We are looking for startups that are working to improve health equity in the United States.

Village Capital and Johnson & Johnson Impact Ventures are partnering to launch an accelerator program to support tech-enabled startups focused on providing culturally competent care to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), low-income, or other underserved communities. Applicants will also be considered for investment from the Johnson & Johnson Impact Ventures team.

Despite spending more on healthcare than any other country in the world, marginalized populations in the US face vastly inequitable health outcomes. Our accelerator will support entrepreneurs building for-profit, market-based innovations that are improving health equity by addressing the social, economic, cultural or linguistic needs of patients. 

Examples could include startups doing the following:

∙ Improving access to care

∙ Reducing the cost burden of care

∙ Educating consumers on care options

∙ Reducing bias in the healthcare system

∙ Improving efficiency and effectiveness of frontline healthcare workers

Participants can expect our renowned investment readiness curriculum, engagement with mentors and investors, and peer collaboration. The program will take place virtually over the course of several weeks between May and August 2021. Final dates TBD. Participating in the program is equity-free, and ventures will be eligible to be peer-selected for a pool of $200K in grant capital.

All applicants will also be considered for investment from the Johnson & Johnson Impact Ventures Team. 

Apply here by March 1, 2021. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

• Headquartered or with operations in North America

• Have at least a minimum viable product (MVP) 

• Have meaningful customer or business validation (not limited to revenue, can also be successful pilot studies, number of users, and/or strategic partnerships)

• Founders with lived experience will be prioritized

• Note: Eligibility criteria may be relaxed for entrepreneurs who are pivoting to develop products relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic