MassChallenge, a global network of zero-equity startup accelerators, tonight awarded $200,000 in cash prizes to the top three digital health startups from the 2018 cohort of PULSE@MassChallenge. The program also announced additional commitments and support from its partners.
Top startups were selected based on their ability to demonstrate impact and meet milestones previously agreed on with Champions. This year’s winners include:
DIAMOND | $100,000 – Leuko
The first non-invasive device for the screening of severe neutropenia.
PLATINUM | $60,000 – InsightRX
InsightRx is platform that enables data-driven healthcare with quantitative pharmacology and machine learning.
GOLD | $40,000 – Fitly
Fitly’s SmartPlate is the only patented, intelligent nutrition platform that deploys computer vision, deep learning, and proprietary image recognition techniques to help consumers and patients seamlessly track their food intake.
In addition to the program winners, the following startups were also awarded through generous support from PULSE partners:
The Sunovion Startup Choice Award | $10,000 – Medumo
Medumo delivers turn-by-turn care navigation and instructional support to help your patients successfully complete and recover from their care.
The Mayo Clinic People’s Choice Award | $10,000 – Multisensor Diagnostics
Multisensor Diagnostics (MDx) diversified health and disease management company enabled by an innovative device and supported by proprietary software.
The Massachusetts Competitive Partnership Women in Digital Health Award | $10,000 – Folia Health
Folia Health empowers family caregivers & chronic disease patients to capture detailed info on symptoms, treatments, side-effects, and more at home.
“We are thrilled by the results of this year’s program,” said Nick Dougherty, Program Director of PULSE. “The 2018 cohort received over 100 offers from our Champion partners, touched millions of patient lives, earned millions in funding, and generated millions in revenue.”
The second-annual event brought together more than 800 members of the digital health community at the BIO International Convention at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center to celebrate PULSE’s 2018 cohort. The event featured inspiring remarks by Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito; John Barros, Chief of Economic Development for the City of Boston; Alexandra Drane, Co-Founder of ARCHANGELS and Eliza Corporation; and Katya Hancock Partner and Director, StartUp Health Network.
During the program, PULSE partners reiterated their commitment to the program. As part of the Massachusetts Digital Health Initiative, the Massachusetts eHealth Institute at MassTech (MeHI) and the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission announced that they will double the Commonwealth’s annual commitment to PULSE, bringing the total investment to $340,000 over the coming year. In addition, MeHI will also invest an additional $80,000 into TechSpring, Baystate Health’s innovation center in Springfield, to support programming there. AARP announced that it will jointly support PULSE and MassChallenge’s newest vertical accelerator, MassChallenge FinTech, over the next three years.
“As a founding Champion member of PULSE we are pleased to extend our commitment for the next three years,” said Rick Weisblatt, Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer. “Through our partnership we’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with several innovative digital health start-ups through pilots, mentoring, showcases and more. The shared learning has been invaluable.”
In 2018, PULSE accelerated 32 startups representing the most innovative technologies advancing healthcare and improving patient wellbeing. Representing the top 6% of all applicants, PULSE 2018 cohort was selected from more than 500 applicants around the world, including more than 30 countries and 30 U.S. states. 59% of PULSE’s 2018 cohort was female-founded or co-founded, and the program launched its Women in Digital Health initiative to focus on providing female digital health entrepreneurs and innovation executives with resources, content and a supportive community to help them continue to develop the skills and confidence to lead.
Launched as a strategic component of Mass Digital Health and fueled by public-private partnerships, PULSE accelerates the impact of digital health startups around the world, at zero cost and for zero-equity. Through rigorous matchmaking, PULSE connect startups with industry champions that support entrepreneurs throughout the six month-long program by facilitating key advisor introductions, pilots, research, and even investment opportunities.
To date, startups that have participated in PULSE have raised more than $52M in funding, generated more than $13M in revenue, and grown their employee headcount by over 22 percent. More details on the program’s impact can be found here.
PULSE@MassChallenge Partners
AARP, Aetna, Atrius Health, Becton Dickinson (BD), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Campbell Soup Company, Cerner, Cigna, City of Boston, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Franciscan Children’s Hospital, Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare, Humana, Massachusetts Competitive Partnership (MACP), Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI), Microsoft, Optum, OSF HealthCare, Partners Healthcare Connected Health, Pathfinder International, Philips Healthcare, Ropes & Gray LLP, Samuels & Associates, Sanofi, Servier, Shire, Silicon Valley Bank, Suffolk Construction, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Vertex, and TechSpring at Baystate Health
About MassChallenge
MassChallenge is a global network of zero-equity startup accelerators. Headquartered in the United States with locations in Boston, Israel, Mexico, Switzerland, Texas, and the UK, MassChallenge is committed to strengthening the global innovation ecosystem by supporting high-potential startups across all industries, from anywhere in the world. To date, more than 1,500 MassChallenge alumni have raised more than $3 billion in funding, generated over $2 billion in revenue, and created over 80,000 total jobs. Learn more about MassChallenge at masschallenge.org.