Monthly Archives: July 2024

DCB’s Fresh Take on Empowering Diabetes Innovation

How This Swiss Non-Profit Empowers Diabetes Innovation



Transforming diabetes management with DCB: On this week’s StartUp Health NOW, we chat with Greta Ehlers from Diabetes Center Berne (DCB) at the 2024 American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions.

DCB’s mission? Revolutionize diabetes management with a unique global innovation challenge that attracts 100+ innovative startups.

In this episode, we explore:

  • Cutting-edge trends: Discover how AI and non-invasive monitoring are simplifying daily life for people with diabetes.
  • A supportive launchpad: Learn about DCB’s program, featuring an application process, expert evaluation, and an in-person boot camp in Switzerland for finalists.
  • Building a community: This intensive boot camp fosters collaboration, one-on-one coaching, and lasting connections between startups.
  • Making a global impact: Funded by a private benefactor, DCB offers startups the resources and connections they need to transform diabetes management worldwide.
  • Making it personal: Ehlers, like many DCB team members, has a personal connection to diabetes, enhancing the commitment and understanding of the challenges faced by those living with diabetes.

Listen in to see how DCB is bringing the future of diabetes care closer, one innovative idea at a time!



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Navigating the Longevity Economy: An AgeTech Masterclass with Mary Furlong

Navigating the Longevity Economy: An AgeTech Masterclass with Mary Furlong



The heart of AgeTech, according to Mary Furlong: “Baby Boomers want a vision of the future, not a memory of the past.”

In this week’s StartUp Health NOW podcast episode, we dive into the booming longevity market with Mary Furlong, a legendary figure in AgeTech (senior innovation). In this excerpt from a Masterclass held for members of the StartUp Health community, Furlong shares her practical wisdom gained from more than 30 years in the industry, raising over $300 million for senior-focused businesses.

In this action-packed Masterclass, you’ll learn:

  • Creative, holistic, and practical go-to-market strategies for the longevity market.
  • How to identify real senior needs – sometimes it starts with a simple happy hour!
  • Proven tips for building socially conscious businesses that serve this rapidly growing population.

Mary Furlong is a leading authority on the longevity market. As the President and CEO of Mary Furlong & Associates (MFA), she’s a champion for companies creating products and services that empower older adults. She was named one of the top 100 women in Silicon Valley and received the first-ever lifetime achievement award from Aging 2.0.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the best! This is an actionable and inspiring masterclass excerpt – take notes and get ready to take your longevity business to the next level.



Innovating in Alzheimer’s disease?
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Inside the Impact Board: How Katya Hancock Supports Youth Wellbeing in the Digital Age



This week on StartUp Health NOW, we explore youth wellbeing in the digital age with Katya Hancock, Founding Executive Director of Young Futures and a member of StartUp Health’s Health Moonshot Impact Board.

After 10 years as part of the StartUp Health executive team, Hancock brings her experience to this innovative non-profit focused on helping young people thrive online. We’ll move beyond the “screen time villain” narrative and explore real solutions for navigating the digital world’s tensions. We’ll discuss Young Futures’ first million-dollar funding challenge, tackling loneliness, social connection, and wellbeing. Inspired by the Surgeon General’s call to action, they’re empowering youth-led efforts alongside established organizations.

  • Focus on Youth Wellbeing: Young Futures aims to improve youth wellbeing and mental health, especially in marginalized communities. The organization seeks to shift the narrative from focusing on challenges to providing practical solutions.
  • Innovative Support for Nonprofits: The organization hosts funding challenges to support innovative nonprofits working to improve youth well-being. The first challenge, called The Lonely Hearts Club, focused on addressing loneliness and social connection.
  • Building a Collaborative Ecosystem: Like StartUp Health, Young Futures brings together grantees in an ecosystem to collaborate and support each other. This approach helps create a stronger network of organizations working towards common goals.
  • Real-World Applications: Examples of supported organizations include Hip Hop Into Learning, which helps kids express themselves and find community through hip hop, and Sesame 3G, which connects seniors, teens, and preschoolers for mentoring and social-emotional learning.
  • Challenges and Opportunities: Hancock emphasizes the importance of addressing the digital tension young people face and providing them with the tools to navigate the digital world healthily. She also discusses the need for nonprofit leaders to adopt practices from the for-profit startup world, such as long-term goal setting and effective communication with funders.
  • Supporting StartUp Health: Hancock expresses her commitment to ensuring young people are part of the conversation in healthcare. She appreciates StartUp Health’s model and media presence, which can help raise awareness about youth mental health and integrate it into broader health discussions.
  • Personal Insights and Future Goals: Hancock shares her personal journey and how her work with StartUp Health and Young Futures has influenced her views on technology and parenting. She envisions Young Futures becoming more of an entertaining media company to engage and support young people effectively.

Join us for a dive into the future of youth and technology!



If you’re interested in the latest on how to help teens thrive in the digital age
, follow the Young Futures Newsletter and their LinkedIn page. 

Innovating in Alzheimer’s disease? Learn how you can join our new Alzheimer’s Moonshot.

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