Our annual pitch competition where startups in different healthcare verticals vie to beat out the competition during our INVEST conference is back.
This year, the conference will be held May 1-2 at our usual venue — the Four Seasons hotel, Chicago in 2018. INVEST is held with our partner — the Mid-America Healthcare Investors Network.
At this year’s conference, more than 40 startups presented and judges peppered them with questions to select the winners. These were the 2017 winners.
To see how you stack up next to the most innovative healthcare startups nationally, you should apply now. Products and innovations must come from the following 5 categories:
– biopharmaceuticals
– diagnostics
– medical devices
– digital health and health IT
– health services
- Companies must have completed at least one round of seed financing prior to the conference.
- The contest is open to companies founded from 2012 onwards.
- Companies should currently be seeking or intend to seek additional rounds of capital within six to 12 months of the conference.
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
When completing the 2-page executive summary and the 500-character company description in the application form, please describe clearly what the unmet need in the marketplace is, what your value proposition is and how your product works in terms of the science behind it. For instance, for biopharma startups, the science could be the mechanism of action. If you have results of a pilot or other relevant information, please include.
This will help investors screen your application based on the following criteria:
- Business Idea
- Market Opportunity
- Revenue Model
- Founder’s Experience
The deadline to apply is January 15.
We are adding judges as we speak, but here are some that have confirmed: Jason Fuller, principal at NEA, Jessica Zeaske, director, GE Ventures, and Erik Halvorsen, director, Texas Medical Center Accelerator (TMCx).
To learn more about the conference, which in past years has brought together marquee investors and entrepreneurs, please visit the INVEST website, where you may enter the Pitch Perfect Contest.
You can also apply by going directly here. Good luck
See you in Chicago, May 1-2 at the Four Seasons.
Update: John Mattison, CMIO of Kaiser Permanente will not be able to attend.
