[Connecticut Innovations](http://www.ctinnovations.com) provides strategic capital and operational insight to to companies in high-tech industries such as energy, biotechnology, information technology, and photonics. Their mission is to be the leading source of financing and ongoing support for Connecticut’s innovative, growing companies. By offering flexible financing, strategic guidance and introductions to valuable partners, Connecticut innovations enable promising businesses to thrive.

Connecticut Innovations

The YEI Innovation Fund offers $3 million in funding to eligible Yale startups. The Fund was created in September 2013 by Yale University in partnership with Connecticut Innovations and First Niagara Bank in order to provide Yale startups with hard-to-find early-stage investment capital. Elm Street Ventures, a seed and early-stage venture fund based in New Haven, Connecticut, is managing the Fund.

YEI Innovation Fund

SoundBoard Venture Fund is an early-stage fund focused on scalable, tech-enabled companies.  Our primary focus is on Seed Stage (between bootstrapping and Series A or B).  We bring a collaborative approach to investing, mobilizing our investors to join the process as we evaluate companies, bringing a broad range of perspective and insights into the conversation.

SoundBoard Venture Fund

Bulldog Innovation Group was founded and built by Yale alumni with the aim of promoting early stage, high potential ventures by Yale graduates. We support these entrepreneurs at the seed stage with active, experienced mentoring from our large team of Yale College and Yale School of Management alums.    By leveraging the strength of our network, we create BIG opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors. We're not just building a portfolio; we're building a community. We are private and independent from Yale University.

Bulldog Innovation Group LLC

Overview The Simon School Venture Fund (SSVF) is an evergreen fund managed by 2nd-year MBA students at the Simon Business School, University of Rochester. The Fund, initially capitalized by alumni donations, is guided by a Board of Directors consisting of successful entrepreneurs, VC investors, and accomplished professionals in other fields. Mission The SSVF provides a unique experiential educational opportunity for graduate level business students interested in entrepreneurship and venture investing. Student Analysts, Sr. Analysts, and Managers interact directly with entrepreneurs seeking investment, perform due diligence analysis, pitch and defend potential deals to Board members, participate in investment decisions, and are responsible for ongoing portfolio monitoring and management. Direct participation in Fund activities, operations, and management allows students to utilize and build on the skills learned in business school to produce cohesive, comprehensive, and well-reasoned analyses of potential deals - with the end goal of making sound investment decisions.  Why the Simon School Venture Fund? The SSVF leverages the capabilities of other Simon Business School student organizations and the University of Rochester's vast resources and alumni network to assist with portfolio company development. In addition to funding, SSVF’s portfolio companies can benefit from an exchange of business skills/services for real-world project experience. Whenever possible, we try to utilize available business student teams to work on ad-hoc projects that would benefit the company but may be too costly to hire out, or too time consuming for busy management teams that are already spread thin. In addition and when appropriate, we may also make valuable warm introductions to others in our extensive network to assist with other aspects of business development.

Simon School Venture Fund

Wellinks

Wellinks is a wearable health technology dedicated to improving clinical outcomes. The innovative new medical device tracks how long and how tightly scoliosis braces are worn over time. By providing real-time data and feedback, we empower patients, parents, and doctors to make better-informed decisions about treatment. It helps patients get better faster by helping them understand their treatment and motivate them to complete it. Wellinks allows doctors, nurses, and orthotists to check up on their patients between visits. The app automatically uploads all the data online, so doctors can get an up-to-date snapshot of how their patients are doing between visits.

Wellinks offers integrated virtual care management for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The company provides a medical kit including pulse oximeters, spirometers, and nebulizers that connect with its mobile app, enabling COPD patients and coaches to track health metrics in real-time. The company offers its FDA-approved first pocket-portable nebulizer, Flyp Nebulizer, for patients’ breathing treatments. The app also offers regular feedback from coaches and personalized insights.

Membership-based, non-insurance healthcare companies helping maintain a steady state of well being.

Preventive Healthcare

<div>
 
 Connecticut-based Wellinks offers integrated virtual care management for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Wellinks was established through a merger between ConvexityScientic Inc. and Wellinks in 2019. The company provides a medical kit including pulse oximeters, spirometers, and nebulizers that connect with its mobile app, enabling COPD patients and coaches to track health metrics in real-time. The company offers its US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved first pocket-portable nebulizer, Flyp Nebulizer, for patients&rsquo; breathing treatments. The app also offers regular feedback from coaches and personalized insights.
 
