1EQ, the Georgetown-based health startup that took first place at the
D.C. region's Challenge Cup—health division, has had a pretty good year, according to company CFO Juan Pablo Segura. In addition to taking home the trophy at the regional competition, 1EQ is also announcing it is about to close a $1 million funding round—following on its successful $1 million raise in late 2013—as it rolls out its flagship product Babyscripts.
"A year ago, we had no clients and no product," says Segura. "The Challenge Cup was a pretty awesome experience. It validates [you] as a startup when you actually win something. We're excited to bring the Internet of Things into healthcare."
Babyscripts is a mobile prescription for pregnancy. It has two parts; the first part is a mobile app that contains a to-do list for mothers-to-be with lots of information that comes directly from their health care provider. "The app provides dietary and medication adherence counseling, and basically tells [patients] everything that has to happen in between appointments," Segura says.
Between appointments, patients sometimes turn to "Dr. Internet" for medical advice, which arguably isn't the best source of information. Babyscripts aims to supplant the Web with more reliable advice. "Since it comes from their doctor, [the app] solves the question of, 'is this information legitimate?'"
Babyscripts also comes with a WiFi-connected scale and blood-pressure cuff. "Every time patients step on the scale or take their blood pressure, 1EQ will know which patients are trending from low-risk to high-risk," says Segura. "We can then alert healthcare providers, which improves healthcare outcomes." "We're really focused on which patients are at risk." The app doesn't make decisions for a patient; it simply sends the data to the patiient's healthcare provider, who makes the decisions.
1EQ charges providers $300 per pregnancy for Babyscripts; ultimately, Segura says the platform is designed to save providers money and patients time in the long run. "We're making it convenient. We're reducing unnecessary visits. Patients don't have to go to the office [just] to check their weight and blood pressure. They can do that at home."
1EQ piloted Babyscripts with
George Washington University Hospital. Two additional providers--the Private Diagnostic Clinic at Duke (a subsidiary of Duke University Health System) and a private OB/GYN practice in the District—have signed on to use Babyscripts with their patients, and Segura says he is "about to finalize two other contracts with hospitals in D.C." that will also use the product with their patients.