Collaboration with Methodist Healthcare Ministries Will Advance Health Equity
SAN ANTONIO (August 15) – VelocityTX announced today the cohort of companies that will participate in its upcoming Community Health Accelerator, which kicks off August 18 and is presented in partnership with Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM). Designed to advance companies with innovations that promote health equity, the Community Health Accelerator brings together four groundbreaking startups that are working to develop innovations to address the social determinants of health, a broad term used to describe the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes.
The accelerator will take a deep dive into the fundamentals of business with discussions around key market strategy, pitching, and fund raising, among others.
“Through this innovative accelerator program, we are propelling innovation and sustainable solutions forward at the intersection of business and community impact,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President and CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “Together, Methodist Healthcare Ministries and VelocityTX intend to create a hub of innovation that launches improvement in the social determinants of health for years to come.”
Selected Participants for the Community Health Accelerator:
Viva Equity Fund (dba Viva Benefits) (Edinburg, TX) Viva Benefits connects residents in affordable housing communities to vital services that improve health, education, and financial stability. Through a mobile app and community partnerships, they offer telehealth, tutoring, savings tools, and local resource navigation—removing barriers like cost, language, and trust to better support overall well-being.
InovCares (Cleveland Heights, OH) InovCares offers a comprehensive maternal care platform with separate mobile apps for patients and providers, virtual appointments, remote monitoring kits, and essential support services like transportation, grocery and medication delivery, and community resources. Addressing barriers beyond the clinic—such as housing, transportation, and food insecurity—InovCares is expanding its impact in South Texas through New Horizon Health Center, and in Dallas via HHM Health and BCBS TX.
Healp (Fairfax Station, VA) Healp is bridging clinical gaps by building patient communities—like LinkedIn for those with chronic and rare diseases. These networks accelerate research, diversify trial recruitment, and crowdsource innovation, all while addressing the structural inequities and social determinants of health that traditional healthcare and digital tools often overlook.
General Prognostics (GPx) (Boston, MA) GPx is building the first virtual heart failure clinic, combining predictive AI, clinical decision support, and at-home diagnostics to deliver proactive, personalized care. With tools like blood collection kits, biomarker prediction, and potassium monitoring, GPx reduces hospitalizations and improves treatment adherence. By addressing barriers like geography, mobility, and cost, the platform expands access to quality heart failure care for underserved and high-risk populations.
“We are excited to welcome these exceptional startups to our Community Health Accelerator,” said Rene Dominguez, President and CEO of VelocityTX. “Each company offers a distinct, forward-thinking solution to address pressing healthcare issues, and we look forward to fostering their growth and development as they strive to enhance community wellness.”
“Our mission is ‘Serving Humanity to Honor God’ and we fulfill that mission by working to improve the health & wellness of the least served across the 74-counties we serve. By supporting this accelerator, we are investing in innovative solutions that have the potential to transform healthcare delivery and make a lasting impact on community health,” Wesolowski added.
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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. Methodist Healthcare Ministries broadens the definition of healthcare by providing low-cost clinical care for the uninsured and by supporting community-led efforts that improve living conditions that cause people to be sick in the first place. We use our earnings as co-owners of Methodist Healthcare to ensure that people who are economically disadvantaged and uninsured can live their healthiest lives. We do this by advocating for, investing in and providing access to quality clinical care and addressing factors that affect health—including economic mobility, supportive relationships, food security, broadband access, and safe neighborhoods. Ultimately, we fulfill our mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God” by advancing health equity so that more resilient individuals & families living in the 74 counties we serve can thrive.
About VelocityTX Formerly known as the Texas Research & Technology Foundation, VelocityTX is a nonprofit organization established in 1984 to promote sustainable economic and community growth. In carrying out this mission, the organization seeks to advance San Antonio’s life sciences industry through the development of a state-of-the-art bioscience innovation campus on the city’s near east side. Based out of the former Merchants Ice & Cold Storage complex, the master planned development will bring together established bioscience companies, healthcare startups, and military medical research organizations in an inclusive community where ideas collide to spur medical breakthroughs. VelocityTX also promotes workforce development through its Step Into STEM program, and provides entrepreneurial support services designed to accelerate the commercialization of emerging medical technologies. Learn more at velocitytx.org.
Brian Peters
Director of Marketing and Communications VelocityTX
SAN ANTONIO (June 16, 2025)—The AIM Health R&D Summit takes place today at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, where representatives from academia, industry, and the military will come together to promote cross-sector collaboration in the development of dual-use healthcare technologies offering both military and civilian applications.
Presented by VelocityTX, The University of Texas at San Antonio, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), the City of San Antonio, and Bexar County, the event is expected to draw more than 900 attendees from across the United States.
“San Antonio leads the nation in military medical innovation due to its unique colocation of academic institutions, military medical research units, and private sector innovators,” said VelocityTX President and CEO Rene Dominguez. “The AIM Summit provides a forum where these parties can come together to drive advancements that benefit both military personnel and civilian populations.”
