Hate going to the doctor for blood work? How about a DIY blood-testing device? Tasso, the maker of the device, is one of 10 startups included in Cedars-Sinai‘s third health-tech accelerator class. The companies competed with hundreds of startups worldwide to be included in the three-month Cedars-Sinai Accelerator Powered by Techstars program. Selected companies gain financial backing and training. As the startups develop and refine their products, Cedars-Sinai physicians and executives mentor them. Techstars, an organization that works with entrepreneurs to cultivate their ideas, also mentors the companies. While the startups receive an initial investment of $120,000, Techstars provides access to investors, mentors, alumni, and corporate partners.

As with Tasso’s blood-testing device, the chosen companies address healthcare challenges such as the experience of patients. NarrativeDx developed a tool that allows facilities to better understand and respond to patient feedback and concerns. The tool collects patients’ comments from focus groups, discharge surveys, social media channels and doctor review sites. Artificial intelligence bot GYANT chats with patients about symptoms via text messaging or voice-enabled technology. GYANT helps identify causes of conditions and provides information and next steps. Lumeon’s automated care pathways ensure patients get proper follow-up care. As a result, patients receive more effective and lower cost health outcomes.

Past company participants: Inscope Medical, which completed FDA registration for its high-tech disposable laryngoscope in April; Stasis Labs, which deployed a cloud-connected vital signs monitoring system to 12 hospitals across India.; WELL Health, a text messaging platform for patients used by more than 120 physician offices and clinics at Cedars-Sinai; and Deep 6 AI, which uses artificial intelligence to help researchers find patients for clinical trials, and is deploying across Cedars-Sinai.