Kansas City entrepreneurs chosen for startup competition focused on health tech

WICHITA — Health innovation is a global priority, said organizers of the latest NXTSTAGE cohort, announcing nearly a dozen finalists and solutions hailing from Kansas City to France.

Ten companies were selected for the 2024 NXTSTAGE Community Health and Vibrancy Pilot Competition, presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS). Finalists include startups working to enhance healthcare delivery and access, support families and caregivers, address behavioral health needs, provide maternal care from pre-birth to postpartum, and improve community well-being.

“This program accelerates community health innovation and focuses on our rural and urban areas alike so that they can thrive and benefit from cutting-edge solutions,” said Symbria Hansen, program manager for NXTUS, which coordinates NXTSTAGE programming for the organization’s Wichita headquarters. “These communities are continually finding ways to work smarter, and we are thrilled to be a part of that process.”

Among the selected companies working to boost population health, community growth:

• Leva (Vanessa Jupe), Kansas City, Kansas — Leva holistically supports new moms and families, reducing turnover and boosting productivity and morale.

• Marma (Meredith Evans McAllister), Kansas City, Kansas — Marma is an OB-GYN-approved platform that offers personalized nutrition during the birthing years from fertility through postpartum.

• SeeInMe (Risa Stein), Lee’s Summit, Missouri — SeeInMe promotes collaborative, coordinated care, fueled by data-driven insights and a relentless focus on the uniqueness of every individual.

The competition attracted 136 total competitors from 31 states and 11 countries, according to NXTUS. Finalists from Kansas, five other states and France, are expected to journey to Wichita to present their technology solutions to the program’s seven pilot partners and other Kansas organizations dedicated to improving the health of Kansans and removing barriers to community growth.

These partners are set to announce pilot projects Sept. 18 at an Innovation Showcase at Henry’s Place at NICHE in Wichita — an event open to community health and growth advocates from around the state.

Click here to register for the showcase.

“At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, we are committed to pursuing a more accessible, inclusive and equitable system that helps everyone reach their full health potential,” said Virginia Barnes, director of Blue Health Initiatives for BCBSKS. “We have been thrilled to see the many ways that local organizations have implemented the technologies of past finalists to move the needle on health in their communities and are excited to see the difference this next round of finalists will make.”

Returning pilot partners include Hodgeman County Economic Development, LiveWell Northwest Kansas, Russel Regional Hospital, and Thrive Allen County. New to this year’s program are HopeNet, Salina Chamber of Commerce, and JenRus Freelance Marketing, representing Republic County.

In addition to the Kansas City area companies, other startup finalists for the competition are:

• Kwit, Strasbourg, France — Using cognitive and behavioral sciences and gamification, Kwit reinvents how addictive disorders are treated.

• Ladder Health, Washington, DC — Ladder Health is an innovative primary care service partnering with local firehouses to deliver trusted, in-community care.

• Major Talent, Omaha — Creating a better experience for our Veterans by translating their careers into industry terminology and helping companies intentionally hire Veterans.

• Motivity Care, New York City — Motivity Care simplifies caregiving management, offering an innovative solution for working caregivers, employers, and community partners.

• Myri, Tulsa, Oklahoma — Myri Health is an AI-powered app and SaaS platform providing personalized, data-driven care and comprehensive care coordination, improving birthing outcomes and reducing preterm labor.

• Polco, Middleton, Wisconsin — Polco’s software and AI saves public servants critical time and resources by simplifying everything from grant writing to strategic planning.

• SkinCheck, Tulsa, Oklahoma — SkinCheck is an AI-powered mobile tool for enhancing dermatological care access and early skin cancer detection for all people.

Click here to read more about the finalists.

Since 2021, the NXTSTAGE Community Health and Vibrancy Pilot Competition has kick-started 55 local and statewide projects focusing on expanding access to health care and mental health treatment, enhancing the quality of life for seniors, and improving the management of diabetes and other chronic conditions, as well as initiatives that promoted small and micro-businesses in rural communities.

In addition to the presenting sponsorship from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, the competition is made possible by support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Kansas Health Foundation, NetWorked Partnership for Community Investment, OneRise Health Campus (Lange Companies), Kansas Health Science University-Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the Greater Wichita Partnership’s Opportunity Wichita affiliate.