Healthcare Innovation World Cup Launches: Global Competition Seeks Breakthrough Ideas to Accelerate Innovations for Healthcare Needs

USA - English

• India - English

NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Entrepreneurs and innovators with original solutions to global healthcare challenges, especially fulfilling unmet needs, are invited to enter the Healthcare Innovation World Cup (HCIWC) for a chance to win up to $19,500 in funding and network with industry leaders.

"For the first time in history, we have the opportunity to transform health equity. With five billion people worldwide having access to cellphones, we can reach populations as never before," said Vivian Peng, Director of the Healthcare Innovation World Cup and researcher at HITLAB, the healthcare innovation and teaching lab organizing the World Cup. "We believe this event and competition will generate the ingenious solutions desperately needed to improve healthcare globally. Last year's challenge was a huge success and we are looking forward to this year's entries."

HITLAB will accept entries from September 24 to October 17, 2014 via Whitebox, a newly designed experience for entrepreneurs and innovators to bring about world-changing solutions. With the release of Whitebox, the first integrated networking platform for healthcare professionals, challenge participants can interact on project ideas seamlessly and rapidly. 

Leaders from healthcare and technology organizations will select the most promising submissions. Finalists will receive expense-paid trips to present their prototypes in front of hundreds of entrepreneurs, innovators, and experts at the Columbia Low Memorial Library on December 1, 2014 in New York City.

For more information and to enter visit www.hciwc.com. Sponsorship opportunities are available for interested healthcare thought leaders.

About the Healthcare Innovation World Cup

Healthcare Innovation World Cup (HCIWC) challenges entrepreneurs and innovators in healthcare and information technology to tackle global public health issues. In 2013, the competition invited 220 participants from 23 countries to propose solutions for improving diabetes prevention and management, offering prize money and opportunities to showcase their work.  www.hciwc.com

About HITLAB

HITLAB is a healthcare innovation and teaching lab with a presence in the United States and India. We ideate, create, and evaluate innovative solutions to healthcare challenges for companies, foundations, multi-lateral agencies, and governments. In partnership with others whose missions align with ours, we independently, ethically, and efficiently design studies, programs, and products that improve healthcare access and quality throughout the world. www.hitlab.org

About Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Event Chair

Abdul El-Sayed, MD, DPhil is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Columbia University and co-Director of GRAPH. His research characterizes how social realities shape our health, considering efficacy, cost, and equity implications of solutions to local and global health challenges. He is a Fellow at Demos, a non-profit policy center, and his writing has been featured in the New York Times, The Guardian, CNN, and Project Syndicate. He contributes regularly to health and medicine stories at Al Jazeera America.

Media Contact:
Vivian Peng
HITLAB
212-543-0100
[email protected]

SOURCE HITLAB