MedHaul: Technology meets Compassion
In the world of healthcare innovation, few stories resonate as deeply as that of MedHaul, a digital platform that’s transforming medical transportation. Founded by Erica, who brings over a decade of experience in clinical and research informatics, MedHaul was born from both professional insight and personal experience. Erica’s journey started in the Mississippi Delta, where she witnessed firsthand the struggles her grandmother faced as a Type 2 diabetic amputee. For someone with serious health conditions, the lack of reliable transportation became a significant barrier to receiving vital medical care. Growing up in a region where transportation was a daily challenge, Erica quickly realized that this problem wasn’t isolated. Elderly, disabled, and low-resourced individuals, particularly in rural areas, faced the same issue—an inadequate system that made it difficult, if not impossible, to get to essential medical appointments. After working with prominent healthcare organizations like Epic, Flatiron Health, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Erica saw the gaps in the medical transportation system from a new perspective. Patients struggled to book reliable rides, while transportation companies were overwhelmed by inefficient processes. The entire system was broken. So, she created MedHaul—a platform designed to streamline the process and bridge the gap between healthcare providers and transportation services. What started as a personal mission has grown into a powerful solution. MedHaul has now impacted over 100,000 lives across 15 states, connecting healthcare providers with local, community-based transportation partners. The platform has not only improved access to care but also garnered national attention and support
The Journey of Pollen Studios: From Memphis to the Big Apple and Back
Nam’s journey in building Pollen Studios is marked by resilience and ambition. His family moved to the United States when he was just a baby, seeking to give their son the opportunity to pursue the American Dream. Instilled with a strong drive, Nam began working at the age of fourteen, fully embracing the hustle culture that would shape his character. In college, he balanced three jobs while pursuing his studies, all the while charting a path toward a career in investments and finance. After graduation, he moved to NYC, where he was introduced to the world of tech and venture capital. He started at Nomad, an Interplay Ventures company, and later joined Human Ventures as an early team member. There, he played a pivotal role in backing and launching over 10 tech and tech-enabled companies. Early in his career, Nam also had the opportunity to help scale a small team to a multi-million dollar operation with 150+ employees. These experiences provided him with the frameworks, expertise, and skills needed to thrive as a founder and business leader. In 2019, Nam took a bold step by founding Pollinate Art, foregoing a steady salary to pursue his entrepreneurial vision. The journey was fraught with challenges, not least of which were the economic uncertainties brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. However, these obstacles only strengthened his resilience and determination. Emerging from those trials, Nam began to think on a global scale. In 2022, he and his partners launched Pollen Studios, a
Asha’s Refuge: Beyond 90 Days
Jamie’s journey of helping others began in Indonesia, where she worked in the aftermath of a devastating tsunami. Her passion for service eventually brought her to find something in Memphis. She started volunteering with Catholic Charities of West Tennessee. Initially, Jamie helped with English classes and tutoring, but her desire to do more led her to work alongside the organization’s caseworkers. During this time, she was asked to provide home-based ESL tutoring for Asha, a survivor of the Somali Civil War, whose incredible resilience would go on to inspire a much larger mission. Asha’s story is one of immense courage. While fleeing Somalia with her two nieces and 7-year-old brother, the military vehicle they were traveling in overturned, crushing her legs. She lay trapped for hours before others in the vehicle managed to lift it off her, but with no access to medical care, Asha’s legs were severely damaged. Despite her injuries, she managed to crawl to safety, carrying her nieces on her back and chest. After this harrowing escape, they spent ten years in a refugee camp before arriving in Memphis. When Asha and her family arrived in the U.S., they were placed in a barely livable apartment. Without basic English skills or the ability to drive, their daily lives were a struggle. Jamie quickly saw that teaching English wasn’t enough. The government’s 90-day resettlement program, meant to help refugees acclimate, was insufficient. Refugees often lacked the support needed to navigate legal paperwork, healthcare, employment, and housing, leaving many
Pioneering Mobility Solutions: Anticipation Builds for Demo Day in Memphis
