Announcing the Winners of the Health Equity Innovation Challenge
Concord, NC – June 9, 2025 — The winners of the 2025 Health Equity Innovation Challenge were announced by the Flywheel Foundation today. This is the third year of the program, and the finalists selected to advance in the program bring the total portfolio of impactful innovations to 15 companies.
The Flywheel Foundation administers the program on behalf of the title sponsor, Advocate/Atrium Health – Greater Charlotte North Area, the Lilly Foundation, and other collaborating organizations in the region.
“What was so amazing about this year’s applicant pool was the surge in national interest among service organizations, foundations, and influencers in the Health Equity innovation space,” said Peter Marsh, a founding director of the Flywheel Foundation.
“We had a big increase in applicants, and the quality of ideas was the best yet, with a large number of applicants referred by founders in the previous cohorts. That means the program is adding value for the participating founders as well as the sponsors,” he continues.
“In addition to the seed funding, accelerator programming, and 18-month incubation, the main benefit participating companies enjoy is the opportunity to pilot their products and services with Advocate/Atrium Health, one of the largest healthcare systems in the country,” adds Jill Atherton, Executive Director of the Flywheel Foundation.
Eleven companies were advanced to the Finalist round by a screening committee, which included sponsors and community organizations, focused on the challenge priorities. These priorities include leading indicators of health disparities and social drivers of outcomes.
The Finalists pitched to the Advisory Board governing the challenge on May 24th over eight hours, including Q&A, at the Cabarrus Center in Concord, NC, where the program is based.
“At Atrium Health, we believe that the power to drive lasting change lies in the hands of those who dare to innovate,” said Roy L. Hawkins, Jr., North Area President, Advocate/Atrium Health. “The Health Equity Innovations Challenge is not just a competition; it’s a movement that calls on entrepreneurs and the community to work together in addressing the social drivers of health.”
“By harnessing creativity and collaboration, we can create solutions that not only meet immediate needs but also lay the foundation for a healthier, more equitable future for all,” Roy continues.
“This is the 3rd year of this incredible endeavor to drive real and equitable health impact within the region and beyond. It has been really exciting to see engagement with the program grow each year. I couldn’t be more proud of the caliber of founders we have this year. I’m really looking forward to working with each of them,” said Malobi Achike, HEIC Accelerator Director.
Meet the winners of the 2025 Challenge:
- Navigating Grey – Irvine Sloan, Co-Founder & CEO, Charlotte, NC
“We are honored to be selected as one of the five winners of the Health Equity Innovation Challenge,” said Irving. “At Navigating Grey, we believe that equitable access to health and opportunity begins with better data, deeper context, and stronger community voices. This opportunity amplifies our mission to scale impact in underserved communities and strengthens our ability to deliver lasting change through innovation and collaboration.”
- Wave Rideshare and Delivery – Diondre Lewis, Founder, Charlotte, NC
“WAVE was built to close access gaps in care, said Diondre, and this opportunity lets us do that alongside visionary partners like Advocate Health. We’re excited to scale this work across more communities and build systems where equity is the default.”
- Freeze Out Hunger – Aleksandra Stein, Founder & CEO, Charlotte, NC
“I am inspired to be joining a community committed to creating partnerships and opportunities. I am excited to learn from and with folks who are leading through action.”
- Mini City – India Jha, Founder & CEO, Atlanta, GA
“The Mini City team is most excited about the opportunity to scale to another city in the southeast and serve unhoused citizens within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. Through the dedicated support from the Flywheel ecosystem of advisors and expertise of Atrium Health, I am sure the Mini City team will be able to deliver impactful, community-centric solutions to those that need it most.”
- Lavni – Marcus King Azeh, Founder & CEO, Atlanta, GA
“At Lavni, we believe that access to mental health care should never depend on income or insurance type. This opportunity allows us to deepen our impact for Medicaid communities and scale a model that prioritizes both outcomes and equity. We’re excited to partner with HEIC and the incredible network supporting this work.”
The Challenge is a business idea competition seeking solutions to problems causing disparities in healthcare outcomes experienced by underserved communities at a 300% poverty level in the region, including Cabarrus, Rowan, Iredell, Stanly, and North Mecklenburg Counties. The Challenge requires engagement with the target populations in these Counties for proof-of-concept testing.
Additional organizations involved in providing research, subject matter expertise, community engagement, and entrepreneurship support include Cabarrus College of Health Sciences, Cabarrus Health Alliance, the City of Kannapolis, the North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC), El Puente Hispano, Cooperative Christian Ministry, Racial Equity Cabarrus, Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation, The Chamber – Leading Business in Cabarrus, the Small Business Center of Rowan Cabarrus Community College, First Baptist Church of Kannapolis, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolina, the Greater Cabarrus Foundation, and WeBuild Concord.
The year’s selected companies will establish their priorities and performance milestones while in the accelerator program. They will be paired with experts from the participating organizations and the mentor program. They will progress through a weekly developmental process that includes office hours, cohort meetings, customer discovery and development, and refinement of their revenue and business models.
Each of the companies will be mainstage presenters at ConvergeSouth on September 4th and 5th, a startup expo staged at Biotech Place in Winston-Salem. The event typically attracts 500+ attendees over two days, including investors from throughout the Southeast. The event is open to the public.
