Last November we wrote about Jay Parkinson, MD, the physician who's become synonymous with Web 2.0-enabled medicine. Now the good doctor is receiving a fresh round of media attention for his involvement in a broader platform that's designed to bring the benefits of technology and transparency to physicians and patients far and wide.

In a new development, Parkinson has teamed up with Myca, a Canadian provider of health technology, to develop Hello Health, a technology platform that's designed to open intelligent channels between patients and doctors. Hello Health aims to improve the delivery of medical services to consumers by incorporating video, voice and data communications across multiple platforms and channels, including mobile phones and PCs; documenting and archiving records and communications for round-the-clock online availability; and integrating remote monitoring devices, among other services. In marketing terms, it will be a friendly, branded consumer experience with the neighbourhood doctor, Parkinson says. Once the platform is launched—it's due soon in Brooklyn, with the rest of New York City to follow—consumers will create an account and become a member for a range of Netflix-priced monthly fees. They'll be able to make appointments online and be seen at home, in their offices, or at Hello Health's offices. All their records will be online and available whenever they need them, as will all communication with Hello Health doctors. The price, Parkinson says, will be "less money than a 4-minute visit with your old doctor who practices in the 20th Century." A preview of the platform is available on YouTube, and patients and doctors alike are being recruited to get involved in the new platform.

Parkinson stopped seeing new patients officially at the beginning of this year to work on Hello Health, but will resume his practice in mid-June, when Hello Health launches. "It’s Geek Squad with doctors and a Netflix-priced monthly membership subscription fee — it is a branded healthcare 'experience' that mixes 'concierge service for all' with house/office calls and web visits via email, IM, video chat, and text messaging," Parkinson told The Efficient MD. "It’s Fed Ex, Apple, Whole Foods, Amazon, Toyota, Fresh Direct, and Geek Squad all applied to healthcare delivery." Indeed, Hello Health has the potential to turn the current paradigm on its ear, transforming US medicine as we know it.

Website: www.myca.com/hello_health

Spotted by: Bjarke Svendsen

A few weeks ago we wrote about Keetsa's eco-mattress in a box, and since then one of our spotters came across another eco-bedding line from UK-based Sleep Limited.

Sleep Limited's line of eco sleep products features pure, unbleached cotton and 100 percent recycled polyester fiberfill made largely from recycled drink bottles. Included in the line is the Eco Duvet, priced from GBP 30.80; an Eco Mattress Topper, priced from GBP 25.40; and Eco Pillows priced at GBP 22 per pair. All are soft, hypo-allergenic and machine washable, and all come packaged in an unbleached cotton bag emblazoned with an image of the Earth. Shipping is available only within the UK, and is free of charge for orders of GBP 65 or over, GBP 5.95 otherwise.

In today's eco-iconic world, in which out-greening your competitors is increasingly the name of the game, we can't help but notice that Sleep Limited's products are made from cotton that's merely unbleached, not organic. Nevertheless, with a growing number of consumers eager to be green—and especially to show the world that they are—there's room for many shades of the colour. Make it easy for consumers to be green—or at least, feel green—and they'll reward you with some cold, hard green of their own!

Website: www.ecobedding.co.uk
Contact: info@sleeplimited.co.uk

Spotted by: Graeme A.

Thanks to California's Proposition 8, passed back in 1978, homeowners in the state can get a temporary reduction in their home's assessed value—and, accordingly, their property taxes—when the housing market enters a slump. Recognizing that that applies to virtually everyone who purchased property in the state within the past few years, Prop8.org is a new consumer advocate group that was formed specifically to help California consumers take advantage of the law.

