GuideWell Aims to Grow Seniortech Startups
Florida Blue's parent hopes to help 10 companies get serious funding.
The corporate parent of Florida Blue — the Blue Cross and Blue Shield carrier for Florida — wants to help 10 aging support technology seedlings turn into trees.
GuideWell Mutual Holding Corp., is seeking applicants for a “scale-up accelerator” program.
The program will provide mentoring sessions and an investor matchmaking event for seniortech startups that have ideas for helping older adults stay safely, independently and comfortably in their own homes.
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GuideWell has not said whether it will invest any of its own money in the program, but it says it will make the program available to up to 10 startups.
GuideWell is looking for applicants who have already formed companies, rather than for applicants who simply have seniortech ideas.
To qualify, an applicant must show that the company has “clear traction in its chosen marketplace.”
An applicant can show that a company has traction by demonstrated that it is generating at least $500,000 in revenue per year, has raised at least $500,000 in capital, has verifiable customer pilots, or is trying to expand use of a product or service that’s already on the market, according to the GuideWell accelerator program website.
GuideWell also offered a scale up accelerator program earlier this year. One participant, for example, was Azzly. Azzly is an Orlando, Florida-based company that has designed an electronic health record and billing system for addiction treatment and behavioral health care companies.
Applications for the 2020 program are due Dec. 8.
GuideWell says it will hold the investor matchmaking event March 9 in Orlando, Florida.
Resources
More information about the program is available here.
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