Breaking news for innovators disrupting the field of women’s health technology

New York, NY (PRUnderground) September 1st, 2020

HITLAB is excited to announce the return of the Women’s Health Tech Challenge, on Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, November 19th, 2020. The stage has been set and HITLAB has officially launched the call for innovator applications. Hundreds of applications will be reviewed, but only five finalists will have the opportunity to pitch on Challenge Day for the chance to win $10,000.00.

Innovators and Digital Health Startups founded by women, or companies addressing unmet needs in Women’s Health, are encouraged to apply now through October 19th, 2020. Innovators must submit Tweet-sized responses (280 characters or fewer) to a series of key questions surrounding the project’s target problem, progress made to date, and unique value proposition.

In addition to celebrating innovation in women’s health, the November 19th Women’s Health Tech Challenge aims to highlight pressing health inequities and their solutions. Conversations will give visibility to and address the needs of marginalized and vulnerable groups. HITLAB’s Women’s Health Tech Initiative is excited to introduce a panel discussion: Funding Underrepresented Female Founders.

Women’s Health Tech Challenge Director, Susan Solinsky added that “2020 has been a transformative year in women’s health innovation and for recognizing female founders and leaders in healthcare. However, there is still work to be done in supporting female founders, and particularly women of color. I am inspired each day by the women who work tirelessly to change the trajectory for funding opportunities and brand awareness and look forward to honoring the female executives addressing unmet needs in Women’s Health. It’s going to take a collaborative effort to ensure there’s a future where women from overlooked and marginalized communities experience true agency and participation in the American economy.”

HITLAB’s 2020 Women’s Health Tech Challenge is also excited to offer a Bonus Prize, in partnership with Rhia Ventures, who will provide funding for a company that addresses contraception or maternal health, and also has a strategy to serve low income, people of color, and/or Medicaid populations.

The HITLAB Women’s Health Tech Initiative is excited to announce a new addition to the Executive Committee, and Grand Prize Sponsor for November’s Challenge, Goodwin Procter LLP. “At Goodwin, we believe that innovators make the world go around,” said Mark Bettencourt, Goodwin’s Managing Partner. “Because of our longstanding relationships with the global life sciences and healthcare communities, we also believe deeply in supporting both innovators and investors who are working tirelessly to advance and champion women’s health solutions of tomorrow. We are thrilled to partner with HITLAB Women’s Health Tech Challenge on its critical mission to uncover and power new approaches to supporting women’s health through innovation. To all of the entrepreneurs and start-ups, teams and individuals participating in this challenge – onward!”

HITLAB is excited to announce the November 2020 Women’s Health Tech Challenge Keynote Speaker, Julia Cheek, Founder and CEO of Everlywell. Everlywell believes Americans deserve access to affordable lab tests and insightful, digitally-enabled results with actionable next steps. The company connects individuals to certified labs offering a suite of validated lab tests including Cholesterol, Heart Health, Fertility, STIs, Lyme Disease, Testosterone, Thyroid and more, including one of the only FDA-authorized at-home sample collection test kits for COVID-19 and the first at-home test kits for fertility, high-risk HPV, indoor & outdoor allergies.

Five finalists will be announced on Friday, November 6th, 2020. On Thursday, November 19th, 2020, they will present their technologies to an audience of healthcare, medical, and innovation leaders via a virtual platform.

The finalists will be competing for five prizes. A Grand Prize of $10,000.00 will be presented to the first-place winner by prize sponsor Goodwin Procter LLP. The second-place prize winners will receive $20,000.00 of in-kind legal services from prize sponsor Goodwin Procter LLP. The Health Innovation Alliance Award will be presented to the third-place winners by Horizon Government Affairs, receiving a 1-Year Membership to the Health Innovation Alliance and $15,000.00 of direct government affairs consulting services. The NIHUB Women’s Health Tech Innovation Award will be presented to the fourth-place winners, receiving a 1-year premium membership to Nursing Innovation Hub and $5,000 worth of in-kind services including tailored team strategy, design, and consulting. The Women’s Health Tech Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award will be awarded to the fifth-place winners, receiving a media exposure package from prize sponsor Women of Wearables, valued at $1,000.00, and a one (1) year premium WoW Membership.

Additional bonus prize opportunities are available to all applicants, even those who were not selected to pitch on challenge day. Rhia Ventures will present a $5,000.00 bonus prize to one company whose focus is on contraception or maternal health, and has a strategy to serve low income, people of color and/or Medicaid populations. DigitalDx Ventures will award a $2,500.00 bonus prize for Best Diagnostic Innovation. Please see the official rules at www.hitlab.org/wht for all terms and conditions as well as all details of the prizes described above.

To get your application underway or register to attend the Challenge on Thursday, November 19, 2020, visit the Women’s Health Tech Challenge website – www.hitlab.org/wht. There is no fee to enter, and the deadline to apply is Monday, October 19 at 11:59 PM EST. Good luck!

HITLAB is an impact-first organization that offers digital health research, teaching, and advisory services to improve health delivery around the world.

At HITLAB, we believe technology and health can work together to improve the quality of health delivery and healthcare worldwide. We use rigorous research and evidence-based methods to identify the best digital health solutions for each of our partners.