Startups

4 healthcare startups that deserve a spot on Shark Tank

We have the sharks for an all healthcare Shark Tank, now we need the startups. […]

We have the sharks for an all healthcare Shark Tank, now we need the startups. Although someone pointed out on Twitter that Vinod Khosla should be in this group, and it’s true, he should be. So with that addition, what entrepreneurs should be pitching to this group on Friday night?

Deanna, Stephanie, Amanda and I each nominated companies. Here are the criteria:

  • Solution must address a need-to-solve problem, not a nice-to-solve
  • CEO or founder must give a good pitch
  • Idea must be relatively understandable for a general audience

I narrowed the list to these semi-finalists:

    • Cynaps Enhance – A baseball cap that uses bone conduction technology to enhance hearing.

 

    • Kinsa Health – A smartphone-enabled thermometer and app designed to aggregate temperature and symptom data with other health data from CDC or Google Flu to track public health trends.

 

    • MDCapsule – A secure social platform that allows patients to invite all of their doctors and healthcare providers into one site.

 

    • PurThread – Fabric for hospital linens that is woven with silver salts and a resin to give the cloth anti-microbial protection.

 

    • Rest Devices – A new baby monitoring system that includes a onesie embedded with washable sensors to track a baby’s breathing, temperature and movements, a smartphone app to collect the data, and a base station for the baby’s room to pick up audio as a traditional baby monitor would.

 

    • Seratis – A HIPAA-compliant communication platform designed to help physicians and other members of the care team identify who is responsible for each patient and communicate patient information safely and securely among the group.

 

    • Spot on Science – A new way to collect blood samples that does not require refrigeration.

 

    • Stat – An app designed to cut the amount of time it takes for ambulances to make a pickup.

 

    • ThermalCore – A full-body hyperthermia treatment for cancer patients who are out of options. All of the cells and tissues in the body are exposed to temperatures above 107 degrees Farenheit, at which point they can become more susceptible to radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

 

    • Trak Fertility – A system for men to track their reproductive health, including a centrifuge, a disposable test plate and seal, a sample collection cup and a dropper.

 

    • Vecoy Nanomedicines – Technology that aims to trap viruses before they infiltrate cells. The traps are made from nanoparticles and designed to look like human cells.

 

    • Z1 – A small, sleek, quiet CPAP machine from Human Design Medical.

If I were a Shark Tank producer, here are the companies I would pick and why:

  • PurThread – Getting this company on national TV would highlight the problem of hospital-acquired infections.
  • Trak Fertility – Trak is our digital health representative. Plus, who could resist watching Mark Cuban and the other guys squirm as they talk about sperm?
  • Vecoy Nanomedicines – We need a biotech company in the national spotlight and this idea has great visuals, making it easier to understand.
  • Z1 – This company represents the future of medical devices – a modern design that incorporates patient preferences and increases the likelihood a person will use it.

Veronica Combs

Veronica is an independent journalist and communications strategist. For more than 10 years, she has covered health and healthcare with a focus on innovation and patient engagement. Most recently she managed strategic partnerships and communications for AIR Louisville, a digital health project focused on asthma. The team recruited 7 employer partners, enrolled 1,100 participants and collected more than 250,000 data points about rescue inhaler use. Veronica has worked for startups for almost 20 years doing everything from launching blogs, newsletters and patient communities to recruiting speakers, moderating panel conversations and developing new products. You can reach her on Twitter @vmcombs.

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