Flattening the Curve through Collaborative Innovation

We Are Seeking Innovative Solutions to Reduce the Impact of COVID-19.

Due to the rapid escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic, America’s health care system is at immediate risk of reaching a level of over-capacity. While most hospitals have emergency plans for pandemics, the COVID-19 pandemic has quickly highlighted critical gaps in the nation’s health care crisis-management infrastructure.

In addition, the recent shutdowns of virtually every type of venue or program where people gather, along with the intense media focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, is creating secondary health concerns related to social isolation and mental health.

GuideWell is launching the COVID-19 Health Innovation Collaborative to identify and support solutions that can immediately increase the scope and scale of resources aimed at reducing the complex stress factors COVID-19 is bringing to bear on the U.S. health system.

Download the Program Guide

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Focus Areas

There will be five categories of focus under this collaborative, and proposed solutions must directly address at least one of these categories:

Home based self-testing solutions for the COVID-19 virus
Virtual, in-home care solutions for at-risk populations that have limited access to health care services
Solutions that reduce risk for health care providers in clinical settings, including approaches for increasing protection of clinical staff
Solutions focused on reducing social isolation due to COVID-19 diagnosis or social distancing
Solutions for delivering food and urgently needed supplies to at-risk populations and households with COVID-19 exposure or symptoms

The COVID-19 Collaborative’s overarching objective is to source a diverse portfolio of innovative companies that collectively have the potential to “move the needle” in the above categories. For each category, a cohort of 3-5 companies will be selected to work together to create a connected, high impact approach to addressing the program category.

Applications Closed May 8, 2020

Participant Benefits

Non-dilutive award funding to validate your solution’s impact on the COVID-19 pandemic
Opportunity to partner with GuideWell and other health care partners
Opportunity to collaborate with other awardees to increase market opportunities
Access to mentors and subject matter experts in the health care industry
No cost or equity requirements to participate (other than travel, if necessary)
Potential for marketing and public relations exposure

Applications Closed May 8, 2020

Timeline

April 6 - May 8

Application window open

May 8 - May 30

Finalists selected, success metrics defined

June 1 - August 31

Testing and validation of finalist’s solutions

July 1 - December 31

Define framework for live pilots or deployments

For each topic category, a cohort of 3-5 companies will be selected and asked to work together to create a connected, high impact approach to the category’s problem statement.

Eligibility

The GuideWell COVID-19 Health Innovation Collaborative is open to innovative health-technology companies that meet ONE of the following criteria:

Earned a minimum of $1 million in 2019 revenues
Raised a minimum of $2 million in equity capital AND can provide proof of live customer pilots with tangible results

Additional Criteria

Applicants must clearly demonstrate the potential to sustainably deploy innovative, scalable solutions at a national level.
Solutions must be applicable to future pandemic scenarios.
Academic institutions and public-sector organizations are not eligible.
Applicants selected must commit to provide the staff, time and company resources needed to validate, pilot and deploy the proposed solution.
Entrants must not be working under any work-for-hire or other legal agreement that would prohibit them from working on and retaining full ownership of any solutions developed under this Collaborative.
Proposed solutions must be fully deployed or in valid pilots, as judged by subject matter experts during the selection phase.

Download the Program Guide

Judging Criteria

Market Scalability

Does the proposed solution have the potential to have deep impact in addressing pandemic scenarios nationally? Preference given to solutions that are applicable to future pandemic scenarios.
Feasibility

Can the proposed solution be tested and deployed in a timely, cost-effective manner?
Applicability

Does the approach directly address key challenges faced by health care organizations, front-line health care staff and people living in social isolation during national crisis situations?
Competitive Differentiation

Does the solution or approach have a strong unique value proposition?
Team Qualifications

Is the leadership of the team qualified to immediately deploy the approach at scale?
Cohort Fit

Does the Entry’s approach align with other Entries in a manner that, together, has the potential to address a comprehensive gap in managing pandemic scenarios?