Ecosystem
Building
Due to systemic racism and economic stigma, women and other birthing people of color face barriers to reproductive and maternal healthcare, which often result in disparate reproductive and maternal health outcomes. Investment in the multibillion dollar healthcare market is one way to advance health and wellbeing, however, investments in healthcare innovation are not often deployed to address racial, ethnic or gender disparities. Our ecosystem building work seeks to:
- incorporate a racial and gender equity lens into reproductive and maternal health investments,
- support early and growth stage companies with the integration of equity informed best practices,
- advance reproductive justice principles in the broader marketplace,
- elevate community voice through equitable partnerships, and
- foster a culture of impact measurement and management in the ecosystem.
Such an approach can spur innovation and address disparities in reproductive and maternal health outcomes.
RH Capital, a Rhia Ventures Fund, assesses the impact of its funds and portfolio companies on advancing reproductive and maternal health equity.
Addressing Root Causes of Health Disparities and Increasing Resource Awareness Among Black Women
The Black Women’s Health Forum (BWHF) addresses health issues impacting Black women, including chronic diseases, maternal health, cancer, and mental health. Born from Making Connections 5.0, the forum aims to combat health disparities and promote racial equity. The goal of BWHF is to raise awareness about the resources available to Black women and help reduce disparities in accessing these services, regardless of socioeconomic status. In 2024, Rhia Ventures’ Chief Health Officer Crystal P. Tyler moderated the program.
A companion guide to the BWHF summarizes key points surfaced from the panels: Maternal Morbidity & Mortality Through an Equity Lens, Generational Health, Black Maternal Health, Clinical Trials, and Racism & Weathering.
Balancing Innovation with Equity: Generative AI in Health Care
Generative artificial intelligence is revolutionizing medicine. Experts across sectors are working to ensure AI technologies not only push the boundaries of innovation but also that all patient populations are appropriately considered and benefit from advancements. Rhia Ventures participated in a panel at the “Generative AI in Healthcare Symposium” hosted by The Northwestern Medicine Mansueto Innovation Institute and MATTER. Innovators and leading experts shared perspectives on the role of generative AI in health care and the prospective challenges and opportunities for advancing health equity utilizing AI. A companion guide is available.
Symposium
Generative AI in Health Care
Speakers: Rhia Ventures Chief Health Officer, Crystal Pirtle Tyler PhD, MPH, and Abel N. Kho, MD and David M. Liebovitz, MD of Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University
Driving Deeper Impact by Aligning Financial Decisions with Mission and Values
The business model for reproductive health advocacy is changing. As responsible stewards of their assets, organizations can drive deeper impact by aligning financial decisions with their mission and values.
Rhia Ventures and Studio Watershed hosted a Masterclass, “Mission & Values Aligned Financial Decision-Making for Reproductive Health Organizations,” to introduce essential context and practical tools for reproductive health organizations interested in leveraging financial investments to further advance their mission, and the movement. A companion guide is available.
Masterclass
Mission and Values Aligned Financial Decision-Making for Reproductive Health Organizations
Speakers: Anitra Beasley, MD, MPH, Board Member of Society of Family Planning; Deena Kalai, JD, Board Member of Jane’s Due Process; and CEO of Rhia Ventures Erika Seth Davies. Rhia Ventures Chief Health Officer, Crystal Pirtle Tyler PhD, MPH, provided opening remarks and Amy Kaufman of Studio Watershed moderated.
Leveraging Alternative Returns for Women’s Health Equity
There is critical conversation needed about how to coordinate capital beyond philanthropy in support of systems change initiatives that advance reproductive and maternal health equity in the US. Rhia Ventures joined a discussion among allies about deploying capital to support reproductive justice principles. A companion guide is available.
Masterclass
Leveraging Alternative Returns for Women’s Health Equity
Speakers: Crystal Pirtle Tyler PhD, MPH of Rhia Ventures, Avary Kent of Spring USA, Arjita A. Sethi of New Founder School, Jenny Kassan of Opportunity Main Street, Inc., and Yui Ueno of ICA Fund.
Advancing Health Equity Through Impact Measurement and Management
Rhia Ventures collaborated with Impact Frontiers on a masterclass titled, “Advancing Health Equity Through Impact Measurement & Management.” The masterclass includes an overview of impact measurement and management (IMM), the importance of measuring impact, and examples of IMM for internal and external purposes. A companion guide is available.
Masterclass
Advancing Health Equity Through Impact Measurement and Management
Speakers: Mike McCreless, Executive Director of Impact Frontiers, and Tejal Patel, Senior Program Associate, Rhia Ventures. Crystal Pirtle Tyler PhD, MPH, Rhia’s Chief Health Officer moderated.
