ImpactAlpha, July 27 — Miami-based SpeechMD has a voice and language platform for vulnerable patients, including immigrants and the elderly. The online marketplace of Chicago-based Scripted, connects patients in non-urgent care with in-person pharmacies. And InovCares in Silver Spring, Md. provides telehealth services for women of color.
The startups are among the new cohort in Village Capital’s Innovations in Health Equity accelerator program which, in partnership with Johnson & Johnson Impact Ventures, supports early-stage startups serving frontline healthcare workers, increasing access to healthcare and improving the effectiveness of such services. Four out of the ten startups will be peer-selected for a $50,000 grant each; eight out of 10 are led by a BIPOC founder and/or CEO.
Financial health
Separately, Village Capital made an undisclosed investment in fintech startup LoanSense through its Financial Health Innovation Fund, a $3 million program-related investments fund it manages on behalf of MetLife Foundation. LoanSense will partner with mortgage lenders to help student-loan borrowers get approved for mortgages.
Village Capital is accepting applications for its “Innovations in Justice Tech” fellowship (for context, see, “‘Justice tech’ entrepreneurs look to disrupt the cycle of recidivism”)…
Investing in health
J&J Impact Ventures sponsors ImpactAlpha’s Investing in Health coverage, exploring impact investments in purpose-driven entrepreneurs working to improve health outcomes for underserved communities around the world.