Author: siteground@sagamoreinstitute.org

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a staggering 37.3 million individuals in the United States are affected by diabetes. For these individuals, the task of finding food that aligns with their dietary restrictions and simultaneously satisfies their taste buds can be an overwhelming challenge. Mohamed Aly, an experienced chef, found himself grappling with the same predicament upon receiving his own diabetes diagnosis. This personal experience served as a catalyst for his innovative creation of a carb-free pizza crust, comprising solely four ingredients: olive oil, salt, chicken breasts, and spices.

Under the collaborative efforts of Mohamed Aly and Omar Atia (a skilled food engineer) the brand ZeroCarb Lyfe has successfully incorporated the carb-free process into a diverse range of products, spanning from pizza to chips, to taco shells. By doing so, ZeroCarb Lyfe offers a revolutionary alternative that caters not only to individuals afflicted by diabetes but to all seeking to shed excess weight or simply lead a healthier life, while still relishing their culinary experiences. 

The US spends the most on health care but has the worst health outcomes among high-income countries – The American healthcare system is riddled with problems, from high costs and inefficiencies to a lack of serious preventative care. Omar Fuentes, a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran experienced this firsthand when his father and brother passed away and his wife was diagnosed with Cancer. He built Accel-EQ out of a desire to increase efficiencies and decrease the costs of medical care with the intention of lowering the barrier of access for those who have been underserved.

AccelEQ is an end-to-end SaaS platform that uses AI and Machine learning to automate medical documentation by transcribing patient-provider interactions at the point of care. This dictation software will ultimately make the clinical documentation process more efficient and less costly, thereby decreasing provider burnout and increasing patient experience.

From expensive transportation and hard-to-predict markets to complicated foreign laws and regulations, entering into international trade can be quite challenging for new companies. However, for many emerging brands, global trade offers one of the fastest and most effective ways to scale their business and reach new customers. After spending over a decade in the international imports and exports industry developing networks and experience, Mauro Costa saw an opportunity for innovation.

This realization birthed Bulkitrade, a user-friendly B2B marketplace that streamlines logistics and distributions for emerging food and beverage companies, offering them access to global analytics, logistic algorithms, and 24/7 support. Bulkitrade combines e-commerce, supply chain, fintech, and data analytics all in one place, ultimately making international B2B trade more efficient, transparent, and accessible.

DALLAS, TX — Fewer than 4 in 10 Americans have enough saved to to cover a $1000 unexpected expense.¹ Likewise, Americans borrow almost $200B annually from friends and family.²

In financial emergencies, there is limited consumer access to traditional lending options and no structure to automate loan repayment to friends and family. In this vacuum, predatory lenders charge exorbitant interest and prey on borrowers when they are most vulnerable.

Zirtue is a relationship-based social lending app that simplifies loans between friends, family and trusted relationships with automatic ACH loan payments. A more financially inclusive economy, especially for the underbanked and unbanked, is coming into being through Zirtue’s enterprise solution for borrowers.

FORT WAYNE, IN — Sports training programs typically focus on athletic performance and skill. Since focus on holistic development is often in short supply, these programs can lack trainers and mentors who invest in the development of an athlete outside of sports.

Traction Athletic Performance is a training platform focused on building human potential. Their approach integrates human development, mental performance, athletic performance, and skills training into a micro process of sports. Their mission is to empower human development beyond sports through the holistic training of the athlete.

As coffee prices have dropped in recent years, economic pressures on Guatemalans have triggered mass migration to the United States. Hundreds of thousands make the dangerous journey only to be apprehended at the U.S. border or live a shadow life as non-citizens.

Thrive Farmers coffee company shares more revenue with Guatemalan farmers – allowing farming families to support themselves year in and year out. Their farmers see an average increase of 350% in their net income and often invest this new wealth in their communities.

MCKINNEY, TX — On a mission to fuel industry recovery and grow local economies, ShearShare is the first B2B mobile marketplace for stylists to manage and grow their small businesses on their terms, starting with a space to work. Even before COVID-19, the barbering and beauty industry was changing and now 70% of licensed professionals are now freelance.¹

ShearShare empowers small businesses by allowing salon and barbershop owners to fill their empty chairs giving independent stylists economic mobility through on-demand access to professional work spaces and B2B tools. ShearShare’s vision is to create 1,000,000 industry jobs and empower stylists with tools to maximize their earning potential.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — About a decade ago, the Near North Development Corporation, the community development corporation responsible for the Crown Hill neighborhood in Indianapolis, faced dire challenges in its service area. The crippling effects of the neighborhood’s high crime and poverty rates left many in despair about the future of Crown Hill. By 2017, the NNDC had maxed out of the limited supply of general contractors who were willing and able to build affordable residential housing in Crown Hill.

Revive was created to revitalize depleted communities by pairing new residential housing construction with increased access to adult education and social services. They elevate the urban living experience with entertainment and wellness projects. One home, one family, one community at a time. The NNDC and the Mapleton-Fall Creek Development Corporation both have awarded contracts and projects to Revive to increase the supply of affordable housing builders long-term.