Dealflow | January 18, 2022

Jumpstart Nova raises $55 million to invest in Black healthcare founders

Roodgally Senatus
ImpactAlpha Editor

Roodgally Senatus

ImpactAlpha, January 18 — If venture capital for Black entrepreneurs has historically been scarce, venture funding for Black healthcare founders has been almost nonexistent.

Marcus Whitney, who since 2015 has led Jumpstart Health Investors to invest in more than 150 healthcare founders, brought together Eli Lilly, HCA Healthcare, Cardinal Health, Atrium Health, Henry Ford Health System, American Hospital Association and other investors, including Bank of America, FirstBank and Vanderbilt University for Jumpstart Nova.

Racial health equity

The fund will invest in the seed and Series A rounds of Black-led and founded tech companies focused on health services, biotech, diagnostic devices, health IT and consumer health and wellness.

“Hospitals and health systems need strong partners to collaborate with to build healthier and more equitable communities,” said AHA’s Rick Pollack. “Jumpstart Nova aims to provide talented but too-often overlooked entrepreneurs with the capital they need to advance this important work.”