Realness Project

It was the funding/acquisition newspocalypse last week! As is usual ahead of #JPM2025, everyone announced their acquisitions and funding rounds last week. And James Edwards joined us as our special guest despite being evacuated in his home in the Los Angeles area due to the fires. Noteworthy news: H1 acquires Ribbon Health Transcarent acquires Accolade, Inc. in a fire sale HealthEC, LLC and VirtualHealth merge (question mark?) Amwell sells off Avel eCare Innovaccer gets $275M in a round led by Kaiser Permanente Ventures and Kat wonders if she even knows what Innovaccer does anymore... Eli Lilly and Company stand up a fund with Andreessen Horowitz Lisa's current most unfavorite company Hippocratic AI gets $141M led by Kleiner Perkins Particle Health files its response to Epic's motion to dismiss Blue Shield of California reorgs and names Lois Quam as its new CEO We also shared some incredible memes/x's related to this news from Nikhil Krishnan, Sergei Polevikov, ABD, MBA, MS, MA ????????, Otto Sipe and Blake Madden BUT THEN James Edwards showed up post-evacuation from the LA fires and told us to SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY in LA and then shifted gears to ask, hey, how do we make healthcare more human? Jamey, currently building Cairns Health, has a history operating and supporting startups, including via StartUp Health. He talked about how #AI can become really useful (by just becoming part of the background to make things easier/better) and how startups can make the best of JPM and other conferences. If you want to support the LA community, consider donating to the American Red Cross and World Central Kitchen, among so many other great orgs. Melissa Denino and Michael Marchant made us an intro video! We'll post it as a commercial this week just for fun!

We’re stoked to have Realness Project featured for our Quarter For a Quarter Program ?? From January - March Convict Coffee Company is giving 25￠ for every drink sold to support Realness Project who transforms lives and communities by teaching relational leadership skills that foster trust, empathy, and accountability. Through immersive workshops and training, Realness Project empowers individuals in correctional facilities in Colorado to break cycles of violence, addiction, and incarceration, building safer, more connected communities. By cultivating authenticity and emotional intelligence, they inspire lasting change, both inside prison walls and beyond.

Prison Journalism Project is doing great work. Communicating with people living behind metal bars is vital to their humanity. Some good tips here that are universal to any prison location.

? Join Us for a Night of Fun and Impact! ? We are thrilled to announce our upcoming Gala Event in support of the Realness Project—an organization dedicated to creating safer communities for all by empowering human connection in prisons. ?? “Under The Western Stars Gala” ?? Date: Friday, November 15th ?? Location: Ironworks, Denver This is not just any event—it’s a chance to get your western wear on, enjoy cocktail hour, eat delicious food, sing, dance, and be merry! While also celebrating our community and supporting a great cause. The evening will be filled with inspiring stories, great company, a delectable BBQ buffet, an auction and paddle raise offered by a former Broncos player and Sports Celebrity, Nate Jackson, Exciting Dueling Pianos, and a professional line & country dance caller to get our booties on the dance floor! ?? Whether you're passionate about fostering safer environments or just looking for a fun night out, this is the place to be in Denver on Nov 15th! Your support will help us expand life-changing programming into the oldest prison in the region: Territorial Correctional Facility, continuing our mission to transform the culture of incarceration by empowering human connection --> thereby creating safe communities for ALL. ??? Get Your Tickets Now: Under The Western Stars Gala: https://lnkd.in/epY7szqV Can’t wait to see you there and celebrate the impact we can make together! #GalaEvent #CommunitySafety #SupportTheRealness #MakingADifference #prisonreform #humanconnection #empathy #connection #authenticity #keepitreal #authenticrelating #vulnerability #socialjustice #restorativejustice #transformation #humanpotential #changeispossibe #neuroplasticity #traumainformed

https://lnkd.in/eQkHdWrs

Colorado People- Come on out and join me for a fun and meaningful night out. You deserve it! Friday, November 15th. Ironworks. Realness Project is breaking generational cycles of violence, abuse, addiction and incarceration. We do this by delivering powerful workshops in prisons across the state. We’re building community inside of prisons so that these folks can come out and help build vibrant communities when they get out. 98% of our graduates will be getting out. What kind of neighbors do we want to have living next to us? And this event is going to be super fun! Come on out to eat, drink, dance, sing and bid! ?? Can’t wait to see you there!

? Join Us for a Night of Fun and Impact! ? We are thrilled to announce our upcoming Gala Event in support of the Realness Project—an organization dedicated to creating safer communities for all by empowering human connection in prisons. ?? “Under The Western Stars Gala” ?? Date: Friday, November 15th ?? Location: Ironworks, Denver This is not just any event—it’s a chance to get your western wear on and come together, celebrate our community, and support a great cause. An evening filled with inspiring stories, great company, a delectable BBQ buffet, an auction and paddle raise offered by a former Broncos player and Sports Celebrity, Nate Jackson, Exciting Dueling Pianos, and a professional line & country dance caller to get our booties on the dance floor! ?? Whether you're passionate about fostering safer environments or just looking for a fun night out, this is the place to be in Denver on Nov 15th! Your support will help us expand life-changing programming into the oldest prison in the region: Territorial Correctional Facility, continuing our mission to transform the culture of incarceration by empowering human connection --> thereby creating safe communities for ALL. ??? Get Your Tickets Now: Under The Western Stars Gala: https://lnkd.in/epY7szqV Can’t wait to see you there and celebrate the impact we can make together! #GalaEvent #CommunitySafety #SupportTheRealness #MakingADifference #prisonreform #humanconnection #empathy #connection #authenticity #keepitreal #authenticrelating #vulnerability #socialjustice #restorativejustice #transformation #humanpotential #changeispossibe #neuroplasticity #traumainformed

Are you a lawyer looking to give back? This is a quick project that could be a win-win-win!

Are you a lawyer looking to give back? This is a quick project that could be a win-win-win!

Y'all! Next week Lisa and I are headed to Madison (or...a Staybridge Suites in the suburbs, but that is not the point)! Epic invited us to UGM and we're doing a live Health Tech Talk Show on Tuesday at 4:00p ET / 3:00p CT! They have sold us on this journey with all of the right keywords: lots-of-food and nerd-stuff. Also, apparently people are wearing costumes at this thing. So far no one has told me they are trying to beat my Statue of Liberty attire from Lisa's Civitas Networks for Health conference last year but if it happens I'll be sure to let you know, loyal fans. Find us at any of the online locations in comments. Probably, anyway, because sadly Melissa Denino won't be with us in-person. And if you'll also be in Madison, let us know! We'll hang out!