The 2024 HITLAB Women’s Health Tech Challenge
8 founders of companies at all stages of development will pitch their companies before our panel of esteemed judges.
The fifth annual HITLAB Women’s Health Tech Initiative Challenge will be taking place on October 4, 2024 where FemTech innovators will pitch their disruptive healthcare solutions virtually.
The WHTC began in 2018, focusing on emerging technology applications and systems that improve medical care and the provision of healthcare among women worldwide, an industry slated to reach $50B by 2025.
Schedule of Events
June 26, 2024
Applications Open
September 3, 2024
Applications Close
TBD
Application Judging
TBD
Finalists Announced
October 4, 2024
Pitch Day
Applications Open
Fill out the form below to submit your challenge entry. Deadline to apply is September 3, 2024.
October 4 @ 1 – 3pm ET
Join us at Pitch Day to see the selected finalists pitch live, and network with industry leads representing the entire digital health ecosystem. The event will feature Panel Discussions, Innovator Pitches, and a surprise Keynote Speaker!
Susan Solinsky, Director HITLAB Women’s Health Tech / Co-Founder Ellipsis Health
Nikolia Kanaris, Lead Coordinator, HITLAB Women’s Health Tech
The changing landscape of women’s health globally
Moderator: Zsia Rosmarin, Partner, Withum
Marija Butkovic, Founder & CEO, Women of Wearables
Brittany Barreto, Founder, FemTechFocus
Why every leader should have a mentor and be a mentee – a frank discussion about the circle of support in women’s health
Moderator: Anna Zornosa, EIR, National Institutes of Health
Janna Guinen, Executive Director, HLTH Foundation / Program Lead, CSweetener
Sharon Knight, Venture Partner, JAZZ Venture Partners
Brian Kalis, Managing Director, Accenture Health
Erika Seth Davies, CEO, Rhia Ventures
Courtney Leimkuhler, Founding Partner, Springbank Collective
Katie Drasser, CEO, RockHealth.org
Perry Clarkson, Principal, SJF Ventures
Elizabeth Bailey, Managing Director, RH Capital
BabyLiveAdvice
Hera
LunaJoy
Malama
Driving the Women’s Health Revolution
Delphine O’Rourke, Partner, Goodwin
Dr. Sandy Milligan, Head of Research and Development, Organon
Athelo Health
FemTherapuetics
MOMentum Park
Project Baala
The importance of the mind and body connection in women’s health
Moderator: Nina Roth, Director, Ellipsis Health
Solome Tibebu, Founder & CEO, Going Digital: Behavioral Health Tech / Venture Partner, GreyMatter
Dr. Bradley Karlin, VP & Executive Medical Director, Behavioral Health, Highmark Health
Dr. Victor Carrion, Vice-Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, Director of the Stanford University Early Life Stress and Resilience Program
Dr. Roopan Gill, CEO & Co-Founder, Vitala Global Foundation
Non Profit (2nd place) – Niko Kanaris, HITLAB
Non Profit (1st place) – Marija Butkovic, Founder & CEO, Women of Wearables
Pre Seed (2nd place) – Brett Meeks, Vice President, Horizon Government Affairs
Pre Seed (1st place) – Niko Kanaris, HITLAB
Seed Withum (2nd place) – Katie Chefalas, Manager Femtech, Withum
Seed Goodwin (1st Place) – Lily Wound, Partner, Goodwin
Series A Goodwin (2nd place) – Kris Brown, Partner, Goodwin
Series A Goodwin (1st place) – Kris Brown, Partner, Goodwin
Audience Choice Award Silicon Valley Bank (1st place) – Nuzi Barkatally, VP Startup Bank / Life Sciences & Healthcare, Silicon Valley Bank
Lata Setty, Founding LP, How Women Invest
Michele Colucci, CEO, DigitalDx Ventures
Mia Ji Xin Farnham, Investment Associate, SteelSky
Kris Brown, Partner, Goodwin Law
Jessica Karr, Founding General Partner, Coyote Ventures
Prativa Joshi, Associate, Highmark Ventures
Victoria Lezzi, Women’s Health and Wellness Co Team Lead, Withum
Mitzi Krockover, Managing Director, Golden Seeds
Marija Butkovic, Founder & CEO, Women of Wearables
Anja Streicher, CMO, Women of Wearables
Stasia Ombremesky, Managing Director, RH Capital
Beth Polish, President, The Critical Junctures Group
Ruby Gadelrab, CEO & Founder, MDisrupt
Anna Zornosa, EIR National Institutes of Health / LP, Bread and Butter
Katie Collins, Vice President, G2G Consulting
Jacqueline Berris, Vice President, Kayne Anderson Capital
Joy Rios, Founder & CEO, HIT Like a Girl Podcast
Samir Batra, Managing Partner, Health Innovation Pitch
______________________________________________
Finalist Sponsored Rooms
Non profit Room: Project Baala and MOMentum Park
Pre Seed Room: FemTherapeutics and Athelo Health
Seed Room: LunaJoy and Malama Health
Series A Room: BabyLiveAdvice and Hera Diagnostics
2024 Women’s Health Tech Challenge Prizes
Series Pre-Seed Prizes
- 1st Place Prize: The Series Pre-Seed first place winner will receive eligibility to participate in a rapid pilot study designed and implemented by HITLAB’s research and evaluation team, a presentation at a HITLAB Symposia/Summit, an article (publication), a Women’s Health Tech Wednesday (WHTW) feature, and a sub-cut social media video. Winner will also receive $1,000 and additional in-kind support in the form of, startup-centric premium banking products and services and all things beyond banking (pitch sessions, connections with extended networks, investor syndicate advice, research/reports, etc.) all provided by Silicon Valley Bank.
