Jill Mari Embry

At the intersection of innovation, equity, and healthcare, Jill Mari Embry is driving change with a powerful mission: to reshape the development of medical devices through diversity and inclusion. As the visionary Founder and CEO of Balance Innovation Center, she leads a venture studio that is not only focused on groundbreaking medical technologies but also committed to transforming the demographics of those behind the innovation.

Balance Innovation Center stands apart for its commitment to assembling diverse teams, bringing in voices that are historically underrepresented in the research and development of medical devices. Recognizing the persistent disparities in healthcare, Jill Mari Embry and her team are focused on ensuring that innovation reflects the needs and perspectives of all communities. From engineers to medical advisors, every aspect of the Center’s development ecosystem is designed to represent the full spectrum of society.

Supporting this mission further is Balance Innovation Center’s non-profit arm, LegUP, which is dedicated to equipping students from underrepresented backgrounds with the tools and confidence needed to thrive in academic or corporate settings. Through tailored internships, LegUP helps prepare the next generation of engineers and developers, empowering them to meet professional challenges head-on.

Currently, Balance Innovation Center is working on two groundbreaking medical devices. The first is an Overdose Response Application that delivers real-time, street-level data to first responders, government agencies, and community service providers. This application aims to track overdose incidents with precision, analyze drug trends, identify morbidity and mortality rates, evaluate treatment efficacy, and detect emerging drug threats within communities. By providing timely and actionable data, this tool has the potential to significantly improve crisis response and resource allocation.

The second development focuses on women’s health, a new intrauterine device (IUD) designed to improve upon traditional models. With a redesigned IUD and insertion system, the objective is to reduce pain, minimize complications, and lower the incidence of side effects commonly associated with existing products. This innovation represents a significant leap forward in making contraceptive options more accessible and patient-friendly.

Beyond device development, Jill Mari Embry is working to transition current clients, many of whom are female and international founders, into an incubator model under the Balance Innovation Center umbrella. This approach will provide critical services, tools, and resources, including access to interns, to reduce development costs and accelerate their journey to market success.

To further expand and fulfill its mission, Balance Innovation Center is actively seeking capital investment. Funding will play a vital role in scaling operations, fast-tracking product development, and extending support to an even broader range of diverse innovators.

Jill Mari Embry’s work is a bold testament to what happens when innovation meets inclusion. With a focus on equity, representation, and real-world impact, she is not only changing the way medical devices are developed, but who gets to develop them.

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