The second cohort of the Trailblazer Software Accelerator Program kicked off earlier this month with an in-person event at Tri-C’s Eastern Campus where founding team members of the 10 participating startups convened for an introduction day. Following onboarding and program overview, each founder was paired with an entrepreneur-in-residence (EIR) who will offer personalized guidance each step of the way.

JumpStart’s Trailblazer Software Accelerator is a dynamic, 12-week program dedicated to advancing software-focused startups in Ohio. Presented by Big Kitty Labs, the Trailblazer Accelerator is an equity-free opportunity for early-stage startups to grow.

The curriculum-based intensive leads weekly workshops with industry experts who assist in building go-to-market strategies and driving platform development.

The Accelerator also provides two additional months of post-program support. Participants can access up to $125,000 in ad-hoc services through JumpStart’s Preferred Partner Program, which covers critical areas like legal, financial, marketing and more — all tailored to the needs of burgeoning startups.

Since its launch last year, the Trailblazer Accelerator has generated significant interest both from tech ecosystem partners and the startup community itself.

“The second cohort of our Software Trailblazer represents some of Ohio’s top early-stage SaaS startups,” says Kaleigh Gallagher, Vice President of JumpStart’s Tech Services and Network Management. “We had 130 companies apply and 10 were selected after a competitive review process.”

“The founders are impressive, have deep expertise in the problems they are tackling, and promising traction Our team, and partners, is thrilled to be working with them as they gear up for the pre-seed/seed raises.”

We’re pleased to introduce the companies that make up the second cohort of the Trailblazer Software Accelerator.

Privaclave

Privaclave prevents data breaches for enterprises handling sensitive data (PCI, PII, PHI, NPI). Using AI-driven automation, it enhances data security by providing continuous data discovery, classification, and protection. This non-invasive solution targets global enterprises, offering cost-effective data-centric security.

SciSummary

SciSummary makes consuming mass amounts of research papers fast, allowing researchers, students, and professors to extract and analyze papers without reading the whole document and has built in organizational tools.

Wenalytics

Wenalytics offers a unified view into real estate operations. The platform helps manage and maintain utilities like water, lighting, and HVAC systems, enhancing resource consumption, asset performance, and occupant comfort.

Crystal Growth Solutions

Crystals are found in many tech products and the process to make crystals is time-intensive, low yield, and a black box. Crystal Growth Solutions strives to address the critical knowledge gap in crystal growth with their physics informed AI software. Their software analyzes data and pinpoints actionable steps to increase yield and make the process more predictable.

Lasoh

Lasoh helps vacation rental managers drive more direct bookings and enhance guest experiences through a unique guest portal. This platform saves guest contact information and enables personalized marketing via a delightful digital experience. Lasoh allows owners to leverage relationship marketing to drive direct bookings.

Projector

It’s hard to locate and access personal media – it’s all sitting in our phones. Projector solves that problem. Projector allows you to upload and organize your home movies and photos and stream on your TV just like you stream your favorite video services like Netflix!

ContractScope

ContractScope simplifies the complex world of contracts with AI-driven technology. The platform quickly identifies and flags key terms, providing clear guidance within the contract. Specializing in captive insurance, ContractScope connects users with insurers to meet contractual requirements.

Obai

Obai revolutionizes automotive insurance and repair by streamlining the claims process for “Acts of God” incidents like floods and hurricanes. Using AI and AR, Obai enhances transparency, reduces fraud, and speeds up approvals, benefiting insurers, appraisers, repair shops, and policyholders.

Toyz

Toyz bridges the Gen Z skills gap with an immersive platform that’s “Minecraft meets Indeed”. Schools and businesses pay for access to a gamified environment where students build skills, showcase work, and match opportunities. Employers see talent in action through real-world challenges, inspiring students to pursue superhero careers.

Tublian

Tublian is like GitHub meets Upwork/Fivver. The current platform is an AI copilot – it allows software developers to move from freelancing one-off projects to running studios with repeatable work. Tublian aims to be Shopify for developers – an operating system that powers independent studios with all the tools needed to scale.

For many emergency room patients, a major obstacle to discharge is the need for a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE), or “echo.” TTEs use ultrasound waves to generate detailed images of the heart, providing information for diagnosing and managing various heart conditions.

Although this non-invasive procedure is routine, it requires highly specialized technicians. Due to industry-wide staffing shortages, patients often face long delays.

The Growing Need for Faster Cardiac Diagnostics

Each year, more than 7 million TTEs are performed in the U.S. Globally, that number climbs to around 15 million, making the demand for outpatient echos far greater than the supply of qualified cardiac sonographers available to administer the test. In rural areas, the problem is compounded – patients often have to wait 12 weeks for an echo or travel several hours to access these life-saving diagnostics.

In the field of medical imaging, procedures like X-ray and MRIs are adaptable to remote machines that can perform procedures with the click of a button. But echos require skilled technicians who must actually touch the patient with an ultrasound transducer. The procedure is dependent on the skill of the sonographer – they must be able to apply enough pressure and find certain angles to get the detailed picture they need. Burnout, however, is very common for sonographers. Their job requires significant physical effort and often leads to ergonomic injuries due to stress on their shoulders and elbows. This growing need for faster and more efficient cardiac care is exactly what Apricity Robotics aims to address with its revolutionary telerobotics platform.

Introducing Apricity Robotics: Revolutionizing Cardiac Care

Apricity Robotics, founded by Aaron Crookes, is working to address this critical issue by developing a cost-effective telerobotics patient care platform that leverages collaborative robotics and artificial intelligence to enhance cardiac ultrasound imaging. The platform will enable cardiac sonographers to perform ultrasounds remotely, bringing high-quality diagnostic capabilities to patients globally, no matter their location.

Aaron points out that while there are other big manufacturers looking at robotic ultrasounds, Apricity is differentiating their technology by allowing for autonomous and semi-autonomous control of their robot. Autonomous image acquisition means that the robot can position itself to capture high-quality heart images with minimal human guidance, reducing the need for on-site technicians.

“We’re actually training our robot how to scan like an experienced sonographer,” he explains.

The implications of Apricity’s technology extend beyond just improving access. By enabling quicker diagnosis through remote TTEs, healthcare providers can identify and treat heart conditions earlier, potentially preventing heart attacks and other cardiac events.

Additionally, the platform can address the physical strain on sonographers, allowing them to continue their work without risking injury.

“One of the things we are starting to do is work with the highly skilled technicians that want to use their advanced degrees and medical training, but can’t anymore, due to the physical demands,” says Aaron. “We want to empower them – they are the brains behind this, and we’re equipping them with technology that alleviates the physical limitations and enables them to continue working in their field.”

Taking Apricity to the Next Level in the Trailblazer Healthtech Accelerator

This year, Aaron and his team took part in the Trailblazer Healthtech Accelerator Program, a 3-month intensive that helps startups navigate regulatory, clinical and commercialization strategies, enhancing their readiness for venture capital through expert guidance and a proven curriculum. The Accelerator covers key areas like quantifying clinical and economic potential, building commercialization roadmaps and navigating the regulatory pathway.

While the current focus is on cardiac care, Apricity’s technology has the potential to expand into other areas of medical imaging, such as vascular and prenatal ultrasounds. This versatility, combined with the ability to integrate AI-driven autonomous image acquisition, positions Apricity Robotics as a leader in the future of medical diagnostics.

JumpStart’s Trailblazer HealthTech Accelerator is designed to support pre-seed and seed-stage startups poised to disrupt the health care industry with their innovative technologies. Throughout the 3-month program, participants will work closely with dedicated entrepreneurs-in-residence and subject matter experts as they learn how to quantify clinical and economic potential, build commercialization roadmaps and navigate the regulatory pathway.

Additionally, startups in the Trailblazer Accelerator receive access to up to $125K in critical business and product development services through JumpStart’s Preferred Partner Program.

