Standing on stage at The Newark Museum of Art just one day after what would have been his late mother’s birthday, founder and CEO Romy Antoine pitched the healthcare technology company born from her battle with cancer.
Thirteen years after losing his mother, Antoine’s company, One Stop Wellness, took home the top prize and a $5,000 cash grant at Newark Demo Day on Oct. 20, emerging victorious among 12 competing tech startups during Newark Tech Week.
The milestone follows the company’s recent headquarters relocation to Newark, supported by Audible’s Business Attraction Program, which provides grant funding, business mentorship, and expansion resources to attract high-growth companies to New Jersey’s largest city.
For Antoine, who grew up in neighboring West Orange, the inspiration for One Stop Wellness stems from a painful miscommunication during his mother’s oncology treatment. When a nurse was assigned to visit her home, Antoine did not initially realize his mother had been placed on hospice care—a tragic breakdown in communication that highlighted a critical gap in patient advocacy: receiving healthcare information does not guarantee understanding it.
To solve this widespread issue, One Stop Wellness developed an AI-powered health literacy platform designed to help employees translate complex medical jargon into clear, actionable health decisions.
Through the mobile platform, users can upload medical reports for plain-language summaries, generate targeted questions for physician visits, and access personalized health education. Employers and benefits advisors utilize the tool to boost workforce health engagement, address chronic risks, and curb preventable healthcare costs.
“This win was especially meaningful because it happened the day after my mom’s birthday,” Antoine said. “Telling our story that day brought up more emotion than usual. Then I looked out and saw my team cheering me on. Watching them connect with people at the showcase and support a mission that started with my family was a moment I won’t forget. I could see that what I’ve been working so hard to build was really happening.”
Now operating out of the EqualSpace tech hub in downtown Newark, One Stop Wellness has aligned its growth with the city’s rapidly expanding corporate and technology ecosystem.
“One Stop Wellness won top honors at Newark Demo Day because they combined a mission rooted in community health with a sharp, practical model for employers,” Aaron Meyerson, Chief Innovation Economy Officer for Invest Newark and the Newark Alliance said. “Romy and his team showed how low health literacy drives up costs for employers, and how a simple daily habit on a phone can help change that. That’s exactly the kind of company Newark’s tech ecosystem is built to support: founders solving real problems for real people and turning that into scalable businesses.”
The pitch competition was presented by Audible, the Newark Alliance, Invest Newark, and Prudential Financial, alongside ecosystem partners including Rutgers University, HAX, and TechUnited:NJ.
“Congratulations to Romy and the One Stop Wellness team on this well-deserved win,” Aisha Glover, Global Head of Urban Innovation at Audible said. “Newark is home to extraordinary entrepreneurial talent, and One Stop Wellness represents exactly the kind of innovation that sets our city apart. Through Audible’s continued investment in our headquarters city, we’re committed to helping founders like Romy build and scale right here in Newark, because when startups succeed, our economic impact is even greater.”
Following its Demo Day victory, One Stop Wellness will host an official ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Newark headquarters alongside Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka and municipal leaders on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at 550 Broad Street (4th Floor).
Despite the celebration, Antoine remains focused on the platform’s national deployment.
“It’s time Newark gets more recognition for innovation,” Antoine added. “There are amazing founders here building great companies, and this city has so much to offer. Winning is an incredible milestone, but there are still so many people struggling to understand their health. That’s what keeps me going.”
