Finalists Named, Showcase Event Set for NXTSTAGE Pilot Competition
Innovation program poised to infuse Kansas communities with tomorrow’s tools to tackle community health and economic growth challenges
Wichita, Kan. – July 20, 2021 – NXTUS, Inc.’s NXTSTAGE Community Health & Vibrancy Pilot Competition, presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS), announced 12 program finalists today.
For the competition, which attracted 126 competitors from 28 states and 15 countries, NXTUS, Inc. partnered with BCBSKS to identify state-wide partners looking for innovative technology solutions to add value in their communities. Special thanks to Cowley County Economic Development Partnership, Hodgeman County Economic Development, Hunter Health, Lincoln County Economic Development Foundation, Scott County Development Committee, and Thrive Allen County, the competition’s pilot partners.
Competition winners and community partnerships will be announced at an Innovation Showcase on Thursday, August 12 from 11:30-1:00 at Botanica, the Wichita Gardens. To attend the event, register via EventBrite.
“This group of startups is poised to change communities for the better, and we are delighted they are competing to implement their innovations in Kansas,” said Mary Beth Jarvis, NXTUS executive director. “Thanks to our future-minded partners, Kansas can be a proving ground for technologies that show great promise to improve our population health and unlock growth potential in rural and urban areas. This idea is central to NXTSTAGE: We believe the Air Capital of the World can become the Pilot Capital of the World, and we want to show innovators that their businesses can make a difference and grow here.”
The competition’s applicant pool was very diverse; 82 percent had minority and/or female founders. Of the finalists, which hail from 10 states plus Montreal, Canada, 83 percent have ethnic minority or females as founders.
“We are very impressed with the variety of applicants who are ready and willing to utilize their technology to help make Kansas a healthier state to live, work and play,” Virginia Barnes, Blue Health Initiatives director at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. “This technology is poised to help us improve the social determinants of health in our state, giving Kansans more support systems and better access to care.”
The BCBSKS grant, along with support from the Talent Ecosystem Fund at the Wichita Community Foundation, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and NetWork Kansas, helps NXTSTAGE achieve its overall goals of boosting the growth of young tech companies and accelerating the pace of innovation in the region.
2021 NXSTAGE Community Health & Vibrancy Pilot Competition Finalists:
§ Advocatia is a powerful screening and enrollment platform that assists individuals in obtaining healthcare coverage and access to vital programs so they can access the care their families need.
§ CoTeacher is the future of professional learning communities, using AI to match teachers with PLCs and Co-teachers and provide tools for collaborative planning, coaching and standards alignment, within and across districts.
§ Debtle: Every year, 70 million Americans experience difficulty paying for their healthcare. Debtle’s cloud-based software automates the negotiation, settlement and payment of overdue medical bills.
§ Diabetes Care uses social media and technology to engage people with diabetes and enroll them in programs that improve health outcomes.
§ HealthOpx is a social determinants of health software startup that partners community-based organizations, health insurers, health systems, and government to engage and improve the health of at-risk patients.
§ ITsimple helps communities provide services and engage with their customers in real-time and wherever people are – mobile, web and social channels – all from one user-friendly dashboard, with no investment in IT.
§ Kaizen Health manages transportation benefits for health plans, health systems, seniors & non-profits by building comprehensive transportation networks powered by a proprietary HIPAA-compliant technology platform.
§ Kilter is an inclusive mobile platform that helps people turn their everyday activities into opportunities to drive charitable dollars to their favorite causes, all while building culture and community to make a global impact.
§ LegUp is the Enrollment Success Platform that makes child care more accessible by simplifying the enrollment process for providers and families, and providing real-time insights to support advocacy work.
§ MiResource helps empower health systems and organizations to expertly connect their patients and community members to the right mental healthcare for their unique needs.
§ Televeda is on a mission to alleviate loneliness amongst adults 65+. Televeda helps hospital systems, community/recreation centers, and community-based organizations efficiently and effectively engage, manage, and track the social engagement of older adults remotely through virtual/hybrid programs.
§ TuitionFit creates a "Kelley Blue Book" of real college prices and gives consumers the power to take back financial control of their educational future.
About
NXTUS, Inc is a catalyst for the Wichita startup ecosystem by generating and collaborating on many efforts to support the region’s entrepreneurs. The organization helps startup founders launch and grow highly scalable businesses and connects the business community with the innovation that startups provide. NXTUS manages Accelerate Venture Partners, a fast-growing regional Angel investor syndicate, and the NXTSTAGE Pilot Competition, aimed at connecting startups that have products in the market to mature businesses and regional partners looking to become customers for their technologies.
For more than 75 years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas has built a reputation of trust with its members and contracting providers by providing outstanding customer service while quickly and accurately processing claims; fairly administering benefit plans and contracts; offering programs, services and tools to help members improve or maintain their health; and operating under the highest ethical standards while being good stewards of premium dollars. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and is the state’s largest insurer, serving all Kansas counties except Johnson and Wyandotte. For more information, visit bcbsks.com. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. NXTUS and the NXTSTAGE Community Health and Vibrancy Competition are not affiliated with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas.