IBM Smartcamp Is Inviting Applications From HealthTech Startups Transforming The Health Segment

IBM, under its Global Entrepreneur Program and in association with Manipal Hospitals and T-Hub, is organising a startup challenge, IBM Smartcamp for HealthTech. As the name suggests, only healthtech startups are eligible to apply.

This programme is a prelude to the mega challenge IBM India Smartcamp.

The top 10 startups will get a chance to pitch their idea to enterprise CEOs in the healthcare space and an audience of 200+ people. Also, they will be presenting to a panel consisting of VCs, IBM executives, Manipal Hospital executives, where they will receive feedback on their solutions as well.

The judges for Smartcamp 2016 – Healthtech will include Pranav Parikh, Managing Partner & Head, Edelweiss Private Equity & Venture Capital Funds; Arihant Patni, MD, Patni Financial Advisors (PFA); Vamesh Chovatia, Partner, Tata Capital Healthcare Fund; and Nandkishor Dhomne, VP-IT & CIO, Manipal Health Enterprises.

Furthermore, the finalists will get an opportunity to engage with Manipal Hospitals as a client. Also, they will have an opportunity to be nominated for the next level of IBM Smartcamp, as well.

Criteria For Application

One needs to be a member of IBM Global Entrepreneur Program for applying to this challenge.
The healthtech startups must be using information technology as a key element for solving interesting problems in the healthcare space.
The startup must be less than five years in operation.

The IBM Global Entrepreneur Program engages with startups in providing them with cloud credits worth $24K per year on Softlayer and Bluemix. Not only do they provide technical mentoring, but they also assist with go to market solutions and a chance to work with accelerators in India. They also engage with large enterprises in helping them finding their next set of innovations.

Last year they conducted a B2B Startup challenge called IBM India Smartcamp, where they went to nine cities, with three regional finals and a Grand finale; with 50+ VCs, angel investors, IBM executives as panelists and more than 60 CIOs in participation.

Also, in July 2016, in association with the Edelweiss Group, they organised IBM Smartcamp for Fintech.

Manipal Hospitals is part of the Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG), which pioneers in the field of education and healthcare delivery. The focus at Manipal Hospitals is to develop an affordable tertiary care multispecialty healthcare framework through its entire delivery spectrum and further extend it to homecare.

T-Hub (Telangana Hub) on the other hand, is India’s leading incubator for startups, located in Hyderabad, Telangana. The first phase of T-Hub was formally launched on November 5, 2015 and the second phase is currently in the planning stage. It is a public/private partnership between the Government of Telangana, three of India’s leading academic institutes (IIIT-H, ISB & NALSAR), and the private sector. It bills itself as standing at the intersection of the startup, academic, corporate, research, and government sectors.

The applications for the challenge will close on October 8, 2016. Following the Smartcamp for Healthtech challenge, there will be a Nationwide Challenge for Smart Cities and Deeptech, as well.