Venture capital firm Nurse Capital has announced inaugural investments in Wave Therapeutics and The Nursing Beat, startups focused on patient care and digital news for nurses.
Both companies offer new products for patients and nurses. Their solutions are said to be unique in the medical device and digital media platform industries.
Nurse Capital is a women-founded, Chicago-based fund that invests in early-stage nurse-led businesses. The fund supports nurse entrepreneurs advancing the future of healthcare.
Nurse Capital co-founder Beth Brooks said: “The expertise and insights of these nurse leaders will be instrumental in accelerating the growth of these ventures, helping them navigate the complexities of healthcare and scale their impact across the industry.”
Chicago-based Wave Therapeutics, founded in 2020, is revolutionising pressure injury prevention with its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered soft robotics cushioning technology.
Its patented Surf Wheelchair Cushion is designed to prevent and treat bedsores, especially those with mobility impairments.
The Surf Cushion eliminates pressure “hot spots” by using a pulsing mechanism and advanced analytics platform to improve blood flow to the heart and lungs, reoxygenating affected tissues and reducing the risk of damage.
Wave Therapeutics founder/CEO Jessica Bussert said: “As experienced healthcare providers themselves, the team at Nurse Capital are the perfect partners for helping to grow our business because they know firsthand the daily challenges care providers face trying to prevent and treat pressure injuries like bedsores.
“Their real-world experience in this area allowed them to be able to immediately recognise the life-saving technology we’ve created to solve this healthcare crisis, which costs the US economy over $30bn annually.”
Los Angeles-based The Nursing Beat (TNB) is a digital media platform.
Founded in 2019, the business offers a daily, subscription-based newsletter. The newsletter delivers quick, concise summaries of the important news and resources impacting nurses.
The Nursing Beat also hosts in-person events and publishes professional materials tailored to the nursing community.
TNB co-founder and CEO Tamara AL-Yassin said: “Nurse Capital’s belief in us and their investment are a testament to the critical role nurses play in shaping the future of healthcare.
“We’re not just growing a media platform. We’re nurturing a community that amplifies the collective voice of nurses and drives positive change in healthcare delivery.”
In June this year, Nurse Capital announced the closing of its inaugural $1m Nurse Founders Fund to invest in firms founded and led by Registered Nurses.
