Active 2024 Cohort • Bioventures

2024 COHORT

Dexter Caffey

CEO and Founder, Smart Eye Technology Inc.

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Jade Daniels

MBA Owner and CEO, SJ Medical and Supply Company LLC.

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Ashley Foster

M.S., Licensed Associate Therapist, Foster Healing & Hope

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Kristi Jones

APRN, Founder, Synolo Wellness

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Taylor Johnston

Founder, NutriKidRX

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Mae Mitchell

NuPad Projectz

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Kim McPherson

Founder and CEO, Perspective Healthcare Solutions

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Dr. Quinyatta Mumford

Village Public Health

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Raina Porchay

Owner, RMP Health Solution

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Derrick Reives

CEO and Co-Founder, UpSquad

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Daniel Sharp

Founder, Apothewell

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Sarah Thomas

365 Yoga Dream

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Dr. Wendolyn Robinson

Owner, Refilled Glasses LLC.

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Jamie Johnson

Licensed Associate Counselor, Founder, EMPOWER

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Dr. Kimberly Kinder

PT, DPT, Kinder Senior Advocacy

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Charlie Simpson

Hey Charlie

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Alicia Graham

Glammirage Enterprises Inc.

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Dexter Caffey

CEO and Founder, Smart Eye Technology Inc.

Dexter Caffey, who earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Youngstown State University (YSU) in 1995, is the CEO and founder of Smart Eye Technology Inc. This company offers a biosynmetric authentication platform using continuous facial recognition, voice recognition, and other biometric methods to securely authenticate users before they access sensitive information.

Prior to founding Smart Eye Technology, Caffey established an alternative investment firm, Caffey Investment Group, at the age of 25 in 1998. For over 23 years, he worked with major publicly traded companies in the U.S. through his firm.

In addition to his professional achievements, Caffey has a notable record of community involvement. Residing in Atlanta, he volunteered with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, participated in the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce through the nonprofit organization Conexx, and served on the board of the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust. He also maintained active participation in the Atlanta YSU Alumni Chapter.

Beyond his professional and community commitments, Caffey’s passion for travel has taken him to over 18 countries, broadening his cultural and global perspective. He is married to Rashida Caffey, whom he met at YSU, and they are set to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on July 17, 2024.

Jade Daniels

MBA Owner and CEO, SJ Medical and Supply Company LLC.

Jade Daniels embarked on a dynamic educational journey at Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School in Little Rock, where her passion for science took root. At Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Daniels earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She pursued a master’s degree in business administration at the University of Phoenix, honing her management and strategy skills. Now working to become a nurse practitioner, Daniels blends her scientific background with a commitment to healthcare, showcasing her versatility and dedication to personal and professional development.

Along with her educational pursuits, Daniels has balanced parenthood, guiding her 15-year-old through cheerleading, track, choir, and band. Her ability to nurture her daughter’s passions while pursuing her own educational aspirations demonstrates her resilience and commitment to family.

SJ Medical and Supply Company LLC focuses on B2B medical equipment and supplies for Arkansas and U.S. Territories. Its mission is to assist clients in hospitals, nursing homes, and doctors’ offices with essential supplies. As a supplier, its goal is to support healthcare customers as they grow, alleviating the pressures of daily purchasing.

The company assists with ordering personal protective equipment such as surgical supplies, masks, gloves, face shields, antibacterial soap, hand sanitizer, blood pressure cuffs, wound bandages, and equipment. Products include first aid, respiratory care, surgical supplies, mobility aids, incontinence care, wound care, and medical apparel.

Ashley Foster

M.S., Licensed Associate Therapist, Foster Healing & Hope

Ashley Foster, a skilled and empathetic Black female counselor, is committed to providing personalized mental health services that emphasize emotional and mental well-being. Foster’s unique perspective, blending professional expertise with cultural sensitivity, fosters a nurturing environment for guidance and healing. Specializing in women’s issues, trauma, and grief, she empowers clients on their journey to overall wellness.

Born and raised in Jefferson County, Foster has navigated significant disparities. She graduated from White Hall High School, earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in family and consumer sciences from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, and a master’s degree in counseling from John Brown University. Now a licensed associate counselor, Foster is dedicated to addressing issues of resilience, support, and empowerment within diverse communities. As an ovarian cancer survivor, she has firsthand experience with the emotional challenges that patients and their families face post-diagnosis and throughout treatment. This fuels her passion for guiding individuals through cancer treatment, showcasing her resilience and empathy.

Her practice, Foster Healing & Hope, specializes in personalized counseling, addressing a broad spectrum of mental health needs. Additional offerings include yoga, holistic products, and other mental health-related items designed to support clients on their path to overall wellness.

Foster has been married to her husband, Cameron, for seven years and is immensely grateful for his love and unwavering support. She deeply cherishes her parents, siblings, and other members of her loving family, who have helped shape her into the person she is today.

Kristi Jones

APRN, Founder, Synolo Wellness

Kristi Jones, a nurse practitioner, is dedicated to helping people achieve optimal health. With nearly 20 years in family medicine, Jones has treated countless women experiencing fatigue, weight gain, and despair. Her struggle with hypothyroidism and early perimenopause led her to functional medicine in 2017, aiming to heal herself to better serve others. Today, she applies her extensive knowledge to help others achieve the wellness she has found.

Jones emphasizes the significant health risks women face, including stress-related conditions, strokes, heart attacks, obesity-related cancers, and hormonal failures that can lead to osteoporosis and dementia. Women often neglect their health, suffering in silence, but Jones advocates that this should not be the norm.

With women’s average life expectancy at 80 years, many spend a third of their lives in poor health — a situation Jones is committed to changing.

She founded Synolo Wellness to focus on comprehensive health solutions for women, emphasizing a holistic approach to well-being. Jones’s mission is to empower women to prioritize their health and achieve lifelong wellness.

Taylor Johnston

Founder, NutriKidRX

Taylor Johnston, founder of NutriKidRX, is revolutionizing pediatric nutrition and caregiver communication.

NutriKidRX, an innovative med-tech platform, empowers caregivers with personalized nutritional guidance for children. By combining dietary tracking, meal planning and health monitoring with robust communication tools, NutriKidRX offers tailored solutions to meet the unique nutritional needs of children.

The NutriKidRX platform enhances overall well-being and health outcomes, facilitating seamless communication and coordination among caregivers.

Mae Mitchell

NuPad Projectz

Mae Mitchell is an innovative entrepreneur leading the charge in advancing women’s health and diagnostics.

By seamlessly merging biomedical breakthroughs with retail accessibility, Mitchell is breaking barriers in healthcare innovation. Her relentless pursuit of groundbreaking solutions reflects a deep-seated commitment to harnessing technology for the betterment of healthcare. Her visionary approach epitomizes the intersection of technology and healthcare, where her pioneering efforts are making a tangible difference in people’s lives.

Kim McPherson

Founder and CEO, Perspective Healthcare Solutions

Kim McPherson holds a degree in finance and has a strong background in accounting. Her entrepreneurial journey in healthcare began in 2016, focusing on patient financing. Since then, she has worked in healthcare marketing, diagnostic labs and medical devices. Her experience in healthcare financing, accounting, marketing and reimbursement inspired her to establish Perspective Healthcare Solutions.

Her primary goal is to help hospitals and clinics succeed while improving patient outcomes. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, writing and cooking.

Dr. Quinyatta Mumford

Village Public Health

Dr. Quinyatta Mumford, a distinguished public health leader, certified health education specialist, and Master of Public Health (MPH) program director at the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), leads Village Public Health (VPH). VPH is dedicated to empowering adolescents and young adults through holistic wellness programs, community engagement and personal development initiatives. The organization nurtures physical, mental and emotional health by offering comprehensive education, leadership opportunities and robust community support networks.

VPH focuses on prevention, using evidence-based practices to address the diverse needs of youth. By engaging young people as active participants in their health and wellness journeys, VPH ensures that they are empowered to shape their futures. The commitment to innovation, transparency and adaptability enables VPH to respond effectively to the evolving public health landscape, creating a healthier, more empowered future for all.

In addition to her work with VPH, Dr. Mumford is involved in various public health initiatives, including the Pathfinders in Public Health Program and the development of the MPH program at NYIT. She also heads a public health consulting firm and training center that adopts a peer-to-peer model and emphasizes workforce development, inspired by the “FUBU” (For Us, By Us) concept.

Dr. Mumford’s commitment extends to integrating technology with public health. She is developing a Personalized Health and Career Development App that uses AI to provide customized health education and career resources, further showcasing her innovative approach to enhancing community health. Through her varied roles and projects, Dr. Mumford continues to make a significant impact on the health and lives of adolescents and young adults.

Raina Porchay

Owner, RMP Health Solution

Raina Porchay, owner of RMP Health Solution, provides state-of-the-art solutions in preventive genetics screening. The company operates infectious disease and genetic laboratories, delivering accurate, detailed, and reliable reports. RMP Health Solution focuses on serving the homeless, low-income individuals, and disadvantaged communities, enabling healthcare professionals in rural areas to make informed decisions through advanced testing solutions.

The company enhances health and education in poverty-stricken areas by simplifying diagnostic reports, ensuring patients and providers can easily understand when care plans are necessary. Its testing targets infectious diseases, offering personalized reports that facilitate quick, precise treatments.

RMP Health Solution has shifted the landscape of medical laboratory services by integrating educational initiatives, thus changing expectations and experiences within these communities. Its customized services collaborate with doctors, clinics, hospitals and treatment facilities, emphasizing the role of quality laboratory testing in crucial health decisions.

Derrick Reives

CEO and Co-Founder, UpSquad

Derrick Reives has spent his 20-plus-year career in high technology leadership. He obtained an electrical engineering degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. He lives in Bentonville, Arkansas, and is pursuing new growth opportunities and expansion as CEO & co-founder of UpSquad.

UpSquad’s mission is to provide easy access to expert career advice and programs in healthcare sectors and solve healthcare workforce challenges through innovation.

UpSquad’s work with significant medical associations, organizations and schools such as the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, American Society of Reproductive Medicine, American Urological Association, and National Medical Fellowships demonstrates its commitment and ability to bridge the gap between education and the healthcare industry.

Daniel Sharp

Founder, Apothewell

Daniel Sharp is the founder of Apothewell, a company that extends hospital-level medication management to the broader community, ensuring access without the need for professional caregivers. Apothewell addresses a critical gap in healthcare: consistent and reliable medication management outside of hospital settings.

Sharp’s dedication to medication management is deeply personal. He navigates daily challenges within his own family, managing complex medication schedules for his adult stepson, who has been taking medication since he was 9, and his wife, who suffers from an autoimmune disease that has led to end-stage renal failure. This personal experience has fueled Sharp’s passion for improving medication management systems.

With over 25 years of experience in the tech industry, Sharp has leveraged his background to innovate, lead teams and build products. Under his guidance, Apothewell aims to bring the precision of hospital medication protocols to patients everywhere, enhancing the safety and effectiveness of home medication practices.

Sarah Thomas

365 Yoga Dream

Sarah Thomas is a seasoned yogi whose journey began with inspiration from her mother’s prenatal yoga classes. Guided by her first teacher, she developed a deep passion for yoga and meditation that has carried her through life.

At Sage Yoga, Sarah honed her skills and transitioned from student to teacher, sharing her knowledge at venues such as St. Jude, Johnson & Johnson, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Zen Studios and Sixth House Wellness Studio.

She is the author of “Chair Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis and Chronic Pain,” contributing to the yoga community and supporting those with specific health needs. As a Lululemon Legacy Ambassador, Sarah fosters genuine connections and aligns with Lululemon’s mission of empowering individuals in fitness, health and wellness.

She holds a certification as a health and wellness lifestyle coach from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. She supports pre-diabetic, diabetic and cardiovascular patients on their journey to better health and works with health centers, especially in rural areas, to address health disparities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was involved with vaccination rollouts and addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic, emphasizing the importance of serving underserved populations with essential healthcare services.

In her spare time, Thomas is Little Rock Downtown Neighborhood Association president and enjoys gardening, aerial arts and tennis. She remains dedicated to the well-being of others, striving to share the transformative power of yoga and inspire a healthier, happier community.

Dr. Wendolyn Robinson

Owner, Refilled Glasses LLC.

Dr. Wendolyn Robinson is the owner of Refilled Glasses LLC., a minority–owned small business learning and training services company. By helping others connect with the soft skills needed to accomplish their personal and professional goals, Refilled Glasses stimulates the courage to up-skill, re-skill and rebrand, which increases economic viability.

The company’s focus has expanded to include assisting others with Pre-EAP concerns like learned helplessness, imposter syndrome and more. Addressing these issues prior to the need for medications is critical for chronic illnesses like anxiety, stress, depression, hypertension and more. This is especially important in low–income communities where adequate resources are limited.

Refilled Glasses use workshops, webinars, online microlearning courses and speaking presentations to accomplish its goals. The company’s motto: “The glass is not half full or half empty; it’s refillable!”

Dr. Robinson holds a doctorate in educational leadership with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction. Her dissertation centered around implicit bias in the workplace. She holds an MBA in human resources management and a bachelor’s in business administration and management. She is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR); Learning and Development Professional (CLPD); and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI).

