The T1D Moonshot: Looking Back on a Year of Growth and Connection
In 2023 StartUp Health launched a program designed to help Type 1 diabetes innovators achieve their health moonshot. The program, anchored by a program-related investment from The Helmsley Charitable Trust, has had an exciting first year. Read on for an overview of how the Health Moonshot Community has evolved and substantive progress updates from our founder community.
Learn more at startuphealth.com/t1d
A journey, like a story, is not about the destination. It is really about the people. How they grow. How they face challenges. How they change the course of their lives and the lives of others.
Our approach at StartUp Health has always been grounded in people. We help dreamers and big thinkers achieve the impossible by providing hands-on education, emotional support, and a network to leverage. Our secret: we create community.
Since 2011, we’ve united and empowered founders and funders aiming to achieve health moonshots. Inspired by the original moonshot in the 1960s, where 400,000 people from 20,000 organizations collaborated to land a man on the moon and return him safely, we’ve honed our strategy for multifaceted, long-term collaboration in service of a world-changing outcome.
In early 2023, the T1D Moonshot took flight, fueled by a significant program-related investment (PRI) from The Helmsley Charitable Trust. The initiative’s primary aim is to streamline the development and delivery of solutions for Type 1 diabetes.
Why Type 1 Diabetes?
Globally, more than 18 million people have Type 1 diabetes (T1D). But the real impact goes beyond the disease itself. More than 70% of people living with T1D do not have their blood glucose under control, which can increase their risk of diabetic complications like cardiac disease, diabetic retinopathy, kidney failure, neuropathy, and gum disease. Access to insulin and medical devices that deliver insulin and monitor sugar levels is expensive and not available consistently across socio-economic and geographic groups. A shortage of endocrinologists and diabetes specialists compounds these challenges.
Those seeking solutions and a cure face their own challenges.
When we look across the verticals of academics, industry, government, foundations, and investors, we see isolated efforts and slow, siloed progress.
It’s time for a different model, one that goes deep on impact by creating a uniquely collaborative environment. We need to complement the extraordinary R&D efforts taking place with a focus on entrepreneurial innovation that brings new solutions to market and opens up global access to care.
» Meet the T1D Moonshot Community
Learn more at startuphealth.com/t1d
Rolling Out a T1D Health Moonshot Community
Our first step was assembling an elite T1D Moonshot Impact Board comprising visionary leaders, personally impacted by Type 1 diabetes, spanning philanthropy, venture capital, industry, business, and academia.
Next, we set out to define a process for identifying, assessing, and measuring companies to enroll in the T1D track of Health Transformer University (HTU), our education program for healthcare innovators. This led to the design of our novel T1D Moonshot Scorecard. In addition to providing a framework for vetting potential health moonshot partners, the scorecard would serve as a data-driven tool to gauge our momentum and chart the trajectory of our progress.
During the first year, using our rigorous admissions process, our team reviewed hundreds of applications, many of which were referred by members of our T1D Moonshot Impact Board and T1D Moonshot Network. From this extensive pool, we have handpicked 30 standout, early-stage startups and research teams, representing a diverse selection of innovators, ideas, and products. Our inaugural T1D Fellows are now deeply engaged in HTU, harnessing the power of our expert coaching, global community, and robust brand presence. Like us, they are mission-driven, mindset-obsessed, community-powered, and batteries-included.
The T1D Moonshot 10-year vision isn’t to declare a cure. We’ve seen enough over-promising in the cure department. Instead, we want the result of the collective efforts of our global community to ensure that everyone with T1D has the tools and resources necessary to thrive. We want to create the tools so that we can prevent and delay the onset of the disease.
These goals are audacious in their own right and will demand a level of collaboration and funding previously unseen in this sector. Just as the original moonshot required, our community must embrace learning and innovation, forging new solutions along the way.
Every day, the impossible looks more possible. Our journey is far from finished. But if our goal is the moon, we’ve already put a rocket in orbit.
The best is yet to come.
» Meet the T1D Moonshot Community
In October, 2023, members of T1D Moonshot Community met in person at HLTH in Las Vegas, sparking new collaborations.
T1D Moonshot Progress
A curated list of recent advances made by members of our T1D Moonshot Community. Get weekly updates by subscribing to our newsletter at startuphealth.com/insider.
Abvance
Abvance Therapeutics developed a metabolic disease treatment, ABV100, a product combining insulin and glucagon effective in managing diabetes-related hypoglycemia.
Collaborating with some of the biggest diabetes organizations in the world (TBA) to round out a $15M seed raise
Diatech Diabetes
Diatech Diabetes offers SmartFusion, an AI-powered app and algorithm for detecting infusion set failures, enhancing the safety and reliability of insulin therapy in diabetes management.
Received JDRF Award to Advance Novel Software Platform for Monitoring Insulin Pump Infusion Set Failure
eddii
Eddii is a gamified, software-driven personal health companion that offers real-time glucose monitoring and personalized clinical interventions for engaging diabetes management.
Launched their platform nationwide, available in all 50 states
Won a partnership at 2023 NXTSTAGE Community Health & Vibrancy Pilot Competition
Hibiscus Health
Hibiscus Health integrates holistic care with a diabetes-specific risk score and facial scan technology to detect glucose fluctuations, offering personalized treatment plans, education, and clinical support.
