The Healthcare Innovation Pitch (HIP) is the highly publicized Bridge to Cures biannual event (launched in 2015). It is designed as a “toned down” and more structured version of the ABC show “Shark Tank”, where healthcare entrepreneurs will get the rare opportunity to pitch to a panel of venture capitalists and serial entrepreneurs from across the country. This will be a public event with university, industry, and government participation along with exposure to other investors and entrepreneurs.
Prior to the event the Bridge to Cures Advisory Board and Seed and Growth Committee will screen discoveries and inventors to select the most promising innovations. Selected innovators will then be mentored and coached to develop their pitches, and compete for over $30,000 in seed funds. The Bridge to Cures Advisory Board and Seed and Growth Committee currently seek applications for the Healthcare Innovation Pitch (HIP) Event, in one of the following tracks: (a) HealthTech (e.g. connected medicine; healthcare IT; telemedicine, (b) Therapeutics and Devices, and (c) Medication Therapy Management.
Key Dates
Application Deadline: August 20, 2017 (email application to: dan@bridgetocures.com)
Note: The application is a brief description only; applicants will add to and refine their startup idea in sessions leading up to the HIP Event.
Applicants selected to advance to next phase (NSF I-Corps Bootcamp): August 20th
Networking and Teambuilding Event: September (TBA)
Milwaukee NSF I-Corps Bootcamp for applicants: 4 Monday evenings in October
Business Plan and Pitch Mentoring/Classes: 2 weekday evenings in October (TBD)
HIP Event; Pitch to panel of Healthcare Venture Capitalists and Entrepreneurs: Wednesday November 8th (4:00-8:00 p.m. at the Hilton)
Applications. Applications (non-confidential) are welcome in any area of health care innovation, including HealthTech, drug or device development, clinical services, diagnostic assays with commercial potential, as well as software and apps with health care uses. Applications must follow the specifications provided on the announcement page; but, it is expected that some applicant ideas may be at an early stage, and may not have intellectual property in place, or may not have obtained significant market data for their product or service idea. Such applicants are still encouraged to enter, because part of the process is to provide mentoring and assistance in developing a strong intellectual property position and business strategy. This mentoring will be provided in the Bootcamp as well as free classes on preparing a business plan.
Seed funding. Funding is provided as a combination of grants, 1X convertible notes (debt that converts to equity at favorable terms, if/when a venture financing round occurs), and legal services). Funds of at least $30,000 will be awarded, in the different tracks:
Intellectual Property. Applicants are warned to not include any confidential information in their application which may compromise their future ability to obtain patent protection. Once key information that relates to your patentable invention is publicly disclosed, you may lose the ability to obtain a patent. For our application process, you need only provide general and publicly available information, to satisfy initial application requirements. Applicant will indemnify and hold harmless HIP Event organizers, including Bridge to Cures Inc., CTSI, and their principals, with regard to any claims arising in connection with disclosure of information relating to their invention, and with regard to commercialization of the results of their submitted project by or under the authority of Applicant.
Patent & Commercialization Process Links
Useful information on the patent and commercialization process can be found through the following links.
Applicants that advance will receive mentoring and assistance in preparing a business model, a business plan, and a brief pitch to be given to an expert panel of healthcare investors from the East and West Coast, at the HIP Event. The teams will be eligible for prizes valued at over $30,000. Winners will also be eligible for a free legal audit from the Marquette Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic. Winners will be selected on Nov. 8th, at the HIP Event.
NIH Funding Acknowledgment:Important Reminder – Please acknowledge the NIH when publishing papers, patents, projects, and presentations resulting from the use of CTSI resources by including the NIH Funding Acknowledgement.
The Healthcare Innovation Pitch (HIP) is the highly publicized Bridge to Cures biannual event (launched in 2015). It is designed as a “toned down” and more structured version of the ABC show “Shark Tank”, where healthcare entrepreneurs will get the rare opportunity to pitch to a panel of venture capitalists and serial entrepreneurs from across the country. This will be a public event with university, industry, and government participation along with exposure to other investors and entrepreneurs.
