Maternova founder in the running for social entrepreneur contest

PROVIDENCE – Meg Wirth, founder of Providence-based Maternova, is one of 25 business leaders in the running to be one of “America’s Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs,” in a national contest by Bloomberg Businessweek.

Maternova, which describes itself as a Web-based global marketplace for life-saving innovations for mothers and newborns, made the short list from a pool of more than 200 private, for-profit social enterprises.

“We selected companies by examining their impact, innovation and business success. Some are multimillion-dollar enterprises; others are startups with big ideas, from affordable housing for senior citizens to apps to aid health care workers in the developing world,” Bloomberg said.

Readers can vote until July 12 and the Top Five will be announced on July 19.

Bloomberg notes that Maternova has received funding from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the antipoverty Seven Fund. Its business plan involves selling to governments and globetrotting clinicians.

“We are just making real what already exists,” said Wirth. Products include a solar-powered headlamp to assist in childbirth and a color-based diagnostic test for anemia in mothers.

Its revenue in 2010 was $75,000 and its projected revenue for 2011 is $210,000.