 digital health startups joining the 2018 PULSE@MassChallenge cohort. Selected from more than 500 applicants from around the world, this year’s cohort represents the most-innovative technologies advancing healthcare and improving patient wellbeing.
“We believe that when entrepreneurs and the community come together, we can solve healthcare’s massive problems,” said Nick Dougherty, Program Director, PULSE @MassChallenge. “We are so excited to get to know this year’s cohort and to connect them with the strategic partnerships necessary for creating widespread impact.”
Launched as a strategic component of Mass Digital Health and fueled by public-private partnerships, PULSE@ MassChallenge accelerates the impact of digital health startups around the world. Through rigorous matchmaking, PULSE@ MassChallenge’s second cohort was selected by an impressive pool of institutions, providers, and payors looking to form unique partnerships with digital health startups. These Champions will support entrepreneurs throughout the program by facilitating key advisor introductions, pilots, research, and even investment opportunities.
“Aetna is committed to building a healthier world, and we’ve seen the difference that health technology can make among individuals and communities,” said Justin Steinman, Vice President and Head of Product Management at Aetna. “Innovative technologies are critical to reducing health disparities and improving health outcomes, and it’s a privilege to support PULSE@ MassChallenge and these pioneering entrepreneurs.”
“Cigna sees great value in connecting our innovation strategy to those who are driving advances in the digital health ecosystem,” said Mark Butler, President of Cigna’s New England market. “We are a Champion Partner of PULSE@ MassChallenge because it provides a rich learning experience for participants, and provides a forum for us to bring our expertise and mentorship to the table to support new ideas, talent and technology. This innovation will ultimately help us deliver a simpler experience and drive better health outcomes for the people we serve and for the communities where we live and work.”
Beginning in January, startups will have access to tailored curriculum, over 4,000 square feet of co-working space through generous support from Samuels and Associates, and the opportunity to apply for shares of $50,000 in need-based scholarships – all at zero cost and for zero equity. At the culmination of the program, startups will compete for over $200,000 in cash prizes.
To date, startups that have participated in PULSE@ MassChallenge have raised more than $52M in funding, generated more than $13M in revenue, and grown their employee headcount by over 22 percent. More details on the program’s impact can be found here.
2018 PULSE@MassChallenge Cohort:
U.S. – Massachusetts
Introduces the first-ever connected hardware device that will keep the 9.7 million U.S. women who take the Birth Control Pill from missing a dose again.
U.S. – California
Develops a respiratory management system consisting of a portable spirometer and gamified app to detect early signs of asthma attacks.
U.S. – Pennsylvania
Makes it easy to quantify, optimize treatment, and personalize nutrition for gut health, which is central to infant’s growth and brain development.
U.S. – Illinois
Develops a robust method of measuring blood pressure through a non-invasive and continuous device.
U.S. – Massachusetts
Uses a novel sample prep, high throughput sequencing, and machine intelligence to shorten the time it takes to identify a pathogen and predict its drug resistance profile from days to hours.
U.S. – Massachusetts
Leverages machine learning to bring the best doctor in the world to every patient.
U.S. – New York
Enables patient in China to book an appointment with a top U.S. doctor, have a virtual consultation on a screen, and receive medical recommendations.
U.S. – Massachusetts
Enhances chronic disease management with patient-generated behavioral data and evidence-based technological interventions.
U.S. – Massachusetts
Utilizes virtual reality technology to heighten knowledge and frame attitudes toward avoiding dangers of opioid use among young adolescents.
U.S. – Missouri
Increases care management productivity with evidence-based remote patient monitoring via automated text messages and phone calls.
U.S. – Massachusetts
Develops the Opioid Recovery Bracelet to detect signs of overdose and automatically administer life-saving naloxone without the participation of bystanders or first responders.
U.S. – New Jersey
Patient access company, beginning with digital check-in and expanding to solutions aligned with provider and patient goals.
U.S. – Pennsylvania
Develops SmartPlate, the only patented, intelligent nutrition platform that deploys computer vision, deep learning, and proprietary image recognition techniques to help consumers and patients track food intake.
