
Health
Tackling health disparities in New Orleans.
Challenge
- In 2016, LA ranked 50 out of 50th states for community and environmental factors on health including high rates of violent crime, children in poverty, infectious disease, and occupational fatalities [1].
- The life expectancy gap between the city’s most affluent and most disadvantaged neighborhoods is 25 years [2].
- African American children in New Orleans are three and a half times more likely to be uninsured than white children, and black adults 18-64 are close to twice as likely [3].
- In New Orleans, 64% of adults in 2012 and 34% of high school students in 2007 were overweight or obese [4].
Strategy
Propeller addresses health disparities in New Orleans by working to increase affordable access to healthcare and wellbeing both in and beyond formal medical settings. In 2016 alone, two Propeller entrepreneurs opened new medical clinics in previously underserved neighborhoods. Other small businesses and nonprofits are pioneering healthcare technology, including a platform to simplify healthcare plan choice and a powerful bioinformatics platform. Propeller entrepreneurs work in spaces where New Orleanians work live, and play to address social determinants of health, from violent crime to access to green space. In a city where children screen positive for post-traumatic stress disorder at three times the national average, Propeller entrepreneurs are also developing programs to address the sources of that trauma, including exposure to violent crime and family stress due to high poverty.
Impact
- Bike Rite (Startup ’17) offers paid cycling tours and social rides to facilitate the exploration of New Orleans and promotes physical activity across all of New Orleans’ communities, serving 10,000 riders in 2016 alone.
- eNre (Growth ’16) ran 5,000 clinical research trials in one year through Ochsner Hospital System. eNre’s software streamline the recruiting process for these trials, with an emphasis on cancer and chronic diseases. A similar trial saw just 500 people over 3 years.
- High Level Speech & Hearing Center (Startup ‘16, Growth ’17) provides speech and hearing services to 15,000 patients, 90% of whom are on Medicare or Medicaid through their mobile and onsite screenings within local schools, nursing homes, and daycare centers, as well within their two locations in New Orleans.
- Ready Responders (Startup ‘16) signed 5 of the 7 top insurers in Louisiana to integrate part-time first responders into 911 systems, providing free, accessible care to New Orleanians with a response time of 5-7 minutes.
Supporting Health Entrepreneurs
If you have or are looking to start a small business or nonprofit tackling health disparities, we’re here to help. Propeller’s Accelerator programs is designed to support entrepreneurs throughout the business lifecycle—from idea, to beta, to growth. Hands-on mentorship, access to high-level networks, pro bono technical support, and free office space, are just some of the benefits. Learn more about our accelerators, including eligibility and selection criteria.
Propeller Ventures working in this Sector

Uptown Benefits
Casey Urschel
Areas of focus: Health

Re-entry Mediation Institute of Louisiana
Sr. Alison McCrary, Jack Ward, Julie Griff, Ian Honore'
Areas of focus: Health

Magnolia Yoga Studio
Adrianne “Ajax” Jackson
Areas of focus: Health

Blossoming Minds Health Center & Family Services
Ebony Evans
Areas of focus: Health

Mother Wit Maternity & Consulting Services
Tanya Tringali
Areas of focus: Health

Jai Bhakti Yoga Foundation
Christina Andrini
Areas of focus: Health

Integrative Spine Care & Wellness
Dr. Rueben Carter
Areas of focus: Health

I-STARRT
Sonita Singh
Areas of focus: Health

Domango Training
Shanda Domango Brown
Areas of focus: Health

Broadmoor Wellness Initiative
Bethanie Mangigian, LMSW
Areas of focus: Health

Relief Telemed
Vishal Vasanji, Dr. James Davis
Areas of focus: Health

Gienetix
Metoqua Anderson, Justin Anderson
Areas of focus: Health

The Mastectomy Boutique
Dr. Iisha K. Bailey
Areas of focus: Health

The Split Second Foundation
Hope Leblanc, Darryl Willis, James E. Vinturella, Mark Raymond Jr.
Areas of focus: Health

Saul’s Light Foundation
Kimberly Novod
Areas of focus: Health

Playworks
Qasim Davis, Brandi Freemen, Christine Saja, Trishana Williams
Areas of focus: Health

Magnolia Yoga Studio
Adrianne Jackson
Areas of focus: Health

The Doc Griggs Foundation
Dr. Eric Griggs
Areas of focus: Health

Mymee
Mette Dyhrberg, Eric Lubow
Areas of focus: Health

SPLC Health & Wellness
Warren Lattimore
Areas of focus: Health

Sista Midwife Productions
Nicole Deggins
Areas of focus: Health

JustBeFly Fitness
Daymian McGuire
Areas of focus: Health

What’s Your Revolution
Dr. Charles S. Corprew, III
Areas of focus: Health

Mymee, Inc.
Mette Dyhrberg, Eric Lubow
Areas of focus: Health

YEAH! YOGA
Bonita Day, Camille Baldassar
Areas of focus: Health

High Level Speech & Hearing Center
Dr. Lana Joseph
Areas of focus: Health

Footprints To Fitness
April Dupre
Areas of focus: Health

Best Life Pharmacy and Restaurant
Chris Sylvain & Cynthia Sylvain
Areas of focus: Health

Pine Biotech
Elia Brodsky, Jaclyn Williams, Dr. Claudia Copeland, Dr. Amitha Dasari, Dr. Leonid Brodsky
Areas of focus: Health

Santosha
Haiyan Khan, Vicki Judice, Kimberly Vanwagner & Eva Sohl
Areas of focus: Health

Well Therapeutics
Dr. Lori LeDuff & Nicole Goldin
Areas of focus: Health

Louvis Services
Lou Anne White
Areas of focus: Health

PrepBiz
Kenneth Bibbins
Areas of focus: Health

The Hite Law Group
Nicholas Hite
Areas of focus: Health

Bike Rite
Nicholas Reed
Areas of focus: Health

Lift Louisiana
Michelle Erenberg
Areas of focus: Health

Ready Responders
Benjamin Swig & Justin Dangel
Areas of focus: Health

LHS Solutions, Inc.
Eliel Oliveira & Salvatore Peraino
Areas of focus: Health

Clear Health Analytics
Kathryn Wollan & Jennifer Sclar
Areas of focus: Health

Youth Run NOLA: WeRunNOLA Maps
Denali Lander
Areas of focus: Health

The Resilient Teacher
Stephanie Choy
Areas of focus: Health

Bausey Medical Solutions
Nathaniel Dorsey
Areas of focus: Health

504HealthLearn
Jahangeer Khan & Susan Todd
Areas of focus: Health

High Level Hearing Technology
Lana Joseph
Areas of focus: Health

Treux North Wellness
Danielle Burrell
Areas of focus: Health

RDnote
Molly Hegarty
Areas of focus: Health

Clear Health Analytics
Kathryn Wollan and Jennifer Sclar
Areas of focus: Health

Coordinated Care for the Whole Child
Connie Bellone
Areas of focus: Education, Health

Griffin Law Group LLC
Robyn Griffin
Areas of focus: Health

FitLot
Adam Mejerson
Areas of focus: Health

Birthmark Doula Collective
Latona Giwa & Dana Keren
Areas of focus: Health

Broadmoor Arts & Wellness Center
Emily Wolff
Areas of focus: Health, Education