As we edge closer to Demo Day, excitement is building as we anticipate pitches showcasing ideas that have the potential to transform mobility in Memphis. The applications we’ve received span a variety of themes, including safety across all aspects of mobility, personal vehicle usage and ownership costs, Mobility as a Service (MaaS), and community engagement in this transformative journey. Regarding safety concerns from door-to-door and along the transportation journey, organizations like Asha’s Refuge and MedHaul ensure access to transportation services, providing safety and accessibility to necessary services by transporting the customer. Daughters of Zion on the other hand ensure that they bring necessary services to their customers. Boom assists in detecting potholes and improving road conditions, while Mobility IQ enhances daily commutes using data and road technology. Tappy Technology aids seniors and individuals with disabilities in commuting safely and independently. Understanding the total cost of mobility and car ownership is also a focus. My City Rides (MCR) provides a motorcycle and all that is needed to drive it legally and safely on the streets of Memphis. Split EV connects drivers to private property owners for charging solutions, and Koza Energy captures, stores, and distributes micromobility solutions and EV charging. Several semi-finalists address Mobility as a Service (MaaS). Bhadala, a fintech-enabled platform like Uber and Lyft, Pollen Studios, developing a ridesharing platform connecting neighborhoods to business centers, and PT Carrier Group LLC, a network connecting people with job opportunities beyond the transit system, all bring innovative solutions to the table. Kudzukian
About our Semi-finalists: #TheMemphisChallenge
Ford’s initiative, The Ford Urbanite Challenge, aims at developing community-based mobility solutions. They have chosen Memphis as their 10th project destination with Start Co. as the local anchor and 12 local partners. We are uniting to bring a vision of mobility innovation that can spark change in our community. We are providing $600,000 in pilot funding and other support to create a Memphis with safe and accessible transportation, opening new opportunities for all. #TheMemphisChallenge application went live in April, inviting solutions that addressed critical areas identified in the Explore Phase of the challenge: Safe Access to Transportation, Safety throughout the entire mobility journey, Personal Vehicle Use, and Understanding the Total Cost of Mobility and Car Ownership. Following independent scoring and group discussions, the steering committee selected 10 semi-finalists from the 64 applications received. The demographics of our applicants are 40% men and 60% women, with 30% White, 50% Black, and 20% Asian. We received an equal number of applications from within and outside of Memphis. Here are the applications that stood out as semi-finalists (in alphabetical order): Asha’s Refuge: Asha’s Refuge is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting refugees and court-approved asylees. These individuals, new to the country, often face significant resource shortages and language barriers. AR aims to empower these vulnerable individuals by providing access to a private vehicle, facilitating their ability to obtain legal services, jobs, food, and healthcare. In turn, these individuals assist future incoming refugees in integrating into society. Bhadala: A fintech-enabled Mobility as a
Unveiling Mobility Solutions: Analyzing Innovative Proposals for Memphis
As we approach the announcement of the finalists, our steering committee is diligently evaluating the applications to identify mobility solutions for Memphis that warrant our support for piloting. Here’s an analysis of the types of applications we received. Broadly, the applications fall into three categories: Business Models Addressing Supply Chain and Mobility Issues: Many applications focused on business models where supply chain and mobility are critical components. These solutions sought funding to tackle industry-specific mobility challenges in Memphis, aiming to streamline operations and enhance efficiency. Enhancing Memphis Transportation Systems: A significant number of applications aimed at improving and expanding the city’s transportation infrastructure. This included proposals for various types of electric vehicles (EVs) to support both individual and group transportation, the installation of EV charging stations, and initiatives promoting private-public collaboration. Additionally, several ideas focused on enhancing passenger safety through features like real-time location sharing and driver background checks. While these might seem like extensions of existing systems, they are tailored to meet local needs and foster collaboration with specific industries or organizations. Addressing Mobility Challenges for Underprivileged Communities: The third category highlighted the mobility challenges faced by underprivileged communities, such as those needing medical assistance or refugees lacking resources and language skills. Many individuals are unable to leave their homes due to the inability to access transportation or financial constraints preventing them from accessing aid. Various organizations working with these communities applied to expand their reach, aiming to assist more people with transportation for errands, social activities, and other
Drive Electric Tennessee’s Ambitious EV Goals: A Shift Towards Sustainability
Drive Electric Tennessee (DET), a coalition encompassing state agencies, electric utilities, various cities, universities, vehicle manufacturers, businesses, and advocacy groups, is setting an ambitious target. Their goal is to see 200,000 electric vehicles (EVs) cruising along Tennessee’s roads by 2028. This initiative reflects a broader commitment to enhance environmental sustainability and modernize the transportation infrastructure in the state. As of now, the adoption rate of EVs in Tennessee is on the rise, yet certain areas like Memphis are lagging. Currently, Memphis accounts for just over 11% of the state’s registered EVs, indicating a need to significantly boost vehicle production to meet statewide objectives. This calls for Memphis to nearly double its efforts if Tennessee is to reach its 200,000 EV goal. Infrastructure is a key piece of the puzzle. To support the growing number of electric vehicles, substantial investments are necessary in both public and private charging stations. While Tennessee already has over 1,800 charging stations, only a fraction of these is in Memphis. Enhancing this infrastructure will be crucial in ensuring EV users can charge their vehicles conveniently, thus reducing “range anxiety” — the fear of running out of charge mid-journey. Furthermore, as the number of EVs increases, so will the demand for electricity. Currently, the Tennessee Valley Authority manages a significant share of the state’s energy production, but it will need to scale up to meet the additional load from thousands of EVs charging daily. This is a critical factor in maintaining the reliability and affordability of transportation,
