We are incredibly excited to share the first round of pre-submitted ideas for GiveBackHack Cleveland! Posted here is an in-depth view of ideas that will be pitched alongside the typical 50+ brand new ideas on Friday night of GiveBackHack.
So, what do the ideas below mean to you? If you’re inspired by the ideas below, you can get your ticket for GiveBackHack Cleveland 2017 now. The entrepreneurs who have submitted these ideas have come to GiveBackHack because they’re looking for partners to make them a reality. You can also buy a ticket to GiveBackHack to pitch your own idea, or you could even submit your idea in advance, too. Submissions will be accepted until April 14th.
p.s. As always, any brand new idea can be pitched Friday night – regardless of whether you submit your idea in advance. However, no partially-vetted ideas will be accepted after April 14th.
- Idea #1: Good To-Go Foods submitted by Erika Meschkat
- Idea #2: One Raft submitted by Guy Jacks
- Idea #3: Insitu Health: Digital Healthcare for Chronic Mental Illness submitted by James Paskett
- Idea #4: Vet Alert submitted by Chanel Williams
- Idea #5: Healp submitted by Gina Frank
- Idea #6: Curami submitted by Neha Reddy
- Idea #7: The Beehive submitted by Austin Still
Idea #1
Good To-Go FoodsSubmitted by Erika Meschkat
What is the problem are you solving?
The economic and social burden of accessing healthy and affordable foods for children and families in low-income neighborhoods. There is data (recent research) supporting the supposition that the financial burden placed on low-income mothers introducing healthy, new foods is greater than mid-/high- income families due to the cost of waste created by the repeated exposure needed to get a child to try new foods. This exposure is estimated to be between 8-2o times by many health professionals and is critical to establishing eating behaviors that last well into adulthood.
How will this idea solve the problem?
Good to-go Foods will serve a multiple segment target market of children ages 0-6 and their families by selling and distributing healthy, affordable meals in early childcare centers to both providers and families. The providers will thus subsidize the cost of exposing children to new healthy foods through strategic design of menu patterns that will focus on repeated exposure prior to home introduction.
Is this idea brand new or has it been partially-vetted?
Partially-vetted
How you have vetted your idea and the success or difficulties you have seen thus far?
The idea has been partially vetted over the past two months through research of feasibility components including market viability, industry dynamics, organizational readiness for potential non-profits that could manage the enterprise, and some baseline business model canvasing. The main difficulties have been breaking through policy, licensing and contracting barriers in the market space (fresh, prepared foods for low-income children and families) and understanding local support networks. The successes have been value proposition validation and community interest and investment.
Why are YOU uniquely positioned to solve the problem? What other people do you need to help?
My colleague and I have both worked in food justice and community health equity for several years, formerly co-convening the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition. I have expertise managing healthy food incentive programs, like SNAP incentives at farmers' markets and safety net clinics for low-income populations and she has expertise in whole food system studies with focus on serving low-income populations. We need food processing/prepared food industry experts (product development, logistics, distribution, packaging, marketing), finance and philanthropy-savvy folks, and professionals in early childhood health and human services to navigate the space. A deep understanding of public and private contracts and business models that already serve and support early childcare, especially at a low price-point, is needed in order to compete and sustain.
Idea #2
One RaftSubmitted by Guy Jacks
What is the problem are you solving?
One Raft serves a three leg market of NPOs, people, and businesses. Charities are always looking for new ways to engage sponsors, donors, and volunteers. People want to do more and they want what they do to make a difference. Business spends billions (>90B) on cause marketing without the ROI to justify it.
How will this idea solve the problem?
One Raft spends provides a platform for businesses to crowdsource the curation of causes to which businesses give to employees and customers. From a user perspective, One Raft provides a platform that makes giving more impactful and emotionally rewarding for users. A more rewarding experience results in better engagement with NPOs. We're essentially realigning incentives for charitable giving.
Is this idea brand new or has it been partially-vetted?
Partially-vetted
How you have vetted your idea and the success or difficulties you have seen thus far?