- 2nd Place Prize: The Series Pre-Seed second place winner will receive the Health Innovation Alliance Award which is in the form of a 1-year membership in the Health Innovation Alliance. The winner will also receive up to a maximum value of $15,000 of in-kind services of direct government affairs consulting services and strategic counsel around the health policy issues that impact the winning team
Series Seed Prizes
- 1st Place Prize: The Series Seed first place winner will receive a prize in the form of $10,000 U.S. dollars of in-kind legal services from Goodwin Procter and winner will receive $1,000 and additional in-kind support in the form of, startup-centric premium banking products and services and all things beyond banking (pitch sessions, connections with extended networks, investor syndicate advice, research/reports, etc.) all provided by Silicon Valley Bank
- 2nd Place Prize: The Series Seed second place winner will receive a prize in the form of up to $10,000 U.S. dollars worth of accounting services from Withum. Upon introduction to the selected recipient, Withum will also provide an hour of tax-free consulting including but not limited to, tax formation, cap table discussion including debt/equity, pitfalls, Founder Tax Planning considerations, future needs for financial statements.
Non-Profit / Charitable Organization Prizes
- 1st Place Prize: Women’s Health Tech Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award: in-kind sponsorships from Women of Wearables up to a maximum value of $1,000.00 U.S. dollars as determined by the provider of in-kind services. The media exposure shall be in the form of promotional content which includes an interview and feature on Women of Wearable’s website, 1 year WoW Memberships for its leadership team (valued at GB£100 per year per membership) at no cost for up to 5 memberships, and highlighting each winner in a joint newsletter ad/post and linking to their interviews. Winner will also receive $1,000 and additional in-kind support in the form of, startup-centric premium banking products and services and all things beyond banking (pitch sessions, connections with extended networks, investor syndicate advice, research/reports, etc.) all provided by Silicon Valley Bank.
- 2nd Place Prize: The Non-Profit/Charitable Organization second place winner will receive eligibility to participate in a rapid pilot study designed and implemented by HITLAB’s research and evaluation team
Series A Prizes
- 1st Place Prize: The Series A first place winner will receive the Grand Prize in the form of a check for $10,000.00 U.S. dollars, sponsored by Goodwin Procter and winner will receive $1,000 and additional in-kind support in the form of, startup-centric premium banking products and services and all things beyond banking (pitch sessions, connections with extended networks, investor syndicate advice, research/reports, etc.) all provided by Silicon Valley Bank
- 2nd Place Prize: The Series A second place winner will receive a prize in the form of $10,000 U.S. dollars of in-kind legal services from Goodwin Procter.
Audience Choice Award
- The Audience Choice Award winner will receive the opportunity to speak at a HITLAB Symposium/Summit and be featured on 1 (one) Women’s Health Tech Wednesday episode
- Winner will also receive $1,000 and additional in-kind support in the form of, startup-centric premium banking products and services and all things beyond banking (pitch sessions, connections with extended networks, investor syndicate advice, research/reports, etc.) all provided by Silicon Valley Bank.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Executive Committee
Prize Sponsors
Judging Criteria
Applications will be judged based on the following items:
- Impact
- Differentiation
- Scalability
- Technical feasibility
- Economic feasibility
- Team,
- Quality of Work
Frequently Asked Questions
No, there is no application fee.
Finalists will give 2-minute pitches, with 3 minutes for questions from Challenge Judges.
We have Prizes available for companies in Seed, Pre-Seed, and Series A funding stages, as well as Prizes for Non-Profit Charitable organizations. If you have questions about your eligibility status, please review the Rules and Regulations or contact us at womenshealth@hitlab.org.
No, the Challenge Day on February 10, 2023 will be held entirely virtually. You will not be required to attend in-person. You or someone from your team will be required to attend the Challenge virtually to complete your pitch, and finalists will be invited to complete a mentorship bootcamp the week prior to the challenge, which will also take place virtually.
Finalists will be announced on January 20, 2023 via press release, and newsletter.