November 16, 2025
In 2022, the healthcare enterprise capital agency secured $55 million to speculate completely in Black-founded healthcare corporations.
Jumpstart Well being Traders, America’s first Black healthcare enterprise capital agency, continues to succeed regardless of anti-DEI initiatives that pressured it to stop completely supporting Black-owned companies.
Based in 2020 by Marcus Whitney and Kathryne Cooper, the corporate aimed to help Black-led well being corporations “within the wake of America’s racial reckoning.” The corporate’s unique funding initiative, Jumpstart Nova Fund I, exceeded its $30 million goal and finally constructed a portfolio of 11 corporations and a database of roughly 400 Black founder-led tasks.
Final yr, the corporate discovered itself at a crossroads. The group confronted rising political and authorized stress from conservative teams focusing on DEI-focused applications, grants, and funding autos. Whitney mentioned the corporate determined to transfer away from an express give attention to DEI initiatives attributable to mounting political and authorized stress.
“Our aim is to construct an establishment, to not frequently fend off lawsuits,” Whitney informed Enterprise Nashville Connections.
In November 2024, the corporate launched Jumpstart Nova Fund II. In contrast to its predecessor, it doesn’t take into account DEI outcomes in its funding selections.
“With Jumpstart Nova Fund II, we construct on our basis and profitable normal partnership, now increasing our funding remit to all founders. Our efficiency has elevated us to now be the institutional, strategic seed fund of Jumpstart Well being Traders,” the corporate says on its web site.
Nonetheless, regardless of its growth, the corporate continues to help a number of Black-led organizations, together with Therify, a psychological well being company that primarily focuses on the Black group. Teamwork is a New York-based firm that provides Utilized Habits Evaluation (ABA) for kids with autism. Time Research, based by Kishau Rogers, conducts time research in hospitals to assist assess and enhance hospital efficiency and affected person care.
Additionally, a part of the Jumpstart Nova group is Alerje, a Detroit-based startup that manages meals allergic reactions and goals to enhance the standard of life for folks with life-threatening allergic reactions. Mae is a platform designed to satisfy the particular wants and cultural issues of underserved expectant moms.
Go to Jumpstart Well being Traders’ web site to be taught extra about Jumpstart Nova and its different initiatives.
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