Have an idea to advance healthcare technology?
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Pitch your business solution as
part of the Activate!Vaughan Innovation Challenge
The second iteration of the Activate!Vaughan Innovation Challenge
is looking for groundbreaking health-tech solutions. The City of Vaughan, in
partnership with the Province of Ontario, Mackenzie Health, the Mackenzie
Innovation Institute (Mi2), SE Health, Sterling Industries, The HUB
and ventureLAB, is calling on entrepreneurs to present innovative business
solutions that will advance a technology-enabled healthcare system in
delivering high-quality, effective and patient-focused care. Registration is
open until Monday, Oct. 5.
This is the second of
five challenges in the Activate!Vaughan program that will take place over the
next 2½ years. The program will kick off with a Reverse Pitch period launching
Monday, Aug. 31. Participants will pitch their ideas at a virtual pitch event
the week of Monday, Nov. 16 judged by health industry experts for the
opportunity to win up to $10,000 in grant funding.
Through the challenge,
local startups will
receive mentorship from experts at the partnering organizations to help them
develop and refine their solutions. Corporate enterprise partners will gain
access to local entrepreneurs who can help generate solutions to healthcare and
data challenges such as using technology to keep patients and their families
informed before, during and after a hospital visit and using innovative medical
devices to improve practices by enhancing safety, efficiency and patient
outcomes in clinical or home environments.
All programming will be
delivered virtually throughout the following program phases:
1. Reverse Pitch – launching online Monday, Aug. 31
- Ventures gain access to reverse pitch videos by challenge partners to develop background knowledge relating to the challenge statements.
2. Rapid Prototyping – Monday, Sept. 21 to Friday, Oct. 2
- Ventures access virtual workshops and business advisory support to develop or refine their business solutions to one of the challenge statements.
3. Expert Mentorship – Monday, Oct. 12 to Friday, Oct. 30, apply online by
Monday, Oct. 5
- Selected ventures who meet key criteria will qualify for one-on-one mentorship with experts from Mackenzie Health, Mackenzie Innovation Institute (Mi2), SE Health, Sterling Industries and ventureLAB.
4. Pitch Challenge – Week of Monday, Nov. 16
- Selected ventures will pitch their health-tech solution at a virtual pitch event judged by healthcare industry experts for the opportunity to win up to $10,000 in grant funding.
5. Commercialization Program – Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020 to Thursday, April 1,
2021
- Winning ventures from the pitch challenge will receive dedicated support, including specialized workshops, focused mentorship from experienced advisors and valuable co-development opportunities with industry leaders in the health sector.
The continued support
of innovation
programs like Activate!Vaughan that connect high-potential entrepreneurs to
market-driven entrepreneurship opportunities and mentorship from industry
leaders aligns with the City’s Economic and Cultural Development
department’s Business Resilience
Plan.
The Business Resilience
Plan, which was presented to the City’s Ready, Resilient and Resourceful
Committee of Council on June 23, focuses on securing
Vaughan’s place as the Region’s largest employment centre, enhancing Vaughan’s
key strategic economic drivers like the city’s downtown commercial zone,
manufacturing and logistics, the health and tourism industries, and leveraging
public spaces by supporting community events and the arts community.
Programs like
Activate!Vaughan catalyze Vaughan’s economic prosperity, showcase its
entrepreneurial spirit and promotes innovation– all priorities outlined in the
Council-approved 2018-2022 Term of
Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan.
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