Saw a 373% growth in MoM revenue in December
Now officially in-network with United Health Care as a provider
New patients being acquired through ZocDoc and physician offices
In-Range Animation
In-Range Animation simplifies diabetes education with captivating microlearning animations, empowering patients to effectively manage their health.
Began leading a team of diabetes educators, pharmacists, and clinicians to create “urgent case” diabetes training for pharmacies and community centers
Journey Biosciences
Journey Biosciences have pioneered a groundbreaking predictive test, the NaviDKD, which assesses the risk of developing kidney complications associated with diabetes.
Awarded CPT (0384U) from the American Medical Association (AMA) and a CPT awarded fee schedule by Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2024 and beyond. This create a pathway to provide reimbursement for NaviDKD to millions of people living with diabetes in the U.S.
Quarterfinalist in UCSF Digital Health Hub Foundations Digital Health Awards 2023
Successfully completed ‘Product- Market Fit’ pilot generating their first $35K in a 90-day window
Built a Commercial CLIA Laboratory for high-complexity testing in Cleveland, OH
Developed and deployed Compass digital platform that is AI-driven to produce risk assessments, engagement with healthcare professionals (HCPs) and is the primary user interface for patients and partners
NICH
Novel Interventions in Children’s Healthcare (NICH) is a transformative program offering specialized support for youth with chronic conditions like Type 1 diabetes, focusing on tailored interventions and addressing social determinants of health.
Partnered with Medicaid MCOs to offer unique services to the most vulnerable, high-risk youth with T1D
Secured funding from The Helmsley Charitable Trust for sustainability at Stanford and UCSF
Renewed contracts with Oregon MCOs and received a substantial donation from Charter Mechanical to provide essential resources and basic needs for youth and families managing T1D
Pramana
Pramana Pharmaceuticals is developing a new class of small molecules specifically targeting diabetes and metabolic disorders.
Pramana’s lead oral candidate for T1D, PRM A, demonstrated compelling results in recent data analysis, particularly in the statistical significance of activating glucagon on alpha cells. The data was presented at the 2023 ADA conference, introducing a new therapeutic approach for Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA).
Phillip Crooker, former staff counsel at the FDA and head of New Drug Research and Evaluation, joined Pramana to assist in navigating fast-track opportunities and orphan drug status.
Mark Heiman, PhD, ex-Chief Scientific Officer of Obesity for Eli Lilly and current adjunct professor at NIH partnered Pennington Biomedical Research Centre, joined Pramana to lead their Obesity and Cardio Metabolic Disease program.
Rob Jones, PhD, the lead inventor of Velsiptiy (acquired by Pfizer for $6.7B), joined Pramana to spearhead the LADA program
SmartStart Health
SmartStart Health offers a patient education app personalized for individuals with diabetes using CGMs, providing tailored content based on factors like age and treatment approach, accessible via handheld devices.
Completed proof of concept study for SmartStart CGM
Kicked off a pilot for SmartStart CGM with Gary Scheiner at Integrated Diabetes Services, a global leader in one-on-one and remote consulting for people who use insulin
Presented interim data from the proof of concept study at the 2023 Diabetes Technology Meeting and accepted to present at the 2024 ATTD Conference
Undermyfork
Undermyfork is a food diary mobile app catered to individuals with diabetes using data from CGM sensors.
Published a pilot study on the company’s diabetes app in the Journal of the European Society of Medicine
Xplosion Tech
Xplosion Tech has created Greens, a mobile app utilizing photo vision analysis to assist kids in managing their glucose levels.
Received investments from 450 Ventures, the venture arm of BCBS Alabama
Secured investment from Techstars and Innovate Alabama
» Meet the T1D Moonshot Community
» Get more stories in the latest issue of StartUp Health Magazine
Are You Ready to Transform T1D with Us?
For 13 years, StartUp Health has been more than a company. We’re architects of a global ecosystem aimed at conquering the biggest health challenges of our time. We blend creativity, efficiency, and compassion in an unprecedented approach to healthcare.
Now, harnessing all we’ve learned, we have created a unique opportunity for passionate funders and families to champion specific global health moonshots, bringing an audacious dream from initial development to exponential progress.
Our T1D Moonshot is just the tip of the iceberg. Under the guidance of an expert board and powered by mission-aligned families and organizations, we’re employing a double bottom line strategy — simultaneously generating profit and impact.
Our 25-year vision for the T1D Moonshot is laser-focused: prevent, manage, cure. The stakes are monumental, but our collective potential for change is even greater. For the loved ones we’ve all lost, for those we can still save, now is the time to come together to meet our biggest health challenges.
You can be a part of changing the world. If you’re driven to make a difference and want to be surrounded by similarly ambitious individuals and organizations, then we want you at the table. Together, we’ll turn each day into a monumental stride, not just advancing medicine but elevating the health and well-being of humanity.
Let’s bring healing and hope to people suffering from Type 1 diabetes. Contact us to learn how you can become part of the T1D Moonshot Community.
» Health Moonshot Champions: Contact our team at t1d@startuphealth.com
» Founders & Research Teams: Learn more and apply at startuphealth.com/t1d
» Meet the T1D Moonshot Community
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