NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Friday, July 1, 2016

WASHINGTON – Today Village Capital and The Kresge Foundation announced a collaboration to support entrepreneurs offering digital solutions to address the social determinants of health and improve health outcomes for low-income patients.

With the support of local ecosystem partners, Ben Franklin Technology Partners and the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, the organizations will operate a venture development program this fall with workshops in Nashville, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.

Research has shown that the social determinants of health — such as education, income level and where you live– are better indicators of an individual’s health status than factors within a healthcare setting. Forty-percent of an individual’s health outcomes are attributed to the social determinants of health, compared with 10 percent to 20 percent that can be credited to clinical care. These variables frequently impact lifestyle.