Our Founders on the Frontlines
Many founders in the Project W network are developing solutions to improve healthcare and quality of life, to facilitate collaboration and engagement, and to address other critical needs arising in the wake of COVID-19. We are proud to share a few of their stories.
CEO, CareAcademy
Online professional development for caregivers of older adults.
CareAcademy is deploying its expertise to help direct care workers get reliable information about COVID-19 that will help them take care of themselves and their care recipients as they provide frontline services during this crisis.
CEO & Founder, Ivy Lender
A fully automated online marketplace that uses AI to provide financing options to small business applicants.
In response to COVID-19, Ivy Lender has launched a dual application to support the small business community and help deliver available funds from the CARES Act to those in need faster and easier.
Founder, Homeownering
Provides tools and strategies to help homeowners optimize their home equity.
Given how many in the US have been financially impacted by COVID-19, Homeownering is offering advice on how to understand and navigate the many new programs aimed at alleviating financial stresses on home owners.
CEO, Kanthaka
A platform that facilitates booking sessions with personal trainers.
From in-person to virtual, Kanthaka has pivoted in response to COVID-19. Adapting its platform for booking personal trainer sessions, Kanthaka has started offering virtual one-to-one training sessions.
CEO & Founder, BestClass
A platform that powers online registrations and payments for after school programs.
With many schools and extracurricular activities for children cancelled due to COVID-19, BestClass has helped program providers quickly transition their classes to a virtual format, bringing back engagement and a sense of normalcy to children confined at home. BestClass has put together easy to use tutorials and is offering free starter accounts for 60 days to program providers affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
CEO & Co-Founder, SchoolBzz
Cloud-based platform that simplifies how schools communicate and share information with families.
SchoolBzz has created an online COVID-19 resource that summarizes a variety of new products and services they’ve launched in the last month in response to the challenges our school communities are facing daily.
CEO, Spiral Genetics
Software that compares large populations of whole genomes to power novel discoveries that lead to new diagnostics and drugs.
Spiral Genetics is collaborating with researchers around the world to look at the genetic components that impact an individual’s response to COVID-19. Through the collection of samples from matched whole genome sequences of infected individuals and the RNA sequence of their specific strain of COVID-19, Spiral Genetics is assessing whether genetic makeup has an impact on the body’s response to COVID-19 and/or related treatments. If you are a hospital or a research institution with those kinds of samples, please click the link below.
CEO, Give InKind
A support aggregator platform providing monetary gifts, meals, wish-list items and more for a variety of life disruptions.
The number of people relying on support from family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers has skyrocketed as a result of the spread of COVID-19. Give InKind is leveraging its platform to address this unprecedented need and to provide people the tools to support those in need during these challenging times.
Co-Founder & CEO, Everest Effect
The first technology platform to facilitate direct connections between people in need and donors and brands who want to help.
Everest Effect has teamed up with Walmart to help people who are unable to shop for themselves or return to work due to COVID-19 with 100% of purchases on the platform going directly towards items people urgently need.
CEO & Founder, AgTools
A food supply SaaS platform offering real-time data to farmers, buyers, and other players in the food supply chain.
Key players in the agriculture food chain are unable to rely on historical and seasonal data as change has become the new constant due to COVID-19. AgTools is now offering real time data to their clients to facilitate the decision making that impacts the food supply chain for all.
CEO, Belle Threads
Online children’s boutique.
Belle Threads is using leftover materials from their clothing line to sew fabric masks for medical workers at tristate-area hospitals in need of the supplies to protect them against COVID-19.
CEO & Co-Founder, Motivote
Civic engagement tool helping purpose-driven organizations mobilize their networks to vote.
With restrictions on in-person events and outreach due to COVID-19, Motivote is exploring digital strategies to help organizations effectively engage their networks to vote.
CEO, Pipeline Equity
Platform that increases the financial performance of companies by closing the gender equity gap.
Founder and gender equity expert, Katica Roy, is speaking out about the disproportionate effect the COVID-19 crisis is likely to have on women and the need for all hands on deck to address the issue as we emerge on the other side.
CEO, Litesprite
Innovative tech-enabled mental health platform.
Litesprite's free, clinically-validated mental health video game, Sinasprite, manages anxiety, depression, isolation, and stress to help deal with the daily onslaught of COVID-19.
Creative Director & Co-Founder, Caraa Sport
Next-generation luxury fitness brand.
Known for their luxury sports bags, Caraa Sport has repurposed its materials to manufacture non-medical masks and matches every mask purchase with a donation to New York’s relief efforts.
CEO & Co-Founder, Sisu Global Health
Medical device company for emerging markets.
At a time when blood supplies are dwindling, Sisu Global’s autotransfusion device, Hemafuse, helps increase blood access by preserving donor supply.