Investing in early-stage startups, focusing on the founders and mission.

Empower Inc., more coming soon.

Anja Health, founded by Kathryn Cross in 2021, is a pioneering cord blood banking company that’s revolutionizing the healthcare industry. Cross, a Forbes 30 under 30 honoree and Wellesley College alumna, was inspired to start Anja Health after her brother’s struggle with cerebral palsy. The company offers affordable and accessible cord blood, cord tissue, and placenta banking services, with a mission to make stem cell preservation available to families regardless of race or socioeconomic status. Backed by prestigious investors and accelerators like Y Combinator, Anja Health has raised $5.25 million in funding, including a $4.5 million seed round. With its user-friendly approach, AABB-accredited lab partnerships, and focus on educating parents about the potential of stem cell treatments, Anja Health is poised to make a significant impact in the rapidly growing stem cell therapy market.

PepTalk is an innovative mobile application designed to be your personal motivational companion, offering a diverse array of inspirational content to empower users in their daily lives. The app provides a curated selection of motivational videos, audio affirmations, and uplifting quotes from renowned thought leaders, athletes, experts, and celebrities. With features like a personalized home feed, an extensive library of content, and the newly introduced AI-powered Pep Coach, PepTalk aims to foster personal growth and productivity. The platform has garnered significant success, boasting over 1 million app downloads and an impressive 4.9/5 rating on the App Store. Users report improved mindsets and increased motivation, with 92% of members feeling a positive change in their outlook. While the founder’s information is not explicitly mentioned in the provided search results, as an investor, you’re backing a product that’s making a substantial impact on users’ lives by providing accessible, on-demand motivation to a global community of over a million members.

Endpoint Health, co-founded by Jeffrey Osborn, Jason Springs, Diego Rey, and Leonardo Teixeira in 2018, is a pioneering Precision-First therapeutics company addressing urgent needs in immune-driven critical and chronic illnesses. The company’s innovative approach combines data science, companion diagnostics, and therapeutics to deliver personalized treatments that dramatically improve patient outcomes. Jason Springs, the CEO, brings extensive experience from his previous success as co-founder of GeneWEAVE, which was acquired by Roche in 2015. Endpoint Health has garnered significant attention from top-tier Silicon Valley investors, raising $52 million in financing to expand its precision immunology pipeline. With a mission to revolutionize treatment for conditions like sepsis and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Endpoint Health is poised to make a substantial impact in the healthcare industry. The company’s unique platform, which applies precision medicine approaches pioneered in oncology to the fast-paced ICU environment, positions it at the forefront of a new era in personalized medicine.