FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Startup to Pilot Diabetes Prevention Platform Through Methodist Healthcare Ministries
SAN ANTONIO (October 11) – Nutrition management startup Yumlish took home first place at last night’s Demo Day pitch competition presented by VelocityTX and Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. The event, which featured five startups from the US and Canada, marked the culmination of the inaugural Community Health Accelerator, an entrepreneurial development program aimed at advancing early-stage companies with innovations that address the social determinants of health.
Competing for the opportunity to pilot their technologies with Methodist Healthcare Ministries, the cohort companies made a five-minute pitch, followed by questions from the panel judges, which included Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ Board Members Erika Prosper and Ashley Hixon, VelocityTX Board Chairman Preston Woolfolk and Methodist Healthcare Ministries President & CEO Jaime Wesolowski.
“We have worked hard to create an accessible solution for Spanish-speaking communities, and we are so excited that MHM recognizes the value of our work and the impact it can have on diabetes prevalence in the RGV community,” said Yumlish Founder and CEO Shireen Abdullah.
Administered by VelocityTX, the Community Health Accelerator is a first-of-its-kind program designed to help companies develop solutions that address the non-medical factors influencing health outcomes. Over the course of the program, the startups worked closely with experts on topics such as market strategy, fundraising, and pitching, with the goal of preparing them for successful growth and deployment.
“We are incredibly proud of Yumlish and their commitment to improving community wellness,” said Rene Dominguez, President and CEO of VelocityTX. “The solutions presented today demonstrate the power of innovation to address some of the world’s most pressing health challenges, and we look forward to seeing the impact Yumlish will have in the months and years ahead.”
Speaking at the Carver Community Cultural Center after the event, Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ President & CEO Jaime Wesolowski, remarked, “We are excited to see the fruits of this partnership with VelocityTX become a reality by creating a hub of innovation that launches improvement in the social determinants of health for years to come. This partnership is propelling innovation and sustainable solutions at the intersection of business and community impact that can transform healthcare delivery for those most in need. We believe that Yumlish has the potential to create lasting impact, and we are excited to partner with them in this next phase of their journey.”
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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 |
| brian@velocitytx.org, (210) 904-5984 | avillarreal1@mhm.org, (210) 787-6757 |