The American Heart Association has announced two Twin Cities businesses as finalists in its nationwide EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator program. This initiative aims to close health equity gaps by providing financial and technical assistance to local companies focused on addressing health disparities within their communities.
CorRen Medical, Inc. and the Gumbo Corporation, both based in Minneapolis, are vying for $75,000 in funding to benefit Twin Cities residents. These MedTech businesses were selected from nearly 300 nationwide applicants based on their potential to impact health equity barriers at the local level.
CorRen Medical, founded by Mike McCormick, has developed UltraSense, an AI-driven ultrasound technology designed for the early detection of peripheral artery disease (PAD). This innovation addresses the challenges posed by inconsistent test results and targets a condition that disproportionately impacts marginalized communities.
Peter Musimami’s Gumbo Corporation focuses on enhancing patient-provider communication by removing language barriers. Their white-label, digital tools aim to improve health literacy, disease self-management, and resource navigation for patients with low literacy and limited English proficiency.
The finalists will undergo evaluation by the Association’s professional science health metrics experts, considering factors such as health impact, innovation, and scalability. Winners will be selected by an independent panel of judges at the virtual finale on October 9, 2024.
Krista Moffett, executive director of the Twin Cities American Heart Association, expressed enthusiasm for the program’s potential: “With the knowledge gained in the EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator, these local change makers will be well suited to take the next steps to improve health and wellness where they are needed most in the Twin Cities.”
See “Two Twin Cities businesses addressing health disparities make finalist in nationwide initiative” (October 8, 2024)
