LaunchKC, Nueterra Capital announce health accelerator with $50K, plus resources for each startup in cohort
June 27, 2019 | Austin Barnes
Adding its third vertical in less than a year, LaunchKC will expand its grant opportunities deployment with the new LaunchKC Health Accelerator aimed at improving patient outcomes, the program announced Thursday.
“LaunchKC continues to see momentum, headed into its fifth year, having invested over $2 million in cash grants to attract or retain 38 tech startups in Kansas City, as well as continuing to strengthen its mentorship ecosystem,” the program — facilitated by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri, and the Downtown Council — said in an invitation to the program’s July 9 formal launch.
Click here for more details about the happy hour event that will celebrate LaunchKC Health.
“We all agree that the current healthcare system is not sustainable and is in need of disruption. With the formation of the Launch Health Accelerator powered by Nueterra Capital, we’re looking for companies with fresh ideas on how to make healthcare more accessible, with more predictable outcomes and transparent costs. I’m hoping we see service and technology ideas that give rise to improving care and lowering costs that can be readily integrated into existing clinical workflows, and some that are truly disruptive.”
— Jeremy Tasset, Nueterra Capital CEO
Continuing its trend of local partnership-driven programs, LaunchKC on Thursday named Leawood-based Nueterra Capital the official investment partner for the LaunchKC Health program.
“Nueterra has been on the frontlines of reforming our healthcare system, and LaunchKC is looking forward to their leadership and investment experience across the spectrum of healthcare and services,” said Drew Solomon, chair of the LaunchKC program.
Nuterra Capital and LaunchKC are looking for startups dedicated to making healthcare outcomes more predictable, delivery more accessible, costs more transparent, and technology that empowers patients to be true healthcare consumers.
Chosen startups will receive a minimum $50,000 equity investment from Nueterra Capital, software development work, healthcare and business legal advice, accounting, marketing, and business mentoring from LaunchKC partners, the firm explained.
The inaugural LaunchKC Health Accelerator cohort is expected to begin work in the program by late summer.
LaunchKC partnered with the nbkc bank-backed Fountain City Fintech accelerator in December and added Black & Veatch sponsored IgniteX, clean-tech accelerator to its line-up of entrepreneurial support endeavors in April.
Click here for an inside look at the 2019 restructuring of LaunchKC.
“The bottom line of the new platform is to attract scalable companies to the city to create more jobs and opportunities while growing our economy,” Solomon at the launch event for IgniteX.
With more than 2,000 applications submitted to LaunchKC in its five-year history, applications for Launch Health are now open.
Click here to apply for the Launch Health Accelerator.
“We’re participating as a sponsor for the LaunchKC Health Accelerator because we know that the future of healthcare depends on innovation,” said Jeremy Tasset, managing partner and CEO at Nueterra Capital, in a release. “As a venture capital firm focused on disrupting traditional healthcare models, we’re in a unique position to help identify, evaluate and support early-stage companies that have the potential to improve healthcare delivery.”
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