Since 2022, she has been a steering committee member for the Health Equity Collaborative, hosted by the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute. From 2018–2024, she was a contracted training developer and instructor/writer with the Professional Education Center at Camp Robinson’s Senior Leader Development Institute (SLDI) and has been an adjunct college instructor since 2010.

Jamie Johnson

Licensed Associate Counselor, Founder, EMPOWER

Jamie Johnson, a licensed associate counselor and founder of EMPOWER, commenced her career in mental health in 2015. She earned a Master of Science in marriage and family therapy from John Brown University in 2019 and began practicing as a therapist in 2021. With diverse experience in school-based, acute care, residential and outpatient settings, Johnson is transitioning to private practice, specializing in serving the perinatal population.

As a trained perinatal therapist, Johnson is deeply committed to women’s health, addressing women’s issues, and enhancing women’s mental well-being in our state. Arkansas currently ranks fourth in maternal mortality rates, coupled with a shortage of mental health professionals. Johnson aims to raise awareness about the challenges faced by the perinatal population and assist women in finding healthy ways to adapt to motherhood or loss. She believes creating a supportive environment where women feel safe, heard and integral to their treatment encourages openness and disclosure.

EMPOWER, a web-based and mobile-friendly platform, offers an anonymous and interactive resource empowering women to make informed decisions about their pregnancy and care. Johnson emphasizes that a healthy and contented mother fosters a happy and thriving home environment, underscoring the pivotal role of maternal well-being.

Dr. Kimberly Kinder

PT, DPT, Kinder Senior Advocacy

Dr. Kimberly Kinder is a passionate advocate for the elderly and individuals requiring health care resources and assistance. With a doctorate in physical therapy and 20 years of experience, Kimberly has dedicated her career to helping people age at home safely. She specializes in home modifications, comprehensive home assessments, and supporting families in making the best decisions for their loved ones.

Kimberly’s extensive expertise in geriatrics, dementia care, fall prevention and recovery, aging in place, home modifications, and assistive devices empowers the elderly to maintain their independence and dignity. She is affectionately known as a “rent-a-daughter” due to her commitment to providing services that busy or distant family members often cannot, including attending medical appointments, coordinating care, performing home maintenance and modifications, and monitoring care.

Kimberly’s holistic approach ensures that her clients receive the comprehensive support they need to live comfortably and safely in their homes. Her dedication and compassionate care make her a trusted resource for families navigating the complexities of aging and healthcare.

Charlie Simpson

Hey Charlie

Charlie Simpson is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) and licensed professional counselor (LPC) and has provided therapy for over 1,000 couples, individuals, and families.

Simpson has worked in mental health for over 16 years and is the owner of the Arkansas Relationship Counseling Center, which counsels over 200 couples a year. Simpson has appeared on TV One and Fatal Attraction. He is a weekly relationship contributor on KARK Channel 4 and has appeared on several podcasts and radio shows.

Simpson serves as the Marriage Ministry leader and on the board of trustees for his church and embraces the concept of challenging the way we think to overcome the difficulties in life.

Alicia Graham

Glammirage Enterprises Inc.

Alicia Graham, visually impaired from a young age, began her educational journey at Pine Bluff High School, driven by a desire to understand the human body’s chemistry. This curiosity led her to earn a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with an emphasis on biological systems, followed by a Master of Science in Biomedicine and Entrepreneurship from Drexel University, with a minor in Drug Discovery and Development. She further specialized by obtaining a Technical Graduate certificate in pharmaceutical sciences for cosmetics from the University of Cincinnati.

Her personal mission – to foster community wellness, boost individual confidence and inspire emotional intelligence – propelled her into entrepreneurship. Graham founded Glammirage Enterprises Inc. (GE Inc.), a management holding company focused on challenging the stigma around the physical and psychological impacts of immunological diseases, especially in cancer oncology and dermatology, with a focus on cosmeceuticals and the health of skin, hair and nails.

GE Inc. aims to build a brand that offers a holistic approach to health, developing prescription-grade therapeutics for dermatologic conditions that enhance patient confidence and address the side effects of immunological disease treatments. These solutions are designed to be less invasive, more cost-effective and require shorter recovery times, catering especially to patients undergoing radiation and immunotherapy or needing wound care management.

Graham envisions turning Arkansas into a biotechnological and pharmaceutical innovation hub, creating a source of healing, encouragement and wealth for its residents and the wider region.

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