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HealthTech Challenge 2023

23 August 2023

Do you have an idea, research project, or product that could positively impact the health sector? The HealthTech Challenge helps individuals and teams develop commercially feasible solutions for the health sector. Find out about UC's HealthTech Challenge.

HOW TO APPLY

The听HealthTech听Challenge听2023 is a听ten-week听听that aims to equip individuals and teams with a venture idea, research, or a non-commercialised听product听or service听to develop听commercially听feasible听solutions for the听health听sector.

Why Enter?

By听entering听the听HealthTech听Challenge听you will have听the opportunity to听access:

  • A $10,000听cash prize pool听听
  • A $5,000 in-kind听support package to take your venture to the next level.听
  • Expert听coaching, mentoring and support throughout听the听programme.听
  • Advanced start-up knowledge and resources.听
  • Prominent听stakeholders and investors听from听the听local and national innovation听ecosystem.听
  • Cohort-based accelerated learning and support.听
  • UCE鈥檚听rapid prototyping听and听digital printing facility.听
  • Complimentary听hot-desks, deep-work听spaces,听refreshments,听and use of UCE facilities.听
Do you have the next big idea?
FFA product

Products

What new innovative products听can we create to听increase听the value of the sector?

FFA technology

Data & Technology

What new data, process or technology solutions can we implement to improve the efficiency and output of听the sector?

FFA sustainability

Environment & Sustainability

What new commercial ideas or emerging research will have a beneficial impact on our environment or contribute to the sector鈥檚 sustainability goals?

HealthTech Challenge 2023 will seek concepts based on emerging technology/product/sustainability solutions which are aligned to:

  • Healthcare in the community (E.g., primary care, community initiatives)
  • Equity and access
  • Patient choice
  • System time efficiency
  • Healthcare for vulnerable communities (E.g., aged care, mental health, disabled people)
What Participants Say

鈥淕o for it. If it鈥檚 your first venture, it鈥檒l open your eyes鈥

鈥淚 really enjoyed the collective cohort energy and to challenge my assumptions鈥澨

鈥淵ou get to meet so many knowledgeable people in such a short time鈥澨

鈥淚 came to UCE for the energy, experiences and progress鈥

Key Dates
DETAIL听DATE
Applications openFriday 4th听August 2023
Applications closeWednesday 6th听September at 11:59 pm
Successful applications advisedWednesday 13th听September
Challenge Launch Day (full day event)Monday 25th听September
Speed mentoring & industry eventThursday 12th听October (TBC)
Labour Day holidayMonday 23rd听October
mini传媒 Anniversary holidayFriday 17th听November
Finalist Round JudgingThursday 23rd听November (TBC)
Finalists for Awards and Finale presentation announcedThursday 23rd听November (TBC)
Awards Round JudgingThursday 30th听November (morning)
Finale eventThursday 30th听November (evening)

The programme consists of 90-120 minute sessions, held twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4pm at the UC Centre for Entrepreneurship.

Attending the in-person sessions is highly recommended to gain the most benefit from the programme, as the group learning experience is a key advantage. However, an online option will be available for those who are unable to attend in person due to location, work, or health issues, which can be discussed with UCE.

To fully participate in the programme, it is essential to attend the launch day, industry event with speed mentoring, and the finale. On average, participants should allocate approximately five hours per week to the programme, which includes attending the in-person or virtual sessions, additional support sessions, and meeting with coaches and assigned advisors.

Participants can also schedule one-on-one coaching/mentoring sessions with their advisor outside of the twice-weekly sessions to better fit their schedule.

Most participants benefit from dedicating an approximate 5-8 hours per week in addition to the programme.