At the moment, I've developed the brand and messaging and am currently working to relaunch the website at oneraft.com. I don't have users yet, but I have recently been networking and socializing the idea over dozens of coffees! I'm currently directing people to facebook.com/oneraft to get a sneak peak at the new branding.
Why are YOU uniquely positioned to solve the problem? What other people do you need to help?
I'm a software engineer by trade who has been a part of a few successful startups. I'm also very creative and have been studying gamification and big data for quite some time. Both of which are paramount to One Raft. I'm experienced in leading people and have always found success in being the one to think outside of the box. One Raft is very much out of the box as there is nothing else remotely like it in the cause marketing space. My biggest need is hustlers (as they're called at Startup Weekend). I want people who can find creative ways to make connections and position the idea. I have a lot of iconographies completed, but One Raft has an endless appetite for digital illustration so designers would be a plus though a luxury at the moment.
Idea #3
Insitu Health: Digital Healthcare for Chronic Mental IllnessSubmitted by James Paskett
What is the problem are you solving?
For the first time, chronic mental illness is the biggest threat to our health. This year, 1 in 5 of us will develop a mental illness.Global costs for mental illness are greater than diabetes, respiratory disorders, and cancer combined. Bipolar disorder is the most expensive of all mental illness. Costing more than twice as much as depression.
But 70% of those diagnosed can’t get the treatment they need. This epidemic is overwhelming the system, and young adults are getting the least treatment. Many turn to Reddit forums for treatment advice and folk remedies. Some use self-help books or alternative medicine and many resort to self-medication. A lot go without.
How will this idea solve the problem?
Our innovative 12-week program transforms and enhances behavioral therapy with an immersive online experience for young adults with chronic bipolar disorder. Connecting participants early on with a licensed therapist trained to recognize warning signs. They get to know participants, check their progress, and optimize their program in real-time.
To build personal awareness, participants input what they’re feeling, thinking, and doing each day. Then receive complete one-on-one support along the way with actionable real-time feedback.
A private group of participants provides encouragement and understanding. Each week guides participants through an interactive mental health lesson that delights, clarifies, inspires…
Insitu is based on strong scientific research. With outcomes that can be quantified, peer reviewed and clinically verified. Making a healthy life reality for those with Bipolar Disorder.
Is this idea brand new or has it been partially-vetted?
Partially-vetted
How you have vetted your idea and the success or difficulties you have seen thus far?
We validated our value proposition using jobs-to-be-done interviews. We have a strong brand, static prototypes, a business model, and legal framework.
There is one scientific advisor. We are vetting others to fill out the scientific advisory board.
We have partnered with The Ohio State Entrepreneurial Business Law Clinic. They are developing a compliance roadmap covering: HIPAA, FDA, and other applicable regulations.
We are talking with clinical researchers at OSU and UPenn. Drafting documentation for Internal Review Boards (IRB). The documentation covers Domain Specific Background Knowledge, Software Requirement, Business Model and Legal.
This month we are preparing a raise from friends and family. A crowdfunding campaign. Our finance goal is 150k to cover the pilot program.
Why are YOU uniquely positioned to solve the problem? What other people do you need to help?
Insitu Health is a response to personal experience. The name itself means “local or on-site health”. And is in aspiration of a future where mental health is available on-demand when and where it is needed.
Insitu Health began a year ago. I was working at a small international startup for augmented reality medical education simulations. My role was Product Manager overseeing R&D.
It was spring and as the weather warmed I began to get sick. A severe bipolar episode. The disease ran its course untreated for 3 months. Leaving me jobless, homeless, friendless and penniless.
Now, I knew nothing of Bipolar Disorder or that I had the illness myself. I searched 2 months to find insurance and either a psychologist or psychiatrist to see me. Everywhere I went or called had a waiting list. Each receptionist echoed the same line. “Sorry, the doctor isn’t seeing new patients now”. There was a HUGE problem: health care access for individuals sick with a mental illness.
