ITP Techblog

The Covid-19 pandemic has put squarely in the spotlight the need for innovative health technology to play a leading role in improving access to healthcare.

Now an opportunity exists to allow promising new health tech innovations to fly, with ChristchurchNZ, KiwiNet, and Ryman Healthcare offering a prize package worth over $340,000 as part of its HealthTech Supernode Challenge.

The Challenge is seeking innovative "ideas, products or start-ups" from individuals or teams in three areas - aged care, rural care and an open category where applications can be across any remit.

Up to 20 finalists will be chosen to go through a six-week pre-accelerator programme allowing participants to develop their ideas with the input of healthcare and innovation experts on privacy and regulations, market validation, testing minimal viable products, business model development and investment funding options.

"This is your launchpad to invent the future of NZ healthcare with groundbreaking and innovative technology that solves real problems and has positive healthcare impact," say the organisers.

The intellectual property associated with the projects remains the property of the applicants 

• There's a cash prize package of $40,000 to be split between finalists as well as an automatic invitation to take part in the ongoing incubation programme at Te Ōhaka -  Centre for Growth and Innovation or ThincLab.

• If applicable, the overall winner may receive potential seed funding from WNT Ventures 

• If applicable, the overall winner may also be granted a market validation contract with CDHB which will provide the opportunity for customer discovery, product, and market validation.
• If applicable to Aged Care, the winner will also be granted exclusive access to Ryman Healthcare's innovation team which will provide the opportunity for the startup to pursue real customer discovery, product, and market validation.

While the HealthTech Supernode Challenge is being delivered by the Ministry of Awesome and the University of Canterbury's Centre for Entrepreneurship in Christchurch, it is a national competition - applicants can be from anywhere in the country.

The top finalists emerging from the pre-accelerator will present to a panel of experts at a Demo Night, to be held on 22 October at Manawa, in the heart of Te Papa Hauora Christchurch Health Precinct. Judges include Microbiologist and media commentator, Dr. Siouxsie Wiles and Ian Town, New Zealand's Chief Science Advisor at the Ministry of Health.

Applications are now open and close on August 16 - visit HealthTech Supernode Challenge for more details.