This Sponsored Innovation Challenge is a business idea competition seeking solutions to problems that Atrium Health deeply cares about as the sponsoring institution. The Challenge seeks the submission of scalable and investable solutions to problems that lead to or create significant healthcare outcome disparities.
In alignment with Atrium Health’s Impact 2025 Strategic Priorities, successful applications by early-stage founders will focus on entrepreneurial solutions to leading indicators of Health Equity and Health Disparities as opposed to systemic lagging indicators.
The Challenge invites applications for social and technological innovations that can be applied and commercialized with demonstrated potential for social and economic impact on the following leading indicator priorities and Drivers of Health (DOH):
Access: Improve access for colorectal screening, A1c control, and blood pressure, behavioral health, and reduce readmissions
Quality and Outcomes: Eliminate disparities in mortality rates, mental health, maternal and child health
Acute Social Needs: Support systems, community engagement, and structural discrimination
Drivers of Health: Economic stability and upward mobility; food security and access to healthy foods; access to affordable housing and commercial districts; affordable transportation; affordable childcare, education access, and quality
The targeted population is vulnerable communities specifically, African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, and those at 200% of Federal Poverty.
Challenge Timeline
ENTRY PERIOD
Submissions Accepted
ENTRY START DATE January 1, 2023 (9:00am EDT)
ENTRY END DATE March 31, 2023 (11:59pm EDT)
ROUND ONE
10 Finalists
JUDGING OF SUBMISSIONS April 18, 2023
SELECTION OF FINALISTS Challenge submissions narrowed to 10 finalists
ROUND TWO
10 Finalists
FINALISTS BRIEFING April 21, 2023
ZOOM VIDEO CONFERENCE A deeper dive into the Challenge problem statement
PITCH DAY
10 Finalists
PRESENT BUSINESS PLAN April 29, 2023
IN-PERSON Cabarrus Center 57 Union St. S., Concord, NC
WINNERS CHOSEN
Up to 5 Winners
WINNERS RECEIVE:
$5,000 Starter Grant
An invitation to enter a 12-week accelerator program followed by 18 months of incubation at the Cabarrus Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The Flywheel Foundation announced today the launch of a Health Equity Innovation Challenge made possible by Atrium Health serving as the title sponsor.
Over the past two years, the world has experienced unimaginable challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with health care organizations continually on the front lines of battle. Organizations that survived did so at both clinical and financial costs.
The evolution of Healthy People reflects growing awareness of health inequities over the life course. Each decade, the initiative has gained understanding of how the nation can achieve health and well-being. To inform Healthy People 2030’s visionary goal of achieving health equity in the coming decade, the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2030 (Secretary’s Advisory Committee) provided the US Department of Health and Human Servic…
What Is Health Equity and Why Is It Important?
Health equity can be defined as the attainment of the highest level of health for all people. This means that all people have the opportunity to attain their full health potential and are not disadvantaged due to their social position or other socioeconomic circumstance. Health inequities, on the other hand, are unfair and avoidable differences in health status that result from unjust policies, discriminatory social norms that exclude certain gr…