Prop8.org provides tax-assessment appeals services for commercial, industrial and residential properties throughout California. With a team that's professionally trained in tax appeal rules, procedures and requirements specific to each California county, Prop8 can provide market data and analyses needed to advocate the lowest possible tax assessed value. Clients get full-service representation, from the initial filing of the assessment appeal application and supporting documentation, through negotiations with the county assessor—even including a formal hearing before the County Tax Appeals Board, if necessary. Prop8's services are available on a contingency fee basis for 50 percent of the first year's tax savings or via a flat-fee plan that covers the entire process—with a three-year guarantee—for USD 495. For homeowners who bought their homes between 2004 and 2006, the average savings that result from hiring Prop8 are between USD 1,500 and USD 2,500 per year, the company's founders say.

Prop8 is currently seeking affiliates to help extend its service throughout California. Meanwhile, of course, there are also many other situations in which consumers are legally entitled to compensation but are unaware or too busy to claim it. Find one of those, and you just might have something to build a business on! (Related: Claiming compensation for duped passengers.)

Website: www.prop8.org
Contact: info@prop8.org

Spotted by: Troy Nelson

More crowdfunding! Just recently, Irish fashion portal Catwalk Genius joined the crowdfunded fashion fray with its new Adopt a Designer program.

Catwalk Genius features fashion and accessories from independent designers. Through Adopt a Designer, supporters of a participating designer can buy shares (or "elements," as it calls them) in their work for EUR 14—plus a EUR 1 processing fee—in the hope of sharing in future profits. Once 5,000 such elements have been sold, the designer is given the resulting EUR 70,000 to create a new collection within 6 months. In the meantime, supporters receive a limited edition piece created exclusively for them by the designer. When the new collection launches, all profits from its sale are split equally among the designer, the supporters and Catwalk Genius. If the collection sells out, a tidy profit goes to the designer's supporters, who can also sign up for Catwalk Genius's affiliate program and earn 10 percent of the profits from sales through ads on their personal web pages. By the Adopt a Designer program's mid-April launch, 50 designers had already signed up.

Crowdfunding has now been spotted taking hold in the worlds of bands, software, education and sports, among many others. Any doubters left out there? Time to start putting the power of the supportive crowds to work for your growing brand!

Website: www.catwalkgenius.com
Contact: talktous@catwalkgenius.com

Earlier this year we wrote about nvokh, a crowdfunded and crowdmanaged eco clothing company. Now BeerBankroll is taking a similar approach to the creation of a new, community managed brewery.

The British company has only partially fleshed out its site, but BeerBankroll aims to start a brewery and pub in which many of the key decisions are made by members. It is currently recruiting a minimum of 50,000 members, each of whom will contribute USD 50 in exchange for voting rights on ideas such as the company name, logo, product design, product mix, marketing plan, advertising and sponsorship. Once BeerBankroll has raised USD 100,000 after administration and overhead costs, it plans to begin discussions with a consulting firm—chosen by members' votes—which will then play a guiding role for the community. Assuming the concept goes well, profits will be divided three ways: one part to members in the form of reward points redeemable for products from the Beer Bankroll store; one part back to the company; and one part to charity.

BeerBankroll says it has no set timetable for achieving its milestones, preferring instead to leave that up to members. The company's FAQs do state that "if for some reason we are unable to get a brewing company started [...], then we will take the remaining money after administration and operating costs and give it to charity."

Meanwhile, beer lovers can also join OurBrew, a very new start-up from New Zealand that has similar ambitions, but aims to work with existing breweries. Will it prove feasible for tens of thousands of people to jointly make key decisions for these two breweries-to-be? Only time will tell. However, we think there's also an opportunity here for an existing organization or financial institution that can vouch for new crowdfunded projects and safeguard pre-funding money until the minimum amount of funds have been collected, return it to members if the project doesn't come to fruition.

Website: www.beerbankroll.com — www.ourbrew.co.nz
Contact: info@beerbankroll.com

Spotted by: Daniel Phillips & Matt

P.S. As always, we featured the above because we believe it's an interesting new business, and one that fits in with a trend we've been tracking over the past few years. However, as with most investments, please exercise caution before contributing funds of your own.