STARTUPS & INNOVATIONS

LAUNCH

Heal, a Los Angeles-based startup that allows patients to request house calls through a mobile app, has partnered with Orange-based Alignment Healthcare, the fast-growing insurance company that serves Medicare Advantage patients in Southern California. 

The partnership comes on the heels of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ announcement to broaden the range of supplemental benefits under its plans in 2020, enabling an estimated 50 million Americans with Medicare to receive in-home care. 

Heal provides pediatric and primary care health services, ranging from standard checkups to blood tests and flu shots on-site. Heal members can also book an appointment within a two-hour period, and use the “Heal Hub,” a remote device that monitors blood pressure and heart rate in real time and alerts users to health risks. 

Chief Executive Nick Desai and Chief Medical Officer Renee Dua founded the company in 2014. It has raised $71 million to date; notable backers include Lionel Richie, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Paul Jacobs, former chief executive at Qualcomm Inc.

Alignment Healthcare is OC’s fastest-growing large private company, and was featured in the Business Journal’s Sept. 16 edition. Among other unique programs, it uses a variety of home monitoring devices and mobile-focused technologies to improve patient access to health care.

Irvine-based AllPerks, which provides food and drink discounts to those who work in specific areas through a mobile app, has launched in Buena Park with participating businesses Jersey Mike’s Subs, Panda Inn, Pieology Pizzeria and Yogurtland, among others. 

Employees from ADP LLC, AT&T Inc. and Kaiser Permanente have already signed up for the app. 

Chief Executive Josh Sitea said the company is focused on “high-use, daily activity at local businesses” and plans to expand its offerings to local health clubs, dry cleaners and shopping outlets in the future.

Sitea described the business model as a win-win-win: “We help save time and money for employees; we promote networking and inclusion by allowing employers to create lunch and learn events; and we bring customers back through the doors for small businesses.” 

He added the company is working with businesses to provide employee onboarding services and foster relationships among coworkers through events.

AllPerks was founded in January and has been self-funded thus far. It has three employees including Chief Technology Officer Sid Kapur. It is seeking marketers to add to its Irvine Spectrum office.

Aliso-Viejo based OCTANe plans a new accelerator for nonprofits that will function as an extension of the SBDC Launchpad program for technology and life science startups. 

Initial funding was provided by the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation; the charitable branch of OC’s largest public company has given $75,000 to OCTANe for two years running. 

Chief Executive Bill Carpou said that the accelerator will help nonprofit organizations “establish clear metrics and communicate mission statements,” so that they can better operate and in turn raise additional funds. 

The new accelerator’s first cohort includes:

n High School Inc., which works with the Santa Ana Unified School District and others to help students develop skills and identify career goals through experiences such as training luncheons and field trips to colleges and businesses.

n OC Stem, which promotes STEM competencies through partnerships with organizations such as the Orange County Department of Education and the UCI School of Education, among others. 

n Vital Link OC, which prepares students for future careers by providing experiential learning opportunities in the fields of computer science, design engineering and manufacturing, robotics, medicine and more. 

n Child Creativity Lab, which allows children to explore STEAM careers through classroom programs and workshops that emphasize creativity and innovation

n STEM Goes Red for Women, which aims to close the gender gap in STEM jobs through a mentorship program and field trips that allow girls to explore STEM outside of the classroom.

NEW HIRES

Irvine-based startup incubator Cie brought on Trent Johnson as senior vice president of corporate ventures, as part of the firm’s stated goal of shifting to a venture studio model.

Johnson’s appointment will strengthen the strategic partnership established earlier this year between Cie and Wavemaker, a Santa Monica-based investment firm, where Johnson is an executive in residence, company officials said.

According to Cie officials, the partnership will deepen Cie’s ability to scale with an increased focused on “private equity and corporate clients.”

“Cie’s expertise and smart capital from our partner firms, provide a new and efficient model of collaboration for companies not found in traditional consultancies,” Johnson said.

Johnson is also the board chair of Innovate@UCLA, and previously held positions at advisory firms Slalom and Avasant in Los Angeles, ISG and KMPG Consulting.

FINANCING

Irvine-based medical device maker Diality Inc. has raised a $10 million Series A round for its portable, in-home hemodialysis machine. 

When patients experience kidney failure, dialysis is often used to remove waste and maintain chemical levels in the patient’s bloodstream, and control blood pressure. But in-center dialysis costs continue to increase; the U.S. spends an estimated $35 billion every year to treat end-stage renal disease, according to the U.S. Renal Data System.

In-home dialysis is often overlooked because the machinery is difficult to manage, but Diality plans to create a machine that automates setup and daily use, so that patients feel comfortable and capable using in-home treatment.

Chief Executive Osman Khawar said that the new round of funding will be used to finalize product development.

The Diality team includes Chief Operating Officer Jahnavi Lokre, Chief Technology Officer Clayton Poppe, and Chief Scientific Officer Timothy McNamara.

The company previously raised an $8 million seed round, and has about 30 employees.

The ANTrepreneur Center at the University of California-Irvine has received $550,000 from the Blackstone Charitable Foundation.

The funds will be used to add new technology to the facility, host special events and provide travel opportunities for participating students. 

“The ANTrepreneur Center is a place where students can get help to develop the skills necessary to start, run or grow their business,” Jaune Odombrown, ANTrepreneur Center manager said in a statement.

He added that, “Using the funds from Blackstone as fuel, we are off to a great head start to begin building our overall brand identity and delivering our value proposition.”

The ANTrepreneur Center works in partnership with UCI Beall Applied Innovation and the UCI Division of Undergraduate Education to instill an entrepreneurial spirit in undergraduate students. 

The $5 million donation was divided between the eight UC campuses as an expansion of Blackstone’s LaunchPad program for innovators and entrepreneurs.