Launch Health check-up: TheraWe Connect bridging gap between parents, pediatric therapy
November 13, 2019 | Austin Barnes and Tommy Felts
Editor’s note: The following is part of a series of stories on the six cohort companies of the Launch Health Accelerator, powered by Nueterra Capital and sponsored by LaunchKC. Click here to read all the stories published in this series.
Opportunity unlocked, it’s full steam ahead for TheraWe Connect as the startup prepares to check out of the Launch Health Accelerator and into the next phase of its startup journey.
Kaitlin Doyle, TheraWe Connect
“It’s really given us access to more opportunities in the Kansas City-area and outside of the Kansas City-area — through mentorship, but also through the other cohort members as well,” said Kaitlin Doyle, CEO.
One of six companies in the Nueterra Capital-backed program, sponsored by Launch KC, TheraWe Connect — a HIPAA-compliant mobile video platform that bridges the gap between therapy centers and the home — is doubling down on efforts to help parents navigate the world of pediatric therapy, Doyle said of what’s to come when the startup exits the program on Nov. 20.
“I am a pediatric occupational therapist by trade. I have spent my career working with families who have children with special needs in the birth to six-years-old range,” she added, detailing her experience and what attracted her to working with the startup.
Click here to register for Launch Health Demo Day, set for Nov. 20.
Jeremy Tasset, Nueterra Capital, and Kirby Montgomery, TheraWe Connect
Community collaboration, Doyle was connected to Kirby Montgomery, TheraWe Connect founder, by Lesa Mitchell, managing director of Techstars Kansas City.
“I connected with Kirby and immediately I knew that he had a solution to the problem that I was experiencing, working in homes and providing early intervention services,” she said.
The rest is history, Doyle added, noting the decision to join TheraWe Connect as CEO was a no-brainer.
The startup executive is hopeful Kansas City and surrounding healthtech markets see similar value in the company, she said.
“I think in practice as an occupational therapist, it is really challenging to communicate with all of the caregivers and provide quality services one time a week in a 30-minute session,” Doyle said. “Connecting therapists with the family is what we need in our industry and that’s where we are today.”
As TheraWe Connect moves forward, getting the platform in the hands of more users is the startup’s top priority — and more realistic than ever, thanks in large part to programming offered by Launch Health, Doyle noted.
“We were pretty open to the accelerator,” she said. “We really just wanted to dive in and learn more [and we have].”
This story is possible thanks to support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that works together with communities in education and entrepreneurship to create uncommon solutions and empower people to shape their futures and be successful.
For more information, visit www.kauffman.org and connect at www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn
Featured Business
2019 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Pure Pitch Rally passes $1 million in prizes; FastDemocracy and TheraWe lead winners
A quick-paced pitch competition Wednesday saw big wins for political tracking startup FastDemocracy and child therapy resource TheraWe Connect, with more than $1 million in prizes awarded between 10 young companies. “Our sponsors felt a funding head-rush like a speeding train — throwing money everywhere,” said Michael Williamson, an IP attorney for Polsinelli, one of…
Be fearlessly honest about diversity gap, Atlanta expert tells KC Techweek panelists (Photos)
Building an inclusive startup community begins with being unafraid to directly state the problem — a diversity gap — free of coded language related to race and gender, said Rodney Sampson. “I am unapologetically about being ‘color-brave’ and ‘race-brave’ — rather than being ‘color blind’ — because when you say ‘color blind,’ you’re saying you…
Rick Usher: How can KCMO balance policy and micromobility technology?
Update: On Thursday, KCMO City Manager Troy Schulte authorized Bird to deploy up to 500 scooters, as authorized in the city’s interim operating agreement. Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. This piece by Rick Usher was originally published by the National League of Cities, and comes days after Kansas City…
Hunting access to capital? Do your homework first, Techweek panel says
Imagining overnight startup success is as unrealistic as wanting to become a winning athlete or megastar musician overnight — it all takes time and practice, said Juan Campos. “If you actually have the ambition to create a multimillion dollar company, then the people that are the most successful at that didn’t just wake up one…