How NEMIC’s EMPOWER is Elevating Diversity in Entrepreneurship
In 2023, Rhode Island’s health and wellness sectors experienced a boost with the launch of NEMIC's EMPOWER Program for Health and Wellness. This initiative was designed to support minority and women-run businesses focusing on these historically underserved communities. Funded by Rhode Island Commerce, the EMPOWER Program introduced a robust support system that combined mentorship, technical assistance, and an emphasis on celebrating diversity and fostering innovation within the Health and Wellness sector.
Open to all Rhode Islanders identifying as part of a Minority or Women's Business Enterprise, EMPOWER offered an inclusive and accessible experience. The program, available at no cost to participants, featured a blend of virtual and in-person sessions, ensuring broad participation and engagement. At its core was a six-month accelerator and workshop series, which funded 11 companies and connected them with NEMIC’s extensive network of expert advisors and resources.
Participants in the accelerator received technical assistance, including help with prototyping development, strategic planning, IP strategy, digital marketing, and more. This extensive array of services aimed to help these businesses thrive and scale, reinforcing EMPOWER’s mission to drive substantial growth and opportunity for Rhode Island’s diverse entrepreneurial community.
Meet the 2023 EMPOWER Accelerator Awardees
Revive Therapeutic Services, founded by sisters Abby and Akos Antwi in 2021, is transforming mental health care in Rhode Island by offering culturally sensitive services to underserved communities. This dynamic duo has built a diverse team of 60 practitioners who provide a wide range of services, including psychotherapy, medication management, ADHD testing, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Their mission is to break down barriers to mental health care by offering telehealth options and bilingual services, ensuring that everyone has access to the support they need. Through the EMPOWER program, Revive has not only expanded its reach with innovative digital ad campaigns but also forged connections with experts in strategic planning and employee retention. These efforts included invaluable meetings with Robert Naparstek, MD, and local legal experts, which have bolstered the organization's capacity to serve its community better. You can read more about this work here.
Born from founder Katelyn Holt’s 10+ years of nursing experience, KT Cath tackles the shortcomings of existing incontinence solutions with a revolutionary male urinary catheter. These included failures of condom catheters, incontinence briefs leading to skin ulcers, and serious infections like Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs) from traditional catheters. This prompted Katelyn to invent the KT Cath, a revolutionary male urinary catheter designed to offer a functional and reliable alternative. Since its inception, KT Cath has achieved significant milestones, including the issuance of a US Utility Patent in June 2020. NEMIC has played a crucial role in KT Cath's journey, with Katelyn completing NEMIC’s MedTech Leadership Program (MTLP) and participating in their Accelerator Program, generously funded by Rhode Island Commerce. She has received $17,000 in grants and 'In Kind' services, supporting KT Cath's ongoing R&D efforts to refine and perfect the device. Most recently, Holt was a participant in the EMPOWER Program, where she submitted and received an Innovation Voucher and submitted for her first SBIR. Additionally, she was able to build prototypes in development with NOVA Design which were tested by friends and family with promising results. You can read more about this work here.
Meet Emily Bernstein, the dynamic founder of Wheelhouse Health Navigation. Emily began her journey into patient advocacy when her mother was diagnosed with CNS lymphoma in 2019, prompting her to shift from a focus on international education and customer service to healthcare. As a Board Certified Patient Advocate and Community Health Worker from Rhode Island, she focuses on helping newcomers, particularly refugee populations, navigate the complex US healthcare system. With funding from the RI Department of Human Services and the Department of Health, Emily has developed innovative strategies to support these communities. Since February 2023, she has eliminated nearly $750,000 in medical debt for her clients. Emily’s dedication through Wheelhouse Health is about empowering individuals to understand and manage their healthcare. During the EMPOWER Program, she enhanced her organization’s operations and updated its branding to better reach those in need. Emily’s work is a testament to the impact of compassionate and dedicated advocacy. You can read more about this work here.
Established in 2019 by Julia Collins, Zen Den offers polarity therapy and other ancient medicines, such as Thai and Ayurvedic Bodywork, Shiatsu, Yoga, and Craniosacral Therapy, all to improve the mind, body, and spirit. While the response to polarity and other ancient medicine therapies is wildly popular–as evidenced by Zen Den’s overnight sensation in Newport–there is a huge need for more practitioners to support the high demand. Julia applied and was accepted into the EMPOWER program, where Zen Den received support to grow her business further and work towards her industry-impacting goals. Programming components for Zen Den included Business and Strategic Advisory, Digital Marketing, and Operational Development. Most recently, Julia presented to a group of 150+ attendees to spread awareness about polarity, her successful business, and the help that energy and bodywork can provide to so many at NEMIC’s 2024 Spring Showcase. You can read more about this work here.
Recognizing a widespread need for improved maternity care, founder Melissa Bowley established Flourish Care as a B2B maternal healthcare company offering wellness programs and insurance-reimbursed community care, including doulas, from pregnancy through parenthood. Flourish Care's 18-month program connects patients with local doulas and provides a toolkit, monthly educational curriculum, and ongoing support via a HIPAA-compliant mobile app. Patient feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with a notable increase in doula service enrollment and patient satisfaction. Partnering with NEMIC, Melissa has also participated in NEMIC’s Skills for Rhode Island’s Future program and EMPOWER initiatives, including co-facilitating workshops aimed at supporting Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MBEs & WBEs) in Rhode Island's health tech sector. Flourish Care continues to advocate for and advance maternal care, exemplifying its commitment to enhancing healthcare outcomes in Rhode Island and beyond. You can read more about this work here.
