• Program Overview
• Community Health Focus
• Program Application
• Program Eligibility
• Business Eligibility
• Community Partnerships
• General Questions
• Contact Us

What is Enterprising Health?
Enterprising Health is a transformational, entrepreneurial development and business training program. The program is designed to facilitate the creation of sustainable, socially conscious community-based businesses that will have a positive impact on health, wellness, disease management, and prevention in metropolitan Detroit communities. Enterprising Health’s intention is to inspire community members to form teams and to co-create solutions with the broader community. Co-creating is a joint decision-making process that guides business development from beginning to end. With the support of the Enterprising Health team and an expert network, program participants will co-create innovations, co-create solutions and co-create sustainable, scalable and profitable health-related businesses

Who is behind the Enterprising Health business development program and competition?
Ascension Health (AH), the largest Catholic and not-for-profit health system in the United States with operations in 19 states and the District of Columbia, is the founder and sponsor of Enterprising Health. AH operates more than 65 hospitals and clinics, including the St. John Providence and Genesys Health Systems in Detroit and Flint. AH’s mission is to serve all persons with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable. AH’s Catholic health ministry is dedicated to spiritually-centered, holistic care, which sustains and improves the health of individuals and communities.

What is Ascension Health’s goal for the initiative? What are they getting out of this?
Ascension Health (AH) wants to discover new ways to improve the health of people struggling with health problems and access to health care. AH is looking for people who can develop businesses that develop new, innovative solutions that go beyond those offered by hospitals and clinics. AH plans to fund selected businesses and stay involved in ways that are effective and beneficial to the businesses and the communities we both serve.

COMMUNITY HEALTH FOCUS

Why did Enterprising Health choose to focus on making a sustainable impact on health, wellness, disease management and disease prevention?
Improving health, wellness, disease management and disease prevention are core to Ascension Health’s mission and are of particular concern in economically challenged communities.

And why were the communities of Detroit, Flint, Hamtramck and Highland Park chosen?
Of the 23 communities served by Ascension Health across the country, metropolitan Detroit is facing significant health and economic challenges. Given the long-term challenges facing these communities, there is a strong need to find better ways to improve health. The Ascension Health ministry in Detroit (St. John Providence Health System) is willing and interested in using the Enterprising Health process to try to find those solutions.

PROGRAM APPLICATION

Is there an application fee?
No. To ensure community members the greatest opportunity to participate, there is no fee to apply. While there are no fees or financial investments required to participate in the EH initiative, participants however must invest time and energy to successfully complete the program.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

See Program Eligibility requirements.

Who is encouraged to participate?
Health conscious, passionate, entrepreneurial-minded individuals who are interested in finding new ways to positively impact the health of individuals, families and communities are encouraged to participate in the program.

Who is eligible to participate?
All participants in the program must meet the following requirements:

• Participants must be 18 years old or older
• Participants must be residents of the Cities of Detroit, Hamtramck or Highland Park; or have a demonstrable connection or commitment in one or more of these communities; Connection is demonstrated by things such as:
  • Business owned and operated in one of the designated communities
  • Employed by a company or organization that is located in one of the designated communities and that has a social mission in alignment with the Enterprising Health program focus
  • Active membership or role in an organization in one of the designated communities
  • Place of worship in one of the designated communities
  • Immediate and extended family members residing in one of the designated communities (i.e. parent, sibling, child, grandparent, aunt, uncle, god parents)
• Participants register as individuals, or as teams, groups or organizations

See Business Eligibility requirements.

Do I have to already have a business idea?
No. One of the main purposes of the business concept co-creation component of the program is to help participants think creatively about the health needs of the community and to be innovative in creating businesses to help meet those needs.

What type of businesses are you looking to create? What kind of business ideas can I submit?
We are looking for a wide range of solutions. While we don’t know what types of businesses will be created, the Enterprising Health program is designed to support businesses that have the following characteristics:

• Capital efficient and can make an impact without significant investment at start-up
• Feasibility, viability, probability, practicality, achievability, sustainability and scalability of a health-related service
• Potential to be fully developed and operational within 1 to 4 years
• Social Innovation
• “Novel” or “improvement” solutions to social problems that are more just, effective, efficient, or sustainable than existing solutions; Can be services, processes, light technologies, strategies or structures
• The value created adds primarily to the community as a whole rather than private individuals
• Although the innovations need not necessarily be original, they must be new to the user, context or application
• Measurable transformational health impacts that are relevant and appropriate in the designated communities
• Leadership/management team that demonstrates the ability to develop the business in a systematic manner
• A legal organizational structure that meets the program business guidelines
• Business located and operated in Detroit, Hamtramck or Highland Park

I’ve already started up my business. May I participate in the program? What stage of business do I have to be in?
Yes you may participate. You can start right where you are. Those just forming ideas, in early or late startup or in growth stages are all welcome to participate.