The focus of the HealthTech Challenge 2023 is validating founder-led and research-driven ideas, prior to getting market traction and full investment in their commercialisation. Topics covered will include:

  • Intellectual property and freedom to operate
  • Customer discovery and problem / solution fit
  • Value proposition design
  • Testing assumptions
  • Competitor analysis
  • Identifying an initial target market
  • Customer acquisition
  • Business model design
  • Finance and investment readiness
  • Pitching your venture idea

Content, delivered by the UC Centre for Entrepreneurship team, will be amplified through:

  • Matching each venture with a mentor, experienced entrepreneur or commercialisation experts
  • Speed mentoring sessions
  • Case studies of recent commercialisation of HealthTech ideas presented by current entrepreneurs
  • Presentations by other agencies within the innovation ecosystem on how they can support or fund new ventures and research
  • Industry events connecting ventures to relevant industry players

What are the Eligibility Criteria?

The HealthTech Challenge is open to any team or individual living in New Zealand at the time of the entry submission deadline with an idea that could transform the future of the health outcomes in the mini传媒 region and beyond.

  • A team cannot enter into this Challenge with a product or service that is in market or generating revenue at the time of the entry submission deadline.
  • There is no minimum or maximum team size i.e. you can enter as a team of one or a team of twenty.
  • Individuals can enter and participate in the Challenge simultaneously with different submissions and as a part of multiple teams.

Participation in the Challenge is entirely at the discretion of the Challenge Organisers.

The Challenge Organisers reserve the right to reject or disqualify any entry, team or individual participant at any time without explanation or recourse.

By submitting an entry into this Challenge you agree to comply with and be bound by the听Terms & Conditions听of this Challenge.

Judging Criteria

All applications will be judged according to the degree to which they satisfy the following overarching criteria:

  • An innovative product that is scalable and potentially protectable.
  • Clear market opportunity (i.e., potential customers in NZ and overseas).
  • It is technically feasible, safe and sustainable.
  • The right capability to execute at the commercialisation stage that they are currently at.

Confidentiality

  • All Judges will sign a non-disclosure agreement prior to accessing any of the applications.
  • All judges will be required to declare any conflict of interest as soon as they become aware, and the Challenge Organisers will manage conflicts of interests at their sole discretion. If an entrant becomes aware of a conflict of interest with the Challenge Organisers, sponsors, other participants, mentors or any judge they must immediately inform the Challenge Organisers.

See the听Terms & Conditions听for more detail.听

Can I submit more than one idea?
Yes - you can submit more than one idea but you will need to submit separate entries for each idea.

Can a team be just one person?
Yes - there is no minimum or maximum number of team members.

Can my product be in-market?
No - this Challenge is only for entries with products or solutions that are not in-market i.e. earning revenue.

Are the judges and mentors bound by a non-disclosure agreement (NDA)?
Yes

Do the organisers of this Challenge take an equity stake in my venture?
No

Does it cost me anything to enter in this Challenge?
No

How do I protect my IP when I apply?
We will make it clear in the entry form which parts of your application will be publicised. If you make it to the Finals Round we will work with you to help protect your IP.听The Terms & Conditions of the Challenge prohibits any Entrant, the Organiser, Sponsors, Judges or Challenge Partners to make a claim with respect to ownership or release without permission of any intellectual property created by any Challenge Entrant.听

Do I have to attend the Programme in person.听 If so, what is the time commitment?
Yes - you are expected to attend the Challenge in person where possible. The programme consists of 90-120 minute sessions, held twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4pm at the UC Centre for Entrepreneurship. Most participants benefit from dedicating an approximate 5-8 hours per week in addition to the programme.

Time commitment will be approximately five hours per week (this includes mentoring sessions). As most of the sessions will be live-streamed or recorded you can view them in your own time if you are not able to participate in real time. There will be three in-person sessions over the course of the Programme where all participants are expected to attend 鈥 the Launch, the Industry Event, and the Finale (if you are selected as a Challenge Finalist).