Founded by Melissa Nassaney, Full Circle Pelvic Health provides tailored treatments based on thorough assessments covering posture, mechanics, joint mobility, strength, and pelvic floor function. Nassaney has over 18 years of experience in pelvic floor physical therapy and 30 years in health and fitness. Her primary focus is providing comprehensive treatment integrating orthopedics, pain science, mindfulness, exercise science, manual therapies, and more. Nassaney collaborates with local healthcare providers, where they address a wide range of pelvic health issues for both men and women, including pelvic pain, incontinence, and sexual dysfunction. Their approach emphasizes restoring muscle function and improving overall movement and quality of life. Through the EMPOWER Program, Melissa worked with the NEMIC team to refine her concept and build out new concepts based on market and patent research. Nassaney continues to stay engaged with NEMIC as we work toward the next stage of her concept development.
Since 2014, Mighty Well has been transforming the patient experience with educational resources, innovative products like the PICCPerfect® PICC Line Cover, and a tight-knit online community. Their mission is to help patients manage medical devices confidently and comfortably, fostering strength, resilience, and positivity throughout their recovery. Mighty Well has become a trusted brand for individuals facing health challenges, offering top-quality medical products and a supportive community. The team collaborates with healthcare professionals and patient advocates to ensure their products meet the highest standards. Over the past eight years, they've built a resilient and united community, embodying their motto: "Mightier Together.” NEMIC is proud to have supported Mighty Well through the EMPOWER Program, assisting with their WBE certification appeal, Innovation Voucher application, and acquisition strategy. While the company is exploring sustainability and partnership opportunities, its focus remains on building strong partnerships to improve access to medical supplies.
Founded by child psychiatrist Geanina Oana Costea, Q2Behave is an early-stage digital health company innovating ADHD treatment with wearable technology. Q2Behave aims to enhance traditional behavioral therapy for children with ADHD by replacing subjective methods like sticker charts with a wearable device. s. Q2Behave’shope is that this technology will improve access to affordable ADHD treatment and alleviate burdens on healthcare providers amidst growing concerns about youth mental health services. With NEMIC’s support through the EMPOWER Program, Oana wrote and submitted an application for her Innovation Voucher, is working on an SBIR application, and is continuing to develop her prototype with the intention of performing a clinical study with Lifespan.
Genki is bringing formulations from plant-based compounds, probiotics, micronutrients, and other functional vitamins and supplements ingredients to the US. It focuses on manufacturing, marketing, and distributing nutrient-based, non-drug therapeutics for dermatology, metabolism, immunology, and human performance. Genki serves physicians, their patients, and other end-users concerned with specific conditions, preventive care, or personal performance goals. With NEMIC’s extensive network of experts and funders and provides tailored educational and individualized programs, we are well-positioned to assist Genki in commercialization, focusing initially on regulatory and reimbursement strategies. The primary objective of Genki’s work in the EMPOWER program was to provide them with informed feedback on their business strategy. With advisors in Medical Food and connections from Brown University and Lifespan Health System, the project aimed to gain feedback on Genki’s product and establish important connections.
Emme is the first smart, connected pill case designed specifically for managing birth control pills. The concept emerged from extensive interviews with women seeking a technologically integrated solution for birth control management. Historically, women have been reminded to take their birth control pills without adequate support, highlighting a systemic issue rather than a personal failing. Emme aims to reduce missed pills, offer daily support, and enhance patients' confidence in managing their birth control regimen. Erynn Petersen, CEO of Emme, came to NEMIC with hopes of gaining insight into the investment landscape of New England and, specifically, Rhode Island. Through her time in the EMPOWER Program, Erynn leveraged the workshops and classes offered to program participants and one-on-one support from the NEMIC experts.
Amalfi Rosario founded Healthcare Connect through her experience working as a Community Health Worker and seeing an opportunity to better support the Spanish-speaking individuals in her community. As a Community Health Organization, Healthcare Connect is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of our community through accessible, personalized, and culturally sensitive healthcare services. She recruits and trains healthcare workers with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, ensuring that they understand and can effectively serve the unique needs of Rhode Island’s community members. Healthcare Connect’s team assists patients in navigating the healthcare system, helps schedule appointments, and addresses any language or cultural barriers patients might face. Throughout the EMPOWER Program, the NEMIC team worked to address roadblocks in Amalfis’ referral process, pulling resources from the NEMIC network, which has experience working with community health workers. Amalfi and her team continue to gain more business and are working to address these roadblocks based on NEMIC’s collaboration.
Workshops and Future Initiatives
NEMIC’s EMPOWER Program also featured a series of workshops designed to drive entrepreneurial success. Participants gained expertise in various critical areas, including workshops in business planning led by Lydia Shin Schroter, SBIR/STTR grant strategies led by Lisa Marceau, and the Lean Canvas methodology led by Michelle Wu, which provided valuable insights for refining their business models. Also covered were the fundamentals of usability testing, teaching attendees how to optimize their products to better meet market needs led by Jeanette Numbers at NOVA Design, and effective money management, which outlined tools needed to make financial decisions and advance their ventures led by Elizabeth Desautel. Open to both program participants and the wider community, these workshops worked to incite innovation and drive business growth.
NEMIC continues to be grateful for the opportunity to support these women and minority-owned businesses across Rhode Island, a feat made possible through the generous support of Rhode Island Commerce. This initiative has reinforced our goal to uplift historically disadvantaged populations within the MedTech and healthcare sectors. As we look ahead, NEMIC is excited about upcoming initiatives that will continue to make this impact. Our commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and fostering an inclusive environment remains steadfast. We eagerly await the chance to further support and amplify the voices of those striving to make a difference in the industry. Together, we are shaping a future of innovation and diversity.