Investment in healthcare startups continues unabated. MedCity News provides events and a digital hub for healthcare entrepreneurs and investors to come together. The deadline to apply to the MedCity INVEST Pitch Perfect contest in Chicago, scheduled for March 28-30 at the Ritz Carlton, is January 31.
We’re looking for applications for the following tracks:
PharmaTech
As digital transformation is happening across the board, Big Pharma is looking to go beyond the pill. Startups in this category are using digital tools to help every aspect of the pharmaceutical industry, be it drug development, clinical trials, manufacturing, digital therapeutics, patient engagement and more.
Diagnostics 2.0
Convenience is the name of the game especially after the pandemic when it comes to the world of diagnostics. Startups in this category are developing either at-home tests (be it kits with results immediately available or kits that can be used to test at home and mailed out easily) or point-of-care tests with results available soon after.
Remote Patient Monitoring and Smart Devices
The medical devices world is getting digitized to help patients and physicians manage their diseases better, with even implantable devices having connectivity via Bluetooth and wifi. Startups in this category are developing smart devices — whether wearable or permanently implantable — with connectivity to apps and disease management platforms.
Care Coordination and VBC
Health systems and payers are increasingly interested in improving outcomes and patient satisfaction while reducing costs. Startups in this category use digital tools to address care delivery and coordination and clinical decision support with a goal to advance the ultimate move to value-based care.
Entrepreneurs who make the finals will present their companies to a group of investors who will have the opportunity to ask for details about their businesses. The winner of each track receives a profile in MedCity News written by a member of the news team. To apply, click here.
Click here to check out the agenda for the conference
The latest health tech investment reports, coinciding with the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare conference this week, show that 2021 was another record year for healthcare investment, accelerated by the public health crisis. Rock Health’s 2021 investment report noted that digital health investment increased to just over $29 billion across 729 deals, with an average deal size of $39.9 million —nearly double the $14.9 billion raised in 2020. StartUp Health tracked $44 billion in health innovation funding last year.
Rock Health’s report observes a healthy mix between new and repeat investors in digital health as well as big tech companies playing an increasingly active role.
“Rounding out the diverse mix, big tech players are investing and acquiring in the space, joined by a growing number of middle children—smaller-but-still-sizeable retail and tech companies like Best Buy that are increasing their forays into digital health.”
Photo: Nuthawut Somsuk, Getty Images
