MATTER and YWCA Metropolitan Chicago launch program to accelerate Chicagoland businesses addressing health equity
MATTER, the global healthcare innovation hub headquartered in Chicago, and YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, a social enterprise committed to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all, have launched the Health Equity Innovation accelerator program to support entrepreneurs with solutions that advance health equity.
The eight-week, cohort-based accelerator is a joint program of the YWCA Breedlove Entrepreneurship Center and the MATTER Advancing Health Equity initiative. Accelerator participants will receive access to mentorship, exclusive resources and interactive curriculum from subject matter experts, and will graduate with a validated business concept and a clear roadmap to bring their solution to market.
Areas of interest include solutions that help reduce health disparities through:
- Addressing the impact of social determinants of health (SDoH) on health outcomes
- Promoting health education
- Increasing access to healthcare and social services
- Providing mental and behavioral health services
- Promoting healthy youth development
- Preventing chronic diseases
- Utilizing data and research to promote equity in healthcare
“Our communities are plagued with lack of access to healthcare resources, food, safe housing and even adequate transportation,” said Kelly Evans, VP Entrepreneurship and Community Economic Development at YWCA Metropolitan Chicago. “We are always looking to support the advancement of solutions that can assure that our neighbors are receiving the information that they need to live healthy lives and that their geography does not continue to be the biggest barrier to healthy living. MATTER is bringing their vast knowledge base, resources and professional network to this partnership so that we can together spark the next big idea — or ideas — on how to address the health disparities that exist in underrepresented communities.”
“There aren’t enough innovative solutions coming from, or being designed for, the Chicago-area communities that face the greatest health challenges,” said Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER. “MATTER helps transform ideas into solutions that improve the healthcare experience. We are thrilled to partner with YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, which has a historic presence in Chicago communities and an intimate understanding of what is needed to advance racial justice, equity and inclusion in our city, to support innovations that will close the health and healthcare gaps at the neighborhood level.”
MATTER and YWCA Metropolitan Chicago are also issuing a call for sponsorship from businesses interested in supporting the development of these solutions. For more information on sponsorship and other opportunities to get involved, fill out this form.
Entrepreneurs interested in applying must have a presence in the Chicagoland area and be developing a solution to serve the residents and address health disparities in their community. The first cohort of the hybrid virtual and in-person accelerator will begin on Monday, September 13, 2021. Learn more and apply to participate in the first cohort here. Applications are due by 11:59pm CST on Wednesday, August 18, 2021.