Following a rigorous screening and review process, nine innovative startups were chosen for the Accelerator’s second cohort. Together their technologies can improve outcomes for NICU patients, wound care, healthcare claims management, support for healthcare providers, symptom relief for vaginal infections and more.

Therapy Word of Mouth

Therapy Word of Mouth improves patient care by connecting health providers to streamline referrals. This is a networking and referral platform for practitioners and organizations designed to expedite referrals and help clients access care faster.
Founded by: Tom Rogat, Psy.D., M.B.A.

Elios

Elios is redefining continuing medical education (CME) through the use of technology. Currently the CME industry is mandatory, expensive, time-intensive and based on outdated methods. Elios is an adaptive learning platform that uses AI and integrates with hospital data to bring a personalized, engaging learning experience for physicians as they obtain CME credentials.
Founded by: Oise Omoijuanfo and Will Grant

119

119 is a communication technology tool that guides bystanders into appropriate action during a recurring medical event for individuals that are aging, have chronic illnesses or challenges. 119 is a patented mobile, wearable system; the next generation of the outdated medical ID bracelet that can speak to bystanders when the wearer can’t speak due to a medical event and guide anyone through giving the right care at the right time for that individual.
Founded by: Jen Schlegel

GRAIMED

Unlocking the power of AI to transform cancer care, GRAIMED’s mission is to apply AI to imaging and genetic data for clinicians, providing them with better diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment results. Combines medical imaging and genomic data within machine learning models to derive immediate diagnostic insights about tumor characteristics. GRAIMED reduces time to treatment and eliminates unnecessary procedures.
Founded by: Amanda Bridenstine

smallTalk

smallTalk® is a health technology startup developing the first intervention to improve brain development in premature infants. Designed with grant support from the National Institutes of Health, the smallTalk® NICU Egg™ is a speaker device that helps families stay connected to their baby during a stay in the NICU. Designed for both parents and hospital care teams, the smallTalk system is easy to implement and helps overcome early language deficits.
CEO: Dean Koch

Auxilium Health

Auxilium is developing a smarter way to heal with wound care technology that combines therapeutics and diagnostics. Auxilium’s mission is to empower patients to take control of their healing journey by providing technology that actively heals and monitors wound infections, enabling faster recovery times and better quality of life for patients. Auxilium offers a smarter way to heal wounds, one patient at a time.
Founded by: Isaiah Kaiser and Aparna Agrawal

Fideliomed

Primary Health Care Systems are the first point of contact for individuals seeking healthcare services. Fideliomed has developed Intelligent Diagnostics for timely clinical decision and targeted therapy in primary care. Fideliomed advanced digital diagnostic platform enables real-time diagnosis of common and treatable conditions, such as anemia and nutritional disorders, during medical visits, all in a single step. By improving early detection and facilitating access to targeted treatment and education, patients can experience an increased quality of life and reduced healthcare costs.
Founded by: Simona Roggero

Coologics, Inc

Coologics is a medical device that offers patented, drug-free technology that treats 90% of vaginal infections with almost 100% efficacy. Seventy-five percent of preterm births are due to vaginal infections and treatment can lower preterm births by 38-66%. Coologics offers the only preventative strategy that addresses all five of the infectious risk factors for preterm births: vaginal infections caused by fungus & bacteria, inflammation, pH & microbiome and biofilms.
Founded by: Kim Langdon

HealthQ AI

HealthQ AI provides an AI-driven platform that streamlines healthcare claims management, reducing denials and administrative costs through real-time optimization and anomaly detection, without coding.
Founded by: Brent Bannerman

Earlier this year, JumpStart Inc. unveiled an expanded suite of entrepreneurial support services for health tech and software startups. As part of these reimagined services, JumpStart launched the Trailblazer Tech Accelerator Program to empower pre-seed and seed-stage tech startups based in Ohio. The 3-month intensive program guides ambitious startup founders through fundamental growth phases, enhancing their readiness for venture capital investment through a proven curriculum, expert access and individualized advising.