Growing Memphis with More Research and Development Expenditure
A thriving innovation economy requires a robust research and development expenditure with participation by the private sector, government, academia and other nonprofits. For Memphis to grow we need to grow research and development expenditures. A study in 2019 of higher education research and development in the United States showed that Memphis conducted only $155M dollars that year, placing the metropolitan area at a rank of 99th out of the top 100 metropolitan areas. On GDP rankings by metropolitan area Memphis ranks 49 out of the top 100 metro areas. To match up our higher education research and development with our ranking of 49th in GDP a total of $477MM or greater would be needed in expenditures in higher educational institutions. In corporate research and development, Memphis does not fare any better. Out of the top 100 metro areas, Memphis ranks 91st with only $369MM of spending in 2017 according to the National Science Foundation and Census Bureau. To be 49th would take the Memphis metro area spending $1.08B or more in corporate research and development. Research and development expenditures turn into employment expenditures. At present in higher education research and development Memphis is employing just 2621 personnel according to the National Science Foundation 2018 survey. Assuming the metro could jump up to a rank of 49th it would be 5524. That’s more than double the high paying, high quality jobs. Stacking up the ideal amount of corporate research and development ($1.08B) and the ideal higher education expenditure ($477MM) should yield
Unraveling the Essence of the Memphis Challenge
We, at Start Co., have been in contact with our partners to gain insight into their decision to support the Memphis Challenge amidst various mobility projects in the region. The prevailing sentiment among them is a shared enthusiasm for backing startups infused with fresh energy and a commitment to community upliftment. Drawing from their industry experience and involvement in similar initiatives, our partners recognize the significance of grassroots efforts in bolstering the local economy. One significant challenge facing Memphis is its vast geographical spread, encompassing nearly 300 square miles of land. This expansive layout poses hurdles for transit-oriented systems due to the combination of low density and the necessity for substantial ridership. For those fortunate enough to possess reliable transportation in Memphis, the importance of mobility in daily life might be easily overlooked. However, accessibility impacts every aspect of life, from attending school and medical appointments to engaging in community activities. According to Innovate Memphis’s newsletter, establishing safe and dependable public transit and mobility systems could potentially save Memphians over $9,000 annually, thereby significantly impacting their spending power and access to essential resources. The Memphis Challenge aims to spearhead local initiatives that align with the Transit Vision objectives. By empowering residents of underprivileged communities to identify and implement solutions tailored to their needs, this challenge offers seed funding and support to drive positive change. Representatives from MMDC have aptly captured the essence of our aspirations with the Ford Urbanite Challenge: to design a solution that facilitates a seamless, circular path
Transportation costs in Memphis
As we navigate the streets of Memphis, it’s easy to observe the significant burden that transportation costs place on our households and our community. However, the reality is that transportation expenses are a major burden on our finances, limiting our ability to invest. Memphis is gearing up for a significant increase in economic investments. This growth can be utilized to lower living expenses for households and improve access to opportunities by making investments in the transportation sector. In Memphis, the average household spends a staggering 27% of its income on transportation. Transportation is considered affordable when it is under 15% of a household’s annual budget. In Memphis we are well above that. Investments in transportation are critical for equitable, sustainable long-term growth in Memphis. The high cost of transportation in Memphis is largely due to our reliance on personal vehicles. We are heavily dependent on cars to get around, which leads to high expenses on fuel, maintenance, and parking. Additionally, our city’s limited public transportation options mean that many residents have no choice but to own a car, further intensifying the problem. The impact of these high transportation costs is far-reaching. For low-income households, the burden of transportation expenses can be particularly incapacitating, leaving little room in the budget for other essential expenses like food, healthcare, and education. Furthermore, the lack of affordable transportation options limits access to job opportunities, education, and healthcare. What can be done to address the high cost of transportation in Memphis? One solution is to