Can our new business idea be structured as a non-profit?
Yes. You can structure your business as a for-profit, non-profit or for-benefit (social enterprise/venture) but it needs to have a sustainable business model.

Who will own the businesses created during the program?
The participant teams who create the businesses will own them.

How will you decide who receives funding and resource awards and advances to the next program component?
Teams have the opportunity to present their business concepts and plans to a selection panel. The evaluation criteria used to select teams includes:

• Level of innovation
• Potential impact on the health of the community
• Strength of the business team
• Sustainability of the business model
• Scalability

Does the fact that we are an old startup and/or that we have participated in/won other business competitions going to hurt our chances of receiving an Enterprising Health funding and resource award?
No. Whether your team has or has not won any prior business competitions is irrelevant to the selection panel. To receive seed funding and resource rewards your team needs to be innovative and to demonstrate in your prototype and business development plans your potential to transform the health of the designated communities.

What are the seed funding and resource awards received by selected teams
Businesses Selected to Develop Proof of concept • Support to develop and test your business concept will be based on the needs for this stage of business development. Businesses Selected to Receive Seed Funding • Up to $75,000 may be awarded for business development and will be determined collaboratively by the selected teams and the funders. Funding decisions will be based on the innovativeness of plan presented, the potential impact on community health and the funds needs to start-up and/or scale the business.

Is there is a residency requirement to receive support?
Yes. To receive seed funding and resource awards the businesses owned and operated by the selected teams are required to be located in one of the designated communities. If the business hasn’t been launched, selected teams must agree to locate the business in one of the designated communities,

Are there any restrictions on how the cash awards are used?
Yes. Any cash awarded in the proof of concept stage must be used to develop and test the business concept. The cash awarded for seed funding must be used to start or grow the business.

Can I apply for the program if the competition seed funding award is the only expected source of funding for starting up or expanding my business?
Yes you may participate. To ensure sustainability, we strongly encourage you to actively seek a blend of funding from multiple sources to support prototype development and the launch or growth of your business.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

Is Enterprising Health working with any local community partners in Detroit, Hamtramck or Highland Park?
Ascension Health (AH) is inviting other corporate and community sponsors to partner with Enterprising Health to ensure its long-term transformational success.

AH will also partner with community members and organizations in the designated communities to complement the Enterprising Health initiative such as:

• Healthcare leaders who provide community health and disease management expertise
• Advisory Board members who support the initiative and advise its leaders
• Local business development advisors who provide support and advice to program participants
• Selection panel members who view team presentations and make recommendations to inform investment decisions

GENERAL QUESTIONS

How much time do I need to participate in this program?
See Activity Calendar and Registration During the program participants attend one scheduled class or work session each week. They also participate in ad hoc or scheduled team meetings, as well as in work and coaching sessions with members of the Enterprising Health team, network experts and local business development advisors.

Do I get paid to participate?
No. Individuals/Teams are not compensated for program participation. The time and effort gives you invest gains you access to the opportunity to receive seed/development funding and resources to start or grow your business.

What resources will be provided to support my participation?
A dedicated staff and expert network who will provide support during all phases of business development.

Office space and equipment for use during program participation

Will I receive feedback?
Yes. Individual and teams receive feedback from Enterprising Health team members, change agents and local business development advisors throughout the program.

Additionally, when your participation in the program ends your team and the Enterprising Health Team co-create a transition and resource mobilization plan to ensure that you get the maximum benefit and value from your participation.

I want to participate. What do I do?
First, make sure you are passionate about and committed to owning and operating a business focused on improving the health of community members in one or more of the designated cities – Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park.

Second, register to attend an information session to learn more about the EH program and to share your perspective on the health conditions and needs of the community.

Third, register for the program and attend the orientation session conducted during the first class to discuss in detail participation requirements, educational component and resources.

CONTACT US

How can I stay in touch with Enterprising Health?
Join the Enterprising Health Community by signing up as a registered user on our Website. As a member you can access information and resources related to the initiative and receive auto e-mail notifications about events and activities.

Who should I contact if I need more information or want to ask questions?
Either send us an e-mail at enterprisinghealthbiz@gmail.com or use the online contact us form on our Website to submit your request for information or question.