The summit will commence with opening remarks by San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, emphasizing the city’s commitment to fostering a robust ecosystem for medical research and innovation. Mayor Nirenberg’s remarks will be followed by a keynote address from Lt. Gen. Robert I. Miller (Ret.), Executive Director of the Military Health Institute at UT Health San Antonio. Prior to joining the Military Health Institute, Miller served as Surgeon General for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force.
Designed to advance emerging technologies “from the bench to the battlefield,” the conference will feature presentations on a variety of military medical focus areas, as well as panel discussions that bridge the gap between research and commercialization. Private sector attendees will have the opportunity to schedule face-to-face meetings with a panel of DoD/VA subject matter experts.
“Increasingly we hear from our military partners that collaboration with industry is critical to the DoD’s medical mission,” Dominguez said. “AIM provides that point of connection, and for the private sector, AIM demystifies the process of doing business with the military.”
The event will conclude at 5:00 p.m. with a networking reception and poster presentations that showcase the research of students, trainees, faculty, and staff.
Additional details, event schedules, and speaker information may be found here.
Location: Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center Ballroom Level, Rooms 301-305 900 E Market St. San Antonio, TX 78205
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About VelocityTX
Formerly known as the Texas Research & Technology Foundation, VelocityTX is a nonprofit organization established in 1984 to promote sustainable economic and community growth. In carrying out this mission, the organization seeks to advance San Antonio’s life sciences industry through the development of a state-of-the-art bioscience innovation campus on the city’s near east side. Based out of the former Merchants Ice & Cold Storage complex, the master planned development will bring together established bioscience companies, healthcare startups, and military medical research organizations in an inclusive community where ideas collide to spur medical breakthroughs. VelocityTX also promotes workforce development through its Step Into STEM program, and provides entrepreneurial support services designed to accelerate the commercialization of emerging medical technologies. Learn more at velocitytx.org.
Brian Peters
Director of Marketing and Communications VelocityTX
First-of-its-Kind Program Seeks to Advance Health Equity
SAN ANTONIO (March 26, 2025) – VelocityTX, the Eastside innovation hub and economic development organization, announced today the opening of applications for the 2025 cohort of its Community Health Accelerator, a specialized program designed to advance startups focused on commercializing solutions that address the social determinants of health (SDOH).
Launched in 2023, the annual accelerator is the cornerstone of a multi-year partnership with Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM). “The Community Health Accelerator is propelling innovation and sustainable solutions at the intersection of business and community impact that can transform healthcare delivery for those most in need,” said MHM President and CEO Jaime Wesolowski. “We are excited to see what the 2025 applicants will bring to the table as we seek to address the social determinants of health and advance health and wellness in communities across South Texas.”
Conducted over eight weeks beginning in August, the Community Health Accelerator will provide founders with resources and training to help navigate the challenges of early-stage growth. The program offers classroom-style business training and operational guidance, and each participant will receive personalized mentoring and pitch coaching from local business leaders.
The program culminates in a public Demo Day, where the five companies selected for the cohort will showcase their innovations for a panel of judges.
“The Community Health Accelerator is a first-of-its-kind program and we are excited that San Antonio is leading the conversation around this critical area of healthcare,” said Rene Dominguez, President and CEO of VelocityTX. “Our 2024 cohort represented some of the most innovative companies from across North America, and we look forward to helping advance a new class of social entrepreneurs to the forefront.”
The program’s 2024 winner, Dallas-based Yumlish, recently launched a community pilot of their technology in the Rio Grande Valley, where they hope to combat diabetes with their culturally-relevant nutrition management platform. “We have worked hard to create an accessible solution for Spanish-speaking communities, and we are so excited about the impact Yumlish will have in the Rio Grande Valley,” said Founder and CEO Shireen Abdullah.
Companies interested in applying to the Community Health Accelerator may do so here. Applications will close on June 15, 2025.
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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. Methodist Healthcare Ministries broadens the definition of healthcare by providing low-cost clinical care for the uninsured and by supporting community-led efforts that improve living conditions that cause people to be sick in the first place. We use our earnings as co-owners of Methodist Healthcare to ensure that people who are economically disadvantaged and uninsured can live their healthiest lives. We do this by advocating for, investing in and providing access to quality clinical care and addressing factors that affect health—including economic mobility, supportive relationships, food security, broadband access, and safe neighborhoods. Ultimately, we fulfill our mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God” by advancing health equity so that more resilient individuals & families living in the 74 counties we serve can thrive.
About VelocityTX Formerly known as the Texas Research & Technology Foundation, VelocityTX is a nonprofit organization established in 1984 to promote sustainable economic and community growth. In carrying out this mission, the organization seeks to advance San Antonio’s life sciences industry through the development of a state-of-the-art bioscience innovation campus on the city’s near east side. Based out of the former Merchants Ice & Cold Storage complex, the master planned development will bring together established bioscience companies, healthcare startups, and military medical research organizations in an inclusive community where ideas collide to spur medical breakthroughs. VelocityTX also promotes workforce development through its Step Into STEM program, and provides entrepreneurial support services designed to accelerate the commercialization of emerging medical technologies. Learn more at velocitytx.org.
Brian Peters
Teno Villarreal
Director of Marketing and Communications VelocityTX
Public Relations Specialist Methodist Healthcare Ministries
