Providence Health & Services Joins With Sprint and Techstars to Advance Mobile Health Innovation

Sprint (NYSE: S), Techstars and Providence Health & Services today announce plans to work together to support mobile health startups. Providence Ventures, the venture capital arm of Providence Health & Services, will lend mentorship and expertise to early-stage companies whose products focus on increasing the accessibility to quality health care services at next spring’s Sprint Mobile Health Accelerator, Powered by Techstars.

The Sprint Mobile Health Accelerator, Powered by Techstars, is a three-month, immersive, mentor-driven program for startups. Participating companies temporarily relocate to Kansas City, Mo., to build and strengthen their businesses. Each company receives up to $120,000 in funding. In 2015, Techstars is adding a first-of-its-kind equity back guarantee.

Applications are being accepted through Dec. 14, for the 2015 Sprint Mobile Health Accelerator program, March 9 through June 4.

“Techstars accelerator programs revolve around expert mentorship and building long-lasting connections,” said Kevin McGinnis, vice president, Pinsight Media+ powered by Sprint. “Through Providence, startups participating in the Sprint Mobile Health Accelerator in 2015 will enjoy valuable opportunities to interact with a dynamic, innovation-oriented health care institution, including the possibility of piloting their solutions in a number of different clinical settings.”

“Providence can provide early-stage companies access to our world-class clinicians and experts who work across the continuum of health care,” said Aaron Martin, senior vice president of strategy and innovation at Providence Health & Services. “Through this collaboration with Sprint and Techstars, we can help mobile health startups understand how to refine and develop a product that truly meets the need of health care consumers, ultimately creating better health outcomes.”

Innovative startups from across the U.S. and around the world, with a focus on mobile health, are welcome to apply. Ten startups will be selected.

About Sprint and Its Support for Entrepreneurship

Sprint has a strong history of working with startups in Silicon Valley, Kansas City and around the globe, helping young companies navigate the corporate world and build momentum behind their new businesses. Sprint is committed to supporting the entrepreneurial movement across the country, delivering new business opportunities and spurring the startup spirit within the company. In 2014, Sprint opened the award-winning Sprint Accelerator in Kansas City – home to the Sprint Mobile Health Accelerator, Powered by Techstars. The accelerator space also is used to deliver year-round programming, including mentor engagement, STEM programs, entrepreneurial community collaboration and co-working space for startup organizations.

About Sprint

Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company dedicated to delivering the best value in wireless. Sprint served 55 million customers as of Sept. 30, 2014, and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for the last four years. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

About Techstars

Techstars is the gold standard for startup accelerators. At the core is our massive interconnected network of over 3,000 successful entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and corporate partners. Techstars helps the most promising startups do more faster. With 13 programs worldwide, our mentorship-driven accelerator programs fund the best companies in the most entrepreneurial communities. Since 2006, more than 70 percent of the 500 companies from almost 40 Techstars programs have received funding, representing approximately $2 billion in market capitalization. More information is available at http://www.techstars.com/.

About Providence Health & Services

Providence Health & Services is a not-for-profit Catholic health care ministry committed to providing for the needs of the communities it serves – especially for those who are poor and vulnerable. Providence's services include 34 hospitals, 475 physician clinics, senior services, supportive housing and many other health and educational services. The health system and its affiliates employs more than 73,000 people across five states – Alaska, California, Montana, Oregon and Washington – with its system office located in Renton, Wash. In 2013, Providence provided more than $951 million in community benefit, including $313 million in free and discounted care for those who could not afford to pay for care.

Providence Health & Services continues a tradition of caring that the Sisters of Providence began more than 158 years ago.