UP Ventures launches the Greater Manchester Future of Health Challenge in partnership with Novartis.
For groundbreaking technologists and entrepreneurs
Underpinned by a world-class 12-week immersive acceleration programme, the challenge is designed for health-tech entrepreneurs of all stages who want to create real impact by improving people’s lives through purpose-driven innovation.
A world-class HealthTech Accelerator
Based in The Landing, the technology incubator at the heart of MediaCityUK, the programme will be delivered by coaches and practitioners who continue to make and do in the real world. Each of the three programme phases will push participants to challenge their existing thinking, improve all aspects of their business and put the customer experience first. The challenge will bring together a host of expert advisers who each have a unique insight into developing and scaling breakthrough healthtech products and services.
Danny Meaney, CEO of UP Ventures said “This is a fantastic opportunity to gain unrivaled access to the HealthTech ecosystem in the GM area through our close partnerships with industry, the NHS and intelligent, engaged investors. Unlike other accelerators, our programme is free for the participants. We’re not looking for cash or equity – just highly committed teams with the potential to really make an impact.”
Karen Fox, Strategic Partnerships Lead for Novartis said “At Novartis we are committed to reimagining medicine for the benefit of patients and crucial to this is how we work with digital technology and data science. We want to work smart and innovatively to deliver meaningful results.
“The best way to achieve this is to work collaboratively with innovative companies. This partnership offers Novartis an opportunity to not only establish a strong presence in, and bring value to the field of health technology but also learn from and collaborate with entrepreneurial partners to rapidly test and validate potential new solutions, ultimately delivering innovations with the potential to reimagine medicine with data and digital”
The challenge has three areas of focus
- Solutions that improve the experience of those with Dementia and/or Frailty.
For vulnerable residents at risk of presenting at hospitals through social isolation, frailty, and dementia - Solutions allowing primary care and outpatient services to be delivered in or near the home for patients.
For patients with a long-term condition that requires regular attendance at outpatient clinics or in a primary care setting. - Innovations to allow Digital Nudges to improve Prevention and Public Health.
Helping people at risk of developing conditions whose outcomes can be improved through lifestyle change.
Solutions will be evaluated against the potential Life Impact for each resident or patient type listed above, and the ability to see evidential improvement in:
i) the patient holistic care experience
ii) the capacity and management of primary, community and secondary care.
Google awards
As well as gaining access to an unrivalled group of experts the leading startup, selected by our coaching panel, will win access to an outstanding award provided by Google Cloud for Startups. With this, the winning startup will be awarded $100k in cloud credits and expert support in the form of technical enablement through architecture & design sessions, technical office hours, and free credits to use Google Cloud which also includes using Google Healthcare APIs.
There will also be smaller awards for other outstanding participants.
Key dates
Applications are welcome until the closing date of July 18th, 2019.
Successful applicants will be informed by August 12th, 2019.
The programme will launch on September 10th, 2019.
