Taking on Tomorrow to Feature "Innovation Tank" Pitch Opportunity for Aspiring Pediatric Health Care Entrepreneurs

BOSTON, July 24, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Boston Children's Hospital's Global Pediatric Summit + Awards, Taking on Tomorrow (#PedInno14), will feature an "Innovation Tank" – a forum designed to give pediatric health care innovators an opportunity to pitch their business or product solution to a panel of acclaimed judges for consideration of funding and feedback on how to accelerate the innovation and bring it to market.

The competition, occurring the morning of Friday, October 31, will be moderated by Daymond John of ABC's Shark Tank and sponsored by Philips Healthcare. Judges include: Bob Davis, MBA, General Partner, Highland Capital Partners; Santo Politi, MBA, Founder and General Partner, Spark Capital; Ivan Salgo, MD, Senior Director, Cardiology, Philips Healthcare; Halle Tecco, MBA, Founder and Managing Director, Rock Health; and Leonard Zon, MD, Founder and Director of the Stem Cell Program at Boston Children's. The panel of business-savvy judges will consider pitches and determine how to award $30,000 in sponsored funds among the presenters.

"We don't yet know who will apply or what their innovations are, but we know they will center on advancing health care for kids and that is absolutely worth encouraging and celebrating," said Leonard Zon, MD, of Boston Children's, a world-renowned pioneer in the use of zebrafish as a platform for drug discovery. "I am excited to see what is brought to the Innovation Tank and how our collective experience can help give the presenters the momentum they need to push forward."

"Treating complex pediatric diseases as well as increasing access to care for even simple children's diseases is a global imperative.  Health care innovation for pediatric conditions is at the center of improving quality of life, increasing access to care and helping lower cost just as it is for health care in general," said Ivan Salgo, MD, Senior Director, Cardiology, Philips Healthcare. "Helping children pursue healthier, more independent lives helps everyone and Philips is dedicated to that cause through the pediatric research we do."

Individuals or teams of innovators are encouraged to apply for the Innovation Tank. All applications must be received by September 12 to be considered.

The original application pool will be narrowed to ten semi-finalists who will be notified by September 19. Three finalists will be invited to appear at Taking on Tomorrow to pitch their ideas live in front of event attendees.

"Taking on Tomorrow offers an incredible opportunity to shine, excite and inspire," said Daymond John of ABC's Shark Tank. "Entrepreneurs will be among colleagues all dedicated to the betterment of kids' health and I anticipate the air to be electric in support."

Complete details on the Innovation Tank, including requirements, eligibility and a timeline of key dates are available on the Summit web site: www.takingontomorrow.org/innovation-tank.

Boston Children's Hospital's Global Pediatric Innovation Summit + Awards 2014, Taking on Tomorrow, takes place October 30 + 31 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston. It provides an engaging forum to build partnerships, accelerate innovations and help reshape the future of pediatric medicine. The dynamic and comprehensive agenda gathers innovators and thought leaders from across the globe to examine clinical, informatics and business opportunities in pediatric innovation.

Taking on Tomorrow features IBM as its premier sponsor. Additional sponsors, to date, include Philips Healthcare, Genzyme, Deloitte, American Well, Cerner Corporation, Claritas Genomics, Shire, Thermo-Fisher Scientific, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Partners include the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), Network for Excellence in Health Innovation (NEHI), The Institute for Pediatric Innovation, The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), and The Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council (MassMEDIC). Media partners include Modern Healthcare, the Boston Business Journal, WBUR-90.9 FM (Boston's NPR News Station), MIT Technology Review, Clinical Informatics News, and Bio-IT World.

Follow the Summit online @BCH_Innovation #PedInno14.
 

Contact:
Keri Stedman
Boston Children's Hospital
617-919-3110
[email protected]

SOURCE Boston Children's Hospital