Contact听
If you would like to get in touch, contact UC Centre for Entrepreneurship听uce@canterbury.ac.nz

mini传媒 the Challenge

The HealthTech Challenge (the "Challenge") is a competition that听identifies听and听recognises听innovative and impactful ideas, products and services related to any part of the听health听sector. The Challenge asks Entrants to address one of the following focus areas:鈥

  • What new products can we make to听grow听the value of our听health sector?鈥
  • What new data, process or technology solutions can we implement to improve the efficiency and output of our听health sector?鈥
  • What new commercial ideas or emerging research will have a beneficial impact on the sector鈥檚 sustainability goals?鈥

Entrants, particularly those with research drive entrants, might be interested in the relevance of Vison听M膩tauranga听a, MBIE鈥檚 a policy framework designed to听assist听research funders,听researchers听and research users when they consider research of relevance to M膩ori 鈥 see听鈥

Format

The HealthTech Challenge has three parts:鈥

  • An application process deciding who enters the听programme鈥
  • A听ten-week听Validator听programme, in which:听
  • the entrants鈥 proposals are objectively and systematically probed and tested鈥
  • the market opportunity is evaluated鈥
  • the target market is understood鈥
  • the required product/service features are specified鈥
  • a business model is developed鈥痓efore time and money is spent in full scale product development.鈥
  • A Final听Round where the finalists compete for awards and cash and in-kind prizes. The Finale听event, where finalists will present their ideas, will be held on听Thursday 30th听November听2023听(location tbc).鈥

A group of Judges will decide听on:听

  • Who enters the听programme鈥
  • Who are the Finalists who will present at the Finale鈥
  • Who听are听awarded cash and in-kind prizes.鈥

Purpose of the Challenge

The听HealthTech听Challenge is designed to provide both financial resources, in-kind, and expert support for teams with an ambitious vision about the future of Health听in mini传媒.鈥疶hrough the Challenge we aim to:鈥

  • Identify听new innovations from the听health听sector that have the potential to add value and have an impact locally,听nationally听and internationally.鈥
  • Create an opportunity for existing industry players to discover novel ways to tackle problems.鈥
  • Accelerate the development of听Health technology听startups with global potential.鈥
  • Increase the impact of research performed in CRIs and tertiary institutions.鈥

We will strive to ensure every team that engages with the Challenge will be able to grow their capabilities and at the same time, accelerate the development and deployment of their ideas.鈥

Organisers

The Challenge is听organised听by the University of mini传媒 Centre for Entrepreneurship (UCE) and听ChristchurchNZ听(the听Organisers). The contact person for this Challenge is听Vaughan Broderick,听Impact Lead at UCE鈥-听contact:听uce@canterbury.ac.nz.听

Information Website and Terms & Conditions

The Challenge website听contains听all the relevant information, key dates, the deadlines for submissions, and may听contain听additional听rules or limitations.鈥

The听HealthTech听website is at听validator.co.nz.

By entering, all Entrants agree that they have read,听understood听and agree to听comply with听and be bound by the following Terms听and Conditions (T&Cs) for the鈥疌hallenge.鈥

The Challenge听Organisers听reserve the right to amend these Terms and Conditions by posting such amendments to the Challenge website. Entrants and Participants are assumed to agree and consent to the amended Terms and Conditions if they continue to听participate听following the publication of the amendments to the Challenge website.鈥

The Challenge听Organisers听reserve the right to suspend or cancel the Challenge at their sole discretion, at any time, for any reason, and without notice.鈥

The Challenge听Organisers听retain听the right to, at their sole discretion,听determine听if an Entrant,听team听or submission听complies with听these Terms and Conditions.鈥

Eligibility鈥

The Challenge is only open to participants living in New Zealand at the time of the entry submission deadline. All Entrants must be based in New Zealand for听the duration of the Challenge.鈥疻hile content will be recorded and livestreamed, the maximum benefits will be听achieved in a cohort setting.鈥疶herefore, participants are strongly encouraged to attend sessions in-person at the University of mini传媒听and other industry locations.鈥疉t a minimum,听in-person听attendance at the launch, industry event and the Finale event is听required.鈥