My parents believed I was suffering from Bipolar Affective Disorder. This was later corroborated by my doctors. Still, without access to the treatment, I composed research from disparate sources. I needed to know what this was. What it meant for me. How could I get help?
I found the whole mental health experience fragmented and broken. Fixing this problem became a matter of life and death to me. I am a designer, entrepreneur, and technologist. To fight my disease I began using the only tools I had. My craft and determination.
Idea #4
Vet AlertSubmitted by Chanel Williams
What is the problem are you solving?
The problem I want to tackle is a better response to a Veteran in Crisis, more specifically in Suicide Prevention and management. There is data around the problem of Veterans having high suicide rates, reaching an average of 20 veterans a day.
How will this idea solve the problem?
What I want to do is create an application that a Veteran can use in conjunction WITH therapy and counseling to help in moments of uncontrollable crisis. A button a Veteran in crisis can hit and not only contact someone he can speak with, but a simultaneous alert will also reach out to a Veteran sponsor who will rush to the aide of that Veteran in crisis. A quick response is to give relief to what feels like uncontrollable crisis and a Veteran sponsor to create psychological safety for that Veteran crisis.
Is this idea brand new or has it been partially-vetted?
Brand New
Why are YOU uniquely positioned to solve the problem? What other people do you need to help?
I am passionate about helping underserved communities dealing with mental illness and its stigma. I have seen the effects of that stigma destroy people, their families, and their communities. And with veterans in my family, I seen and dealt with it first hand.
I am a novice software developer that brings personal understanding, drive, and dedication to the table of this project. The other skills I need at the table are seasoned software developers and UX/IX designers. As well as social workers who have experience with veteran case work and psychologists who specialize in dealing with PTSD and other trauma.
Idea #5
HealpSubmitted by Gina Frank
What is the problem are you solving?
Access to mental health care services
How will this idea solve the problem?
One huge problem people face when trying to access mental health care services is the burden of going through insurance companies. Insurance companies will provide people with a list of places in network, many of which are no longer in operation, no longer accepting new patients, or are not a good personality fit for the patient trying to find a patient or mental health care facility. While searching through this list of potential places, people will spend upwards of 40 hours on the phone with these facilities trying to make appointments only to find some of the above responses to be very disappointing for their loved ones who need immediate health care, which in some cases, can mean the difference between life and death. Healp is an online and/or application-based platform that will aim to solve this problem for the patients looking for mental health care services. It will combine features of Yelp and LinkedIn in the sense that you will go on and can geographically look up facilities, however the main information you will see on each facility or service will be a drop down list of which insurance providers they accept and the price range they fall into. Then, there will be customer reviews and "qualities" you can endorse each facility or doctor on, like cleanliness, professionalism, or relatability, for example. My position is unique positioned to solve the problem because nothing in this niche exists yet. Also, there is opportunity for market extensibility outside of the mental health space and into other health industries. For example, other specialists, like dentists, surgeons, dermatologist, endocrinologists, etc.
Is this idea brand new or has it been partially-vetted?
Brand New
Why are YOU uniquely positioned to solve the problem? What other people do you need to help?
I am uniquely positioned to solve the problem because I have a strong business background, graduating this spring from The Fisher College of Business as a member of the 18th Honors Cohort Program, which has prepared me extremely well to think critically about solving our world's problems from an economic standpoint. As I started with an Accounting background, interning at both Keybank in Internal Audit and P&G in Corporate Accounting, then switching to Marketing, most recently interning in Sales and securing a full time position with Oracle Corporation's Class Of New Business Development Program in San Francisco when I graduate, I have a very unique and we'll rounded background with both the technical and creative sides that I can use to my advantage. I will be setting myself up to hopefully pursue this idea further in an extremely innovative and dynamic city where the mental health care system is very advanced in the U.S.
Idea #6
CuramiSubmitted by Neha Reddy
What is the problem are you solving?