U.S. – Massachusetts
Enables caregivers to record this data by answering simple, personalized multiple choice questions.
U.S. – Massachusetts
Brings highly effective population health solutions to life for chronic diseases.
U.S. – New York
Offers real-time, personalized assessments of mental health and provides within-reach activities that have been proven to boost mental health.
U.S. – California
Combines data, mathematical models, and machine learning to individualize treatment for patients.
U.S. – Massachusetts
Develops a home-based neutrophil test that enables physicians to personalize chemotherapy and improve survival.
U.S. – Washington
Develops Sibyl, a scheduling intelligence tool that leverages AI to predict which patients will show up and when to schedule them for appointments.
U.S. – Massachusetts
Develops CareTours™, which enables healthcare organizations to guide patients using automated just-in-time instructions and checklists pre, peri, and post-procedure.
U.S. – California
Provides a complete solution to help hospitals deliver cardiac rehab to patients from the comfort of their homes in a cost-effective and scalable manner.
U.S. – Maryland
Develops a rapid medical assessment device, MouthLab, which measures respiratory-rate and pattern, pulse-rate, ECG, SpO2, temperature, BP and spirometric lung functions in 30 seconds.
U.S. – Massachusetts
Matches moms-to-be with personalized, expert Registered Dietitians to help them navigate nutrition during their pregnancy.
U.S. – Massachusetts
Uses next-generation voice assistant and AI technologies to vastly improve remote patient monitoring, education, care coordination, and research.
U.S. – New York
Develops its smart file security technology to protect data in motion, in use, and at rest with complete intelligence, governance and reporting capabilities.
U.S. – Massachusetts
Creates a home health and wellness platform centered on a voice-first countertop device called Pillo, the first intelligent healthcare assistant for the home.
U.S. – California
Develops assistive technology solutions for caregivers that passively tracks activity to ensure routine patterns of movement around the living space remain consistent.
U.S. – Wisconsin
Provides care professionals the means to assess and support the most forgotten key stakeholder in health care: the family caregiver.
U.S. – New York
Develops a solution for medical nutrition therapy counseling via a HIPAA compliant video portal and phone.
U.S. – Massachusetts
Helps people harness the power of genetics by offering trustworthy information to guide them to the diagnostic help they need, faster.
U.S. – Massachusetts
Develops a free agnostic tool to help hospitals fairly share surgical schedules in cost saving efforts.
Mexico
Develops a fast and low-cost diagnostic and disease surveillance technology, which allows all users to diagnose a disease directly at the point of care.
Interested in meeting the 2018 cohort? PULSE@MassChallenge invites the community to their December 14 PULSECHECK Holiday Party from 6:00 – 8:00pm at Hatch Fenway.
About MassChallenge:
MassChallenge is the most startup-friendly accelerator on the planet. No equity and not-for-profit, we are obsessed with helping entrepreneurs from all backgrounds, industries, and regions around the world. We also reward the highest-impact startups through a competition to win a portion of several million dollars in equity-free cash awards. Through our global network of accelerators in Boston, Israel, Mexico, Switzerland, Texas, and the UK; and unrivaled access to our corporate partners, we can have a massive impact – driving growth and creating value the world over. To date, 1,211 MassChallenge alumni have raised over $2 billion in funding, generated approximately $900 million in revenue, and created over 65,000 total jobs. For more information, please visit masschallenge.org.
Top PULSE @MassChallenge Partners:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City of Boston, the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, Suffolk Construction, Samuels & Associates, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, the Massachusetts eHealth Institute at MassTech, AARP, Shire, Cerner, Humana, Servier, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Aetna, Atrius Health, Becton Dickinson, Beth Israel Deaconess, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Campbell Soup Company, Cigna, Franciscan Children’s Hospital, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Microsoft, Optum, OSF HealthCare, Partners Healthcare Connected Health, Philips Healthcare, Ropes & Gray LLP, Massachusetts General Hospital, Pathfinder International, Planetree, Sanofi, Silicon Valley Bank and TechSpring of Baystate Health
