Alliance Healthcare Foundation Selects 5 Finalists to Advance to Phase 3 of the i2 $1 Million Challenge Grant

Alliance Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has selected five nonprofits who will advance to the final phase of the  2025 $1 Million Innovation Initiative (i2) milestone-based, challenge grant—a nine-month capacity building and mentoring program. These finalists were chosen from a group of 10 candidates, following five weeks of workshops and coaching from Nex Cubed advisors, AHF’s Innovation Partner. Phase 2 focused on the applicants validating their solutions with customers/constituents to demonstrate early traction and business model fit.  Evaluations were made following an in-person presentation plus a question/answer session with the reviewers.

 

Finalists 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The reviewers during Phase 2 included AHF’s Program Committee, Staff, and five Resident Leaders with lived experiences from a variety of historically marginalized, under-resourced communities in San Diego.

 

About the Finalists and Phase 3

During Phase 3 (final phase), applicants will focus on building their solution. Applicants will be paired by Nex Cubed with a professional mentor and receive customized coaching to demonstrate further progress towards business development. AHF fully funds this capacity building opportunity and each finalist receives $20,000 to support their work.

“It has been inspiring to meet so many passionate, committed social entrepreneurs who are dedicating time, talent and treasure to address some of the most challenging inequities in our community,” said Alliance Healthcare Foundation Executive Director, Sarah Lyman. “With our $1 million Innovation Initiative (i2) Challenge Grant, we aim to support a highly promising innovation that is working toward closing equity gaps within our region. Our hope is that through the i2 process, all candidates will be able to significantly advance their solution through access to customized mentorship, grant funding and other support along the way.” 

The finalists selected are serving some of the most marginalized populations in our region, and are all working to directly address significant health and social inequities. Populations served include the formerly incarcerated individuals, immigrants and refugees, at-promise youth, and communities experiencing challenges with food insecurity, access to quality jobs, trauma, and accessible mental health services.

 

About The i2 Challenge Grant

The Innovation Initiative (i2) $1 Million Challenge Grant runs 9-months and includes three phases of increasingly rigorous entrepreneurial education, solution refinement and pitch practice, culminating in a final pitch event before a panel of judges in October 2025. In addition to customized mentorship from i2 partner Nex Cubed, candidates are also provided grant support—$5,000 for each of the 10 semi-finalists and $20,000 for each of the final five finalists. The 2025 i2 $1M Challenge Grant awardee will be announced in November 2025.

#  #  #