Another Shark Is Hosting a Hospital Competition
Boston Children’s Hospital’s Global Pediatric Summit, Taking on Tomorrow, will feature what reps are calling an “Innovation Tank.” It’s 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.”
These aspiring pediatric healthcare entrepreneurs will have to pitch to Shark Tank‘s Daymond John, who is used to seeing people sweat it out while asking for money. Similarly, Brigham and Women’s Hospital hosted their own Shark Tank-style competition in June, and the hospital brought in part-time local Kevin O’Leary as a judge.
The competition takes place the morning of October 31 and competitors will be pitching for $30,000 to bring their innovation or product to life. In addition to John, there five other judges, many of whom are experts in their fields, such as Harvard Medical School’s Grousbeck Professor of Pediatrics, Leonard Zon, who is also the founder and director of the Stem Cell Program at Boston Children’s.
According to Boston Children’s website, applicants must submit a full business plan:
Summary of business plan:
- Concise description of the innovation, including current stage of development
- Statement of need and potential benefits, including an explanation of how the concept will advance care for pediatric patients
- Explanation of the innovation’s competitive advantage
- Brief development outline describing the intended progression plan with known milestones for deliverables
- Outline of funding sources secured and needed to advance the innovation
- Description of proprietary rights including any patents filed or issued
“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,” Zon said in a statement. “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.”
According to a release from Boston Children’s Hospital:
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.
For more details, visit takingontomorrow.org/innovation-tank.