The program rolled out with the HealthTech Accelerator, designed to help healthcare startups level up. It provides a deep dive into regulatory, clinical, reimbursement and commercialization strategies. From quantifying clinical and economic potential to building a roadmap for commercialization to navigating the regulatory pathway, the Trailblazer HealthTech Accelerator will help startups prepare for venture capital raising.

The launch of the Trailblazer Accelerator program received a tremendous response from Ohio-based startups, partner organizations and the broader tech ecosystem. Following a rigorous screening and review process, ten innovative startups have been selected for the inaugural cohort. Together they address important challenges like hospital staffing shortages, sepsis in inpatient settings, symptom relief, ultrasound access in rural areas and much, much more.

Apricity Robotics

Apricity Robotics is developing a cost-effective telerobotics patient care platform that leverages collaborative robotics and artificial intelligence to enhance cardiac ultrasound imaging. The platform will enable cardiac sonographers to perform ultrasounds remotely, bringing high-quality diagnostic capabilities to patients globally, no matter their location.
Founded by: Aaron Crookes

Asclepii

Asclepii is creating the next generation of tissue engineering through Artemis™, a revolutionary therapeutic platform that turns a $30,000 Stem Cell therapy into $300. The technology aims to tackle pressing clinical needs in the chronic wound space, helping to improve the treatment of medical complications such as diabetic foot ulcers.
Founded by: Franco Kraiselburd, Ixchel Robles Ruiz, Miguel Angel Fuentes Chandia, Santiago Kraiselburd & Daniel Katzman

Cool Comforts

Cool Comforts develops innovative products to address women’s unmet feminine care needs. Designed to alleviate symptoms like burning, itching and general discomfort, the products offer a safe and simple solution for yeast infections, vaginitis, menopause and more.
Founded by: Dr. Kesha Williams

Kilele Health

Kilele Health is bringing proprietary wearable biosensor technology for remote patient monitoring to reduce hospital re-admissions by directly measuring the gold standard biomarker for heart failure management. Kilele Health is empowering doctors and patients with accurate, real-time cardiometabolic data.
Founded by: Andrew Cothrel & Jason Heikenfeld

Machine Translation

Machine Translation is a SaaS company developing novel technologies that leverage machine learning to address antimicrobial resistance. The technology’s initial focus is on clinical and pharmaceutical applications.
Founded by: Cory Kromer-Edwards

MDBee

MDBee revolutionizes healthcare by using AI to automatically generate specialty-customized patient notes, elevating the patient experience, boosting revenue and reducing burnout. The MDBee technology offers a range of services for both healthcare systems and clinicians to streamline and enhance medical treatments.
Founded by: Mohamed Aly

Radcliffe Watts

Radcliffe Watts developed Klär Lite, a cutting-edge, portable phototherapy device designed for plaque psoriasis, featuring easy setup, a touch interface, over 5000-hour LED lifespan, and customizable treatments for every skin type. The product alleviates the symptoms of psoriasis and provides a safe and effective home therapy.
Founded by: Dan Smith & Josh Smith

Rahm Sensor Development

Transforming Healthcare with Patented Sensor Technology, RahmSD creates advanced non-contact monitoring technology to help healthcare providers make more informed decisions. Using advanced sensors that use Doppler Radar technology to accurately track real-time movement and velocity of internal bodily functions, such as blood flow and respiratory rates.
Founded by: Vik Ramprakash

Sensate Biosystems

Sensate Biosystems is pioneering aptamer-based wearable biosensors for real-time biomarker monitoring to optimize human health and performance.
Founded by: Elliot Reed, Mark Chance & Elizabeth Berezovsky

TurningMode

TurningMode is developing AWARE, a new approach to providing actionable patient data to caregivers within their existing workflow aimed at reducing nurse burnout and mitigating care delays for deteriorating patients. AWARE will help physicians, nurses and caregivers take better care of their patients, while saving time and resources.
Founded by: Jorge Zapata