 
 In November 2021, Wellinks raised USD 25 million in a Series C funding round led by Morningside Venture Investments. The funds will be used to pursue partnerships with payers and healthcare providers, expand its team, and invest in its new research studies on the platform&rsquo;s clinical and economic outcomes.
 
 
 
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Wellinks offers integrated virtual care management for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The company provides a medical kit including pulse oximeters, spirometers, and nebulizers that connect with its mobile app, enabling COPD patients and coaches to track health metrics in real-time. The company offers its FDA-approved first pocket-portable nebulizer, Flyp Nebulizer, for patients’ breathing treatments. The app also offers regular feedback from coaches and personalized insights.Wellinks was established through a merger between Convexity Scientic and Wellinks in 2019. Further in&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/34161">September 2024</a>, the company acquired Spire Health to merge Spire's patient monitoring technology with Wellinks' virtual-led care model, creating a fully integrated Predictive Patient Care company.

Cardiomo Care is developing noninvasive wearable devices to alert users and caretakers when there are abnormalities in the heartbeat. The company’s AI engine, trained on existing and growing data sets, can predict potential heart issues up to two hours before they occur, enabling early detection and intervention for arrhythmias and other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).The company's product, CardiomoPatch, is a waterproof, wearable patch capable of long-term wear with a 10-day battery life. The patch monitors a patient's cardiac data, including ECG outputs, breathing, and skin temperature, and transmits the data via a mobile app for analysis by Cardiomo's AI engine.&nbsp;As of May 2024, the company is yet to commercialize its product and has over 1,600 pre-orders.

Cardiomo Care

Omada is a prevention-focused digital therapeutics startup that helps members achieve health goals through lifestyle changes. It offers four evidence-based, virtual prevention programs for managing hypertension, musculoskeletal (MSK) issues, prediabetes, and diabetes.Omada offers real-time data tracking through connected devices (such as wireless scales, blood pressure, and glucose monitors) and access to personalized coaching sessions via a mobile app as part of its prevention program. It also provides an online community of peers with similar health conditions to discuss challenges and provide support. In May 2021, Omada became the first fully-virtual healthcare provider to earn the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Population Health Program Accreditation for its type 2 diabetes and type 2 diabetes + hypertension programs.Unlike its peers, Omada operates a performance-based business model where it charges clients an enrollment fee based on the number of users and a performance fee based on how much weight their employees lose. In May 2020, the company acquired virtual physical therapy startup Physera.Key customers and partnershipsAs of May 2024, Omada had more than 1 million members from more than 1,900 enterprise clients across all 50 US states. Its B2B employer and health plan client base include key clients such as American Eagle, Kaiser Permanente, Costco Wholesale, 3M, and Marvin. Additionally, the company has partnered with health systems and hospitals such as Intermountain Healthcare to provide its preventive programs as a covered benefit.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15587">January 2023</a>, the company partnered with health service company Castell (a subsidiary of Intermountain Healthcare) to provide its diabetes programs to members from Intermountain Healthcare’s primary care providers in its Utah Medical Group. Further in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25245">January 2024</a>, the company partnered with Amazon to expand access to its cardiometabolic program.

Omada Health

VillageMD provides primary care services for patients. It also provides tools, technology, and staffing support needed for physicians to deliver high-quality services. VillageMD’s service delivery methods include traditional freestanding clinics, Village Medical at Walgreens co-located clinics, as well as at-home and around-the-clock virtual visits. It also leverages a team-based approach to care where physicians lead nurse practitioners, pharmacists, mental health specialists, and dietitians to offer a holistic care program. The technology of VillageMD includes docOS, an operating system that enables better patient care by connecting various clinical source systems with ongoing patient-generated data coupled with an AI engine to continuously analyze messages to enable patient self-care.The company made several acquisitions to expand its footprint: 1) <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14347">Summit Health</a> for USD 8.9 billion in November 2022, 2) Healthy Interactions, an interactive patient education platform, in February 2022, and 3) <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16968">Starling Physicians</a>, a primary care and specialty care provider, in March 2023.Key customers and partnershipsIn June 2020, VillageMD and Walgreens Boots Alliance announced a collaborative effort to open at least 600 Village Medical centers at Walgreens across more than 30 US markets by 2025. Walgreens invested USD 5.2 billion in VillageMD (from the previously announced USD 1.0 billion), raising its ownership stake to 63% (from 30%).However, as of May 2024, Walgreens had plans to close 160 VillageMD clinics as part of a cost-cutting plan.

