Meet Aramis Jones – Driven by Care
Aramis Jones can usually be found sporting her company t-shirt with an inscription — “Driven by Care” — which sums up her vision, her mission, and her company.
Aramis Jones is the founder of Renew Mobile Health, a company that is developing a mobile application and truck that will offer community health and wellness in underserved areas in West Tennessee. Aramis’ mobile app would allow people to order fresh food and discover free health and wellness classes, patient advocacy, and links to other health-centered resources. The truck will help providers bring their services directly to underserved communities for residents of fixed and lower-incomes across Memphis.
Aramis was a participant in West Tennessee’s Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator Program, a program designed to open doors to entrepreneurial exploration and expansion of business ideas, particularly ideas featuring a mobility component. The Idea Accelerator was funded by The Ford Motor Company Fund and powered by Heartland Forward, a nonprofit “think and do” tank focused on economic renewal. For Aramis, whose business was in early-stage ideation at the time of her application for the program, the invitation to explore her idea was invaluable.
During Aramis’ 10 years in health care, she learned that social deterrents like limited access to transportation, gaps in financial stability, limited access to quality food and simply not being well informed about insurance plans were barriers to building quality relationships with care providers.
“I’m 34 years old and have worked in the healthcare industry for over 10 years. I quit my job in 2021 to accelerate getting people connected to care and helping them stay connected to care,” says Aramis. “People are experiencing gaps in care. I believe my idea can help bridge gaps and strengthen relationships with care providers.”
Renew Mobile Health was refined during the 90-day Builders + Backers program. With the grant from the Idea Accelerator, Aramis will be able to begin testing her idea with a “skipper” van. At this early stage in the development of Renew Mobile Health, the skipper van will not be fitted with mobile care equipment and provisions necessary for health care providers. Instead, the skipper van will be used to build brand awareness and help Aramis transport the supplies and equipment needed for Renew Mobile Health’s community-based events such as cooking classes, community garden building, and sessions with dieticians.
“The Idea Accelerator helped me to distill my big idea. They made me really consider: What’s the real problem you’re trying to address? And what’s the impact? What gaps can you fill to help people get the most out of the services you provide?” says Aramis.
“One of the bigger takeaways — and there were so many — came from my Builder. She said, ‘Don’t let that one dark moment deter you from the light you’re gonna bring to somebody else.’ That helps to keep me going forward and I heard it during the accelerator.”
Advice from Aramis
If you have dynamic ideas that would be extremely beneficial to your community, the Builders + Backers Ideas Accelerator will help you bring your idea to life. So many people hold onto an idea because they don’t know what to do next, don’t have the finances, the connections, or the resources. This program lasts 90 days. It’s doable. Someone once said, “Don’t let your best ideas only live in the Notes [app] on your phone.” That’s real. This program was a great launchpad for getting my business on track. It can do the same for you.
Help Spread the Word
If you know someone who might be interested in the next Backers + Builders Idea Accelerator program, please share the application available here. The application deadline is Monday, May 22. The virtual program starts on June 8, 2023.