Scaling Reproductive & Maternal Health Technologies in Diverse Global Contexts
Rhia Ventures partnered with Propelevate and Catalyst Global on a two-part virtual Masterclass for reproductive and maternal health companies and organizations looking to enter diverse global markets. Part 1: Understanding the Opportunity addressed existing need and inequities and the opportunity to advance health equity and impact across different areas of reproductive and maternal health; and the market opportunity, including unique features of diverse global contexts such as donor funding and bulk purchasing. A highlight guide is available.
Part 2: Navigating Regulatory Pathways and Clinical Trials tackles the complexities of market authorization, details of effective regulatory strategies, product registration, and the importance of post-marketing requirements and how to manage them. This session also outlines the need to engage in product co-design with your audience in mind and provides examples and best practices for equity-centered clinical trials in diverse global contexts. A highlight guide is available.
Masterclass
Part 1: Understanding the Opportunity
Speakers: Krisila Benson and Risha Hess from Propelevate and Noxolo Magubane from Catalyst Global. Opening remarks by Dr. Jamie Hart from Coalition to Expand Contraceptive Access
Part 2: Navigating Regulatory Pathways and Clinical Trials
Speakers: Noxolo Magubane and Wilberto Robles from Catalyst Global
Addressing Racial Health Gaps through Private Investment
New Markets Support Company (NMSC) and Rhia Ventures co-hosted a program to discuss the findings of NMSC’s white paper, “Narrowing the Black-White Health Gap: Opportunities for Private Investment to Drive Progress in the United States.” The program explored how the private sector can better address the racial health gap through investment, including examples of scalable evidence-based solutions and innovative solutions that can disrupt traditional approaches to health care. A companion guide is available.
Webinar
Narrowing the Black-White Health Gap: Opportunities for Private Investment to Drive Progress in the United States
Speakers: Rhia Ventures CEO Erika Seth Davies, Nzinga Broussard, PhD and Donna Nuccio of New Markets Support Company, Berinna Doggett of SOME, and Tiffany Green of University of Wisconsin-Madison, moderated by Rhia Ventures CHO Crystal Pirtle Tyler PhD, MPH.
Driving Growth by Engaging Strategic Partners
Engaging strategic partners for funding and additional resources can be a critical step for early-stage reproductive health companies. It is a sensitive process that requires time and intention.
Rhia Ventures and RH Capital, a Rhia Ventures fund, offered a virtual Masterclass for founders and innovators to provide an overview of partnership structures including joint ventures, licensing and development agreements, contract research, equity investments, and acquisition. Cirqle Biomedical’s licensing and development deal with Organon was highlighted as a case study. The program covered considerations for selecting appropriate partnership structures, expectations for negotiation process and timing, and best practices for strategic partner engagement. A highlight guide is available.
Masterclass
Engaging Strategic Partners in Reproductive Health
Speakers: Rhia Ventures Chief Health Officer Dr. Crystal Pirtle Tyler, RH Capital Managing Director Stasia Obremskey, Cirqle Biomedical CEO Frederik Petursson Madsen, and Venice Pharma Consultancy Senior Business Development Expert Dr. Ulrich S. Koch
Equipping Companies To Scale In The Medicaid Market
Early and growth stage companies struggle to navigate state and federal requirements for Medicaid coverage, oftentimes disengaging entirely rather than taking advantage of this large, high-impact market. Rhia Ventures, HealthTech4Medicaid (HT4M), and Manatt Health are equipping early and growth stage companies with the ability to expand their participation in the Medicaid market to advance reproductive and maternal health equity for the millions of women and other birthing people of color covered by Medicaid today. As part of this work, we provided a six session learning collaborative to reproductive and maternal health innovators with interest in entering or expanding their footprint in the Medicaid market. A Medicaid Learning Collaborative highlight guide is available to complement the video series.
Session 1
Introductions and Medicaid Overview
This session will provide an overview of the Medicaid program, including its evolution over time, eligibility requirements and covered services.
Session 2
Medicaid Covered Benefits
This session will support participant understanding of how their services fit into the rubric of the Medicaid program.
Session 3
Entrepreneurship Journey in Medicaid
This session will share lessons learned from health technology entrepreneurs in the Medicaid market.
Session 4
Medicaid Financing
This session will help participants understand how their offerings fit into the rubric of the Medicaid program.
Session 5
Advancing Health Equity in Medicaid
This session will sharpen participant understanding of health equity.
Session 6
Buyers Market
This session will provide a panel discussion of the health technologies that provided the greatest health impact over the past decade and a look at what to expect over the next decade.