Geriatrics is a very unique and steadily growing area in which patients experience the usual issues surrounding a hospital visit as well as complications from aging, such as dementia, urinary incontinence, and delirium. After extensive user research at University Hospital Cleveland Medical Center, our team identified a major disparity in the geriatric patient experience. While some patients seemed to be functioning fairly well in the hospital, others had delirium, a negative attitude, and overall reduced quality of their patient experience. After analyzing the potential areas we could work in, we decided on our current problem statement: How can we easily keep family and friends connected with loved ones at the hospital?
How will this idea solve the problem?
Our idea is a website, Curami, that would allow family and friends to upload personalized video messages to loved ones in the hospital at any time, from anywhere. Patients, with the help of existing volunteers, would be able to view these videos from their rooms with a device that links their room's TV to Curami. In our observations, we saw patients who were depressed or had dementia, and it was simply not feasible for family members to be constantly visiting. Curami would provide a way for patients to retain connection to their loved ones throughout their hospital stay, improving their attitudes, outlook, and overall patient experience.
There are currently no existing ideas that link patients to family/friends in this way, though a video program at one nursing home was shown to help patients with Alzheimer's and dementia control their agitation and fear. Curami would expand this idea and target hospital geriatric departments.
Is this idea brand new or has it been partially-vetted?
Partially-vetted
How you have vetted your idea and the success or difficulties you have seen thus far?
We have already done user research for our idea and have identified the key area we will target to work on. Currently, we are beginning to prototype our idea, but it is still in the early stages. The main difficulties we have been having are finding people with the necessary expertise to be able to create our prototype and implement it.
Why are YOU uniquely positioned to solve the problem? What other people do you need to help?
Currently we have four members on our team, all university students: one who has been volunteering in geriatrics for two years and is very familiar with the current issues faced by patients and the hospital environment; two studying engineering; and one who is studying computer science. We all have design experience with previous projects, but limited entrepreneurship experience. We are passionate about this problem and would really like to be able to implement our solution first at University Hospitals, then hopefully expand to other locations.
However, we need some technical assistance to work out the details of our prototype and move forward. With only one programmer, it has been difficult to make progress on the website. We also have to navigate the hospital bureaucracy to be able to implement our idea in patient rooms, which is another area we do not have experience with. Anyone with programming, design, or hospital experience would be very helpful for our project!
In order to bring Curami to the market, we would need a functioning prototype, a plan to produce individual TV hook-up units in patient rooms, and a connection to the hospital management to implement the solution. We would also need a plan to keep Curami sustainable through growth and expansion.
Idea #7
The BeehiveSubmitted by Austin Still
What is the problem are you solving?
The way we approach mental health care is not adequate. Whether it is Inpatient Hospitalization or Community Mental Health. We are inevitably setting people with mental illnesses up for readmission and/or we don't we don't have resources for them in between. There's nothing that helps people with chronic mental illness find a purpose and find a better quality of life.
How will this idea solve the problem?
I want to create a community center for mental health that will provide free beauty and hygiene services, employment assistance and social programs that will provide people with hope, to find a sense of purpose and show them that they're not alone.
Is this idea brand new or has it been partially-vetted?
Brand New
Why are YOU uniquely positioned to solve the problem? What other people do you need to help?
My very first job was with Charles Penzone, I grew up in the wellness industry and will be working to team up with them on this! From there, I started a movement that helped 12k people in 24hours overcome their past trauma. From this, I learned that we all connect with one another through our weakest moments and biggest challenges. For the past four years, I have been working in Psychiatry with OhioHealth, OSU, and Springstone and have built professional relationships all over Ohio in the mental health field. I am focused, organized and ready to make this happen. However, I am not a developer, designer or started a nonprofit before. I need people with experience, and the best interest when it comes to helping others to join my team! I need people who believe in my vision and believe that we need to help this population on a larger level and see these patients how I see them.
Inspired?
Get your ticket for GiveBackHack Cleveland 2017 or even submit your own social enterprise idea in advance. Submissions will be accepted until April 14th.
Looking for Columbus ideas? Columbus 2017 Pre-submitted Ideas