Entrants can apply to enter the Challenge individually or as a team (there is no restriction on team size) by completing the online application form. The application form听must be completed in English.鈥疉 team can听only enter the Challenge once.鈥疉n individual may enter the challenge as part of multiple teams. No team or individual can assign or transfer their rights of participation to others under any circumstances.鈥

This Challenge is only open to products or services that are in a pre-commercial or earlier stage. To be eligible the entrants must not be obtaining any revenue from the product or service they are entering in the Challenge.鈥

You may only make submissions on your own behalf. Entries听submitted听through third parties, agencies or by automated means (such as scripts and macros) will not be accepted.鈥

All entrants (including all individuals on a team) warrant that all personal information听submitted听is true,听currentand complete.鈥

The Challenge听Organisers听reserve the right to reject or disqualify an entry, team or听individual听at any time. This right may be exercised without听prior warning听and without giving any reasons.鈥 The decision to disqualify an entry, team or individual is final and conclusive. Entrants have no claim or remedy with respect to being disqualified.鈥

Entry to the Challenge is open from听Friday 4th听August听2023听to 11:59 PM (NZST)听Wednesday 6th听September2023.鈥疎ntries received after the Challenge application deadline may not be considered.鈥

Entrants may withdraw their entry at any time by emailing the Challenge听Organisers听stating听that you wish to withdraw.鈥

Submissions may not听contain听illegal or discriminatory content and may not advocate for or support unethical听behaviour听(as听determined听at the sole discretion of the听Organisers).鈥

The听Organisers听reserve the right to verify an individual鈥檚 eligibility to听participate听in the Challenge.鈥

Fees

There is no fee to enter the Challenge.鈥鈥

Conduct

In all activities associated with the Challenge, all Entrants agree to conduct themselves in a manner that is professional and respectful of (and not disruptive to) the other Challenge participants, Challenge听Organisers, and others involved in the Challenge.鈥

Conflict of Interest

Entrants must declare any potential conflict of interest as soon as they become aware of a potential conflict. Failure to declare any potential conflict of interest may result in disqualification and forfeiture of any prize awarded. This declaration must be made in writing to the Challenge听Organisers听by emailing听uce@canterbury.ac.nz鈥

Intellectual Property

Entrants听warrant听that, unless expressly听stated听otherwise, they听own听or have the right to use all of any of the intellectual property rights associated with their submissions to the Challenge.鈥

The Challenge听Organisers听reserve the right to disqualify any entry and exclude the Entrants听immediately听if there is reason to believe that the entry breaches, or potentially breaches, a third party鈥檚听legal rights.鈥

Plagiarism, copyright violations, and other forms of dishonesty are prohibited. Such acts of dishonesty and intellectual property violations will be grounds for immediate disqualification from the Challenge and forfeiture of any prizes awarded.鈥

Nothing in the Terms and Conditions of the Challenge allows any Entrant to make a claim with respect to ownership of any intellectual property created by another Challenge Entrant.鈥

Any IP contained in materials provided to Entrants shall remain the property of the Challenge听Organisers听or Challenge Partner听providing听those materials.鈥

Sharing confidential IP provided in the Challenge to 3rd parties is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to; selling, giving, or distributing IP.鈥

Entrants may not include in their submissions any content in which another person or听organisation听has a proprietary interest unless prior, written permission is obtained.鈥

Entrants听warrant听that, except as听disclosed听in their submission, the Entrant owns all rights, titles, and interests in and to the content of the submission.鈥

Entrants warrant that neither their participation, nor the participation of any team members, nor their compliance with these T&Cs will infringe, misappropriate, or violate the rights of any third parties, or will breach any agreement that has been entered into, or will enter into with any third听party, including without limitation any agreement to keep any third party鈥檚 proprietary information confidential.鈥

Entrants acknowledge that听ChristchurchNZ听is the lawful owner of the name, 鈥淐hristchurchNZ鈥 and its associated trademarks and service marks. Entrants agree that without advance written approval from a senior manager of听ChristchurchNZ, Entrants will take no action inconsistent with听ChristchurchNZ鈥檚听ownership of its names, trademarks, and service marks, including without limitation any incorporation of any of the foregoing into a longer name or other logo. For the avoidance of doubt, Entrants expressly agree not to use the logo or other trademarks of听ChristchurchNZ听on any product being offered for sale, any promotional material or for any other commercial purposes whether in a physical or online format.鈥

