NXTSTAGE Announces Community Health & Vibrancy Innovation Projects
Pilot competition results in three current, four future projects, plus 19 ongoing collaborations with startups to tackle state-wide health, economic growth challenges
Wichita, Kan. – August 24, 2021 – NXTUS, Inc.’s NXTSTAGE Community Health & Vibrancy Pilot Competition, presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS), announced three current and four upcoming pilot projects, as well as 19 ongoing collaborations to improve Kansas’ population health and economic vibrancy.
At an innovation showcase held at Botanica, leaders from health and economic development organizations announced partnerships to implement technology tools aimed at tackling key issues such as access to health care, seniors aging in place, child-care capacity, diabetes management and alleviating Kansans’ medical debt.
Each of the NXTSTAGE pilot partners is pursuing innovation projects because of the competition:
Hodgeman County Economic Development: Awarded a pilot to Televeda and is exploring future collaboration with Debtle, MiResource and TuitionFit.
Hunter Health: Awarded a pilot to Diabetes Care, is working to finalize projects with Debtle and Kaizen Health, and is exploring potential collaboration with HealthOpx.
Thrive Allen County: Awarded a pilot to Advocatia and is working to finalize projects with LegUp and Televeda using current and future grant funding. Also exploring collaborations with HealthOpx, ITsimple and Kaizen Health.
Cowley County Economic Development Partnership: Exploring potential collaborations with CoTeacher, HealthOpx, ITsimple and Kilter.
Lincoln County Economic Development Foundation: Exploring potential collaborations with ITsimple, Kaizen Health, Kilter, LegUp and Televeda
Scott County Development Committee: Exploring potential collaborations with Debtle, ITsimple and Televeda.
“All 12 finalists offered innovations that resonated with our future-minded pilot partners, and now their offerings are poised to change Kansas communities for the better,” said Mary Beth Jarvis, NXTUS executive director. “Raising Kansas’ profile as a proving ground for promising technologies is what NXTSTAGE is all about. We believe the Air Capital of the World can become the Pilot Capital of the World, and we want to show innovators that they can thrive here.”
“Through NXTSTAGE, we’re helping imagine and create a healthier, more vibrant Kansas,” said Virginia Barnes, Blue Health Initiatives director at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, the program’s presenting sponsor. “By taking action to support these initial pilot projects, we’re connecting communities we serve with entrepreneurs who have developed technology tools with the potential to change lives and improve health outcomes.”
The BCBSKS grant, along with support from the Talent Ecosystem Fund at the Wichita Community Foundation, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and NetWork Kansas, is behind NXTSTAGE’s work to boost the growth of young tech companies, attract modern talent, and accelerate the pace of innovation in the region.
The Community Health & Vibrancy competition attracted 126 competitors from 28 states and 15 countries and had very diverse applicants and finalists; more than 80 percent had ethnic minority and/or female founders. This fall, NXTSTAGE will complete its 2021 Financial Technology competition, anchored by lead sponsors Emprise Bank and Fidelity Bank.
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 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.