VillageMD

Cityblock Health is a value-based healthcare provider focused on delivering comprehensive care to underserved communities, primarily Medicaid and lower-income Medicare beneficiaries. The company combines primary care, behavioral health, and social services to address the complex physical, mental, and social needs of its members.Cityblock's model involves partnering with local community-based organizations and deploying multidisciplinary care teams that include doctors, nurses, behavioral health specialists, and community health workers. These teams provide personalized care through 24/7 access to multi-modal care delivery, including in-home visits, telehealth, and community health hubs.The services of Cityblock are available to members at no additional cost if they are covered by an eligible health plan.Key Customers and PartnershipsAs of May 2024, the company’s services were available in seven states across the US and served over 100,000 members.In May 2024, it partnered with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29647">Sunshine Health</a> to expand to Florida, and, in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13270">September 2022</a>, it partnered with MDwise to expand into Indiana. Prior to that, the company had partnered with insurance providers such as ConnectiCare (Connecticut), Tufts Health Plan (Massachusetts), Emblem Health (New York), Healthy Blue (North Carolina), Molina Healthcare (Ohio) and CareFirst (Washington DC).Funding and FinancialsCityblock is a spin-off of Sidewalk Labs, an Alphabet company that incubates and invests in tech companies and products to improve urban infrastructure. It completed a USD 400 million Series D funding round led by Softbank in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/5326">September 2021</a>, valuing the company at USD 5.7 billion. The funds were used to expand its services.

Cityblock Health

Everside Health (formerly Paladina Health) offers preventative care for chronic conditions and primary, mental and occupational healthcare treatments for acute conditions. Patients benefit from around-the-clock access to care, same-day or next-day appointments for in-person, and virtual care visits with zero copays.Everside aims to generate around 17% healthcare cost savings in three years and 31% in five years for its corporate members by leveraging a data-driven approach to care coordination.The company leverages data from past medical records, predictive analytics, and AI in the delivery of preventative care services.Founded in 2010 under the name Paladina Health, the company was rebranded in November 2020 as Everside Health following a merger between three primary care groups (Paladina, Activate Healthcare, and Healthstat). Furthermore, in February 2024, Everside Health merged with primary care provider Marathon Health to form a combined entity that would operate as Marathon Health, and, as of May 2024, the integration was ongoing.Key customers and partnershipPost-merger with Marathon Health, the combined entity would serve 2.5 million patients through over 680 clinics across 41 states.Funding and financialsThe company received its most recent investment in July 2022, amounting to USD 164 million in growth equity funding. The round was led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA). The funds were allocated toward growing its market presence and exploring opportunities for M&amp;A as well as to enhance and improve its product features. Additionally, the firm planned to expand its coverage of specialty care services aimed at individuals, employers, and union organizations.

Everside Health

Platforms offer a subscription-based or B2B-sponsored, evidence-based program for managing a specific long-term health condition.

DPCs offer value-based primary and preventive care services addressing whole-person (social, mental, physical) needs for a fixed monthly or annual fee paid by either the patient, insurance provider, or employer.

Companies offer B2B and D2C evidence-based treatments delivered via software programs to prevent and manage a variety of chronic conditions.

Tools that collect and analyze real-time patient data that supports healthcare providers with clinical decisions,  improves patient outcomes, and reduces medical errors.

Companies offer independent physician practices and hospitals with the tools (patient engagement, care coordination, administrative services) to help manage and improve clinical health outcomes of a defined group of individuals or large populations.

Platforms are used to track and gather patient health-related information via either a connected device or at-home test kits to detect the early onset of disease and identify any abnormalities in readings—but do not include a treatment plan.

To gather large amounts of real-time data for chronic care management, DTx, and patient monitoring

XR used by some startups for chronic pain management

Offers digital means of providing direct primary care, passive remote monitoring, chronic care management, etc.

AI/ML is used in predictive analytics, diagnostics tools, and population management

Offers tailored preventive interventions and treatments to the specific needs and characteristics of each individual

<div>
 
 Wellinks, a company offering virtual management solutions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), has taken over Spire Health, a firm renowned for its continuous respiratory monitoring capabilities. The details of this non-cash transaction have not been revealed.
 With this acquisition, Wellinks plans to incorporate Spire's patient monitoring technology in its virtual-led care model, which will lead to the establishment of a comprehensive Predictive Patient Care enterprise. This amalgamation positions Wellinks to provide innovative solutions to payors and providers in managing COPD and congestive heart failure patients. It aims to leverage patient data, predictive analytics, and specialized treatment pathways for effective patient management.
 
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Wellinks

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