Entrants must not enter into any written or oral agreement that conflicts with these Terms and Conditions.鈥

Sponsors

The main sponsor of the Challenge is听ChristchurchNZ鈥
ChristchurchNZ鈥檚 principal office is听located听at:鈥
PO Box 2962, Christchurch鈥
BNZ Centre, Level 3, 11 Cashel Street, Christchurch 8011鈥

Additional听sponsors of the Challenge are listed on the home page of the Challenge Website.鈥

Acceptance into the听HealthTechChallenge 2023

Entry into听HealthTech听Challenge听will be decided upon by an internal committee of industry and听commercialisationexperts (Judges). Up to 25 entries will be selected for the听HealthTech Challenge. It is at the Judges' discretion as to the final number selected for the听Challenge.鈥

Progression to the Finals rounds of the听HealthTechChallenge 2023

At about Week听8听of听the HealthTech Challenge, up to ten participants will be selected by the Judges to enter the Finals round of听Challenge. Finalists will听be required听to present their idea at the Finale on听the听30th of听November 2023.鈥

Finalists will听be required听to present their proposal to the Judges in a format to be听decided, but which may require鈥痑 written submission, attendance in person or remote delivery of information by the participant.鈥疶he requirements for this round may differ from the criteria for entry into听the HealthTech听Challenge听but the overarching judging criteria will not change. The Judges may听solicit听additional听information from entrants听in order to听determine听the Finalists.鈥

Awards and Prizes鈥

A panel of up to 8 Judges will select, from the Finalists, who receives awards and prizes.鈥

At the Judges鈥 discretion, in consultation with the Challenge听Organisers, one or more of any special prizes may be听determined听before the final round of judging.鈥

Claiming Prizes

To claim the Challenge prizes (cash and/or in-kind awards), the winning team member(s) must meet all the Challenge application and eligibility requirements.鈥

Both cash and in-kind prizes are personal to the winning team member(s) and are non-transferable. Any attempt to transfer the prize may result in forfeiture of the prize. No cash alternative is offered for the in-kind awards.鈥

Entrants听are responsible for听any and all听taxes which may be payable as the result of the receipt of any prize.鈥

All prizes must be redeemed or听forfeited听by听20听December 2023.鈥

The Challenge听Organisers听reserve the right to not award prizes if there are no suitable submissions. If a听particluarcash prize is not awarded the cash may be redistributed to the other cash prizes at the discretion of the Challenge听Organisers.鈥

If Entrants do not acknowledge acceptance of any prize, are unwilling or unable to attend the Awards event, or are unwilling or unable to comply with the Terms and Conditions of the prize, or if any Entrants claim any prize, but are later determined to be ineligible for the prize, then the Entrants will forfeit the prize and will not receive any alternative prize. In any of these instances, the Challenge听Organisers听may choose whether to award the prize to another Entrant.鈥

Judging Processes and Confidentiality

All applications to enter the听programme听and any information听submitted听thereafter will be treated as confidential by the Challenge听Organisers,听sponsors听and judges.鈥

Applicants are not expected to听provide听or reveal proprietary information听regarding听their products,听processes听or services.鈥

Judges will听be required听to sign non-disclosure agreements and will be听required听to securely dispose of all electronic and paper copies of an entry as soon as judging is completed.鈥

Judges will听be required听to declare any conflicts of interest. Potential conflicts of interest will be managed at the sole discretion of the Challenge听Organisers.鈥

Judges鈥 scores and comments will remain听confidential,听and no correspondence will be entered into听regarding听the outcome of the selection of the participants at each round nor in the selection of prize winners.鈥

