Over the last few weeks we’ve highlighted the fantastic work that the City Light portfolio teams are doing to make the world smarter and safer. This week, we continue with a spotlight story on one of our companies that has been particularly active in the last few weeks: Ready Responders.

The entrepreneurs with whom we are fortunate enough to partner are working on solutions that the world needs now more than ever. They are still on the front lines providing care, reducing stress and anxiety, and increasing access to education and energy. Each week, we will be highlighting the work of some of these companies, if for no other reason than to give our communities a break, a reason for hope and a reminder of how together we can work to make tomorrow better than today.

We are not the kind of people or firm that gets quiet or sits on our hands when things get tough. We do not let the news or the red on the stock screens discourage us. We will be smart, empathetic, patient and thoughtful, while also being present, helpful, active and open for business (while upholding all social distancing recommendations). We will be helping our existing companies navigate their new realities, both positive and negative. We will continue to make new investments and to provide follow-on funding as warranted.

Ready Responders is a team of highly trained paramedics, EMTs and nurses supported through telehealth and other technologies to provide care in the comfort of your own home.

The pandemic has hit our most at-risk communities the hardest. Those with existing conditions have been struggling to get the care they need as primary care offices close and emergency rooms become increasingly dangerous. Low income families have also borne the brunt of the virus: New York, the highest case counts (indicating anywhere between 409 and 1245 cases in particular ZIP codes) were heavily concentrated in parts of the Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx boroughs, while mostly white and upper-class neighborhoods in Manhattan have relatively fewer cases. The data is similar across many other metropolitan areas.

Ready Responders has spent the last 3 months rapidly expanding to bring its services to as many Americans as possible, and particularly those who are at the highest risk. By providing at-home non-emergent healthcare services supported by telehealth, Ready Responders offers safe and convenient healthcare while alleviating overburdened health centers and hospitals. With its unique on-demand healthcare platform, Ready Responders allows patients to avoid potentially unnecessary emergency room, clinic and in-patient visits by sending specialized health professionals directly to patients wherever care is needed.The company has expanded to four new markets in 2020 alone, accelerating their growth timeline by several months as they respond to the unique situation the virus has created. In the last few days of April, they announced that they had partnered with REMSA, the Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority for Washoe County in Nevada, to provide at-home care and testing to the population. Ready Responders can be dispatched from a 911 call or if REMSA paramedics are already on scene and the patient meets criteria for this type of at-home care.

Most recently, Ready Responders announced that it was partnering with the state to provide at home testing to some of the most vulnerable in New York City: those in public housing under the New York Community Housing Authority (NYCHA). Eight public housing complexes across four boroughs will have access to COVID-19 testing this week, including the nation’s largest complex — Queensbridge Houses in Long Island City. Testing will be available to residents at no cost, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. The testing will also be provided at no cost to the city.

Ready Responders’ ability to scale rapidly to reach these populations has been nothing short of incredible. We continue to be impressed by the hard work and dedication of the team, and by the impact they continue to have on the most vulnerable populations in a time of great need.

These are just a few examples of why we are convinced that tomorrow will be better than today. It can help to take a moment to recognize the amazing work being done by entrepreneurs and their startup companies.

To that end, if you have inspiring stories about entrepreneurs making a difference that you would like to share, please send them to us at info@citylight.vc. We are sure that our community of investors, entrepreneurs and change makers could use a smile and a reminder that we are not alone.