Privacy鈥

Contact information provided to the Challenge听Organisers听will be used to contact the entrants throughout the Challenge for the purposes of听organising听and coordinating participation in the Challenge. All teams will be asked to听designate听one person as the primary contact for the Challenge.鈥

It is the responsibility of the Entrants to听provide听up-to-date and听accurate听contact information听to听the Challenge听Organisers. If听accurate听contact information is not provided to the Challenge听Organisers, the Entrant shall听forfeitthe opportunity to听participate听and have no claim against the Challenge听Organisers听or sponsors.鈥

ChristchurchNZ听will keep records of all winning team members for at least two years after the prize is awarded. For a period of at least six months,听ChristchurchNZ听will display the winning team members鈥 names and photos on the Challenge website.鈥

Entrants acknowledge that the Challenge听Organisers,听ChristchurchNZ听and its agents may鈥痯hotograph and/or record any鈥疌hallenge-related events. Entrants grant to听ChristchurchNZ, the non-exclusive, royalty-free, fully paid, irrevocable, sub-licensable right and license (but not the obligation) to use, modify, publish, republish, publicly display and copy any Entrants鈥, name, alias, and biographical information provided to the Challenge听Organisers, and any voice recordings, photographs, quotes and excerpts, or any other likeness whether captured before, during, or after the听HealthTech听Challenge (hereinafter collectively referred to as the 鈥淟ikeness鈥), and the 鈥楶ublic Domain Section鈥 of any submission, for any lawful purpose and for advertising, publicity, marketing, promotion and fundraising efforts of听ChristchurchNZ听and its various听programmes, products, and events, and all allied ancillary and subsidiary rights therein and thereto (including without limitation merchandising and commercial tie-in rights), without separate compensation to you.鈥

By entering, all entrants understand that the Likeness and 鈥楶ublic Domain Section鈥 of the submission may be copied, reproduced, and distributed by means of various media, including without limitation video and audio recordings, television, radio, news releases, mail-outs, emails, billboards, signs, brochures, websites, online and other digital and electronic delivery including social media, publication, display, or promotion on any and all other media. The Likeness and 鈥楶ublic Domain Section鈥 of the submission may be subject to reasonable modification or editing. Entrants will have no right to review the modified Likeness or 鈥楶ublic Domain Section鈥 of the submission before it is used and听ChristchurchNZ鈥檚听decisions with respect to the use of the Likeness and 鈥楶ublic Domain Section鈥 of the submission will be final. Entrants relinquish and give听ChristchurchNZ听all rights, title, and interest in and to the Likeness and 鈥楶ublic Domain Section鈥 of the submission in materials prepared by or on behalf of听ChristchurchNZ, including all copyright听therein.鈥

Miscellaneous

Entrants agree to release,听discharge听and hold harmless the Challenge听Organisers,听ChristchurchNZ听and Sponsors from any liability, claims, losses, injuries, and damages arising out of or relating to or that you may sustain听as a result of听participation听in the HealthTech Challenge听or the acceptance, use, misuse, or possession of any Prize. In no event shall听ChristchurchNZ听have any liability to you for any indirect, special, incidental, consequential, cover, or punitive damages however caused, whether in contract, tort, or under any other theory of liability, and听whether or not听the party has been advised of the possibility of such damages.鈥

An Entrant鈥檚 participation in听the HealthTech Challenge听does not create a partnership, franchise, joint venture, or employment relationship between you and听ChristchurchNZ听or the Challenge听Organisers听or Sponsors. Entrants agree not to听represent听themselves as an employee, agent, servant, partner, fiduciary, or joint venture of听ChristchurchNZ. Entrants shall not purport, through social media or otherwise, to speak on behalf of听ChristchurchNZ听in an official听capacity. Entrants shall not听represent听ChristchurchNZ, act as its agent, or otherwise enter into any contractual agreement or听attempt听to bind听ChristchurchNZ.鈥

Entrants鈥 participation in听the HealthTech Challenge听and these Terms and Conditions are governed by New Zealand law (without regard to its conflicts of law provisions).鈥

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