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Accelerator Program

Overview

With significant change on the horizon and stakeholders hungry for the solutions of tomorrow, there has never been a better time to be a healthcare entrepreneur.

Healthbox was created to uncover and foster innovative solutions and to deliver a collaborative infrastructure to enable entrepreneurial success.

The entrepreneurs selected to participate in one of our 16-week programs receive structured, customized support designed to address the challenges unique to starting a business in healthcare. Benefits of the platform include:

+ Seed Capital: Healthbox startups receive $50,000 to fund their development over the course of the program.

+ Industry Context: For the first two weeks of the program, startups complete a rigorous boot camp concentrated on strengthening their value proposition, building their business model and understanding how their solution fits into the larger healthcare system.

+ User Insight: Entrepreneurs test key product-design assumptions by conducting qualitative end-user research, with support from leading design innovation consultancy firms.

+ Market Traction: Healthbox startups receive training on best practices for initiating, structuring and executing pilots and beta tests. Our extensive industry network creates unique opportunities for collaboration.

+ Mentorship: The Healthbox experts are dedicated and accomplished leaders from across the healthcare continuum. They provide Healthbox startups with invaluable knowledge, guidance and industry access.

+ Office Space: Our entrepreneurs join a vibrant Healthbox community of investors, mentors and alumni, grounded in local offices that provide participants with a collaborative, creative workspace.

+ Fundraising and Growth: Healthbox works closely with each startup to develop individualized fundraising and growth strategies. These plans are revealed at Innovation Day, a high-profile event, which showcases the companies to the industry and investor community.

In exchange for the program benefits, startups provide Healthbox with 7% equity. On average, participants in the program achieve tremendous progress, doubling their number of partnerships, tripling their number of pilots and successfully securing follow-on investment through angels and venture capital firms. They also become lifetime members of a robust network of healthcare innovators, positioning themselves to affect meaningful change in the industry and achieve long-term growth.

MentorsBack to Top

Our mentors represent a diverse network of healthcare experts who have offered to share their industry knowledge with our passionate entrepreneurs, enabling healthcare innovation at its earliest stages. The remarkable progress achieved by our companies is made even better through their guidance.

Apply Back to Top

We are now accepting applications for 2013 Healthbox accelerator programs in Chicago and Florida.
The application close and accelerator program launch dates are as follows:

Application Close Date Program Launch Date
Europe Closed Late Spring 2013
Chicago To Be Announced Summer 2013
Florida June 2 July 22

To be considered for any of the accelerator programs, please complete our brief application and tell us more about your company. All passionate healthcare entrepreneurs addressing a significant healthcare challenge are invited to apply. Applicants are welcome to apply to all relevant locations.

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FAQs Back to Top

What kinds of ideas and teams are you looking for?
We are looking for healthcare technology and technology-enabled service startups that are led by energetic, innovative and passionate founders. Competitive applicants will address a specific and pressing challenge in the healthcare industry. For example, solutions of interest may improve patient engagement, provider effectiveness or preventative health and wellness.

What kinds of ideas and teams are you NOT looking for?
Ultimately we want to encourage all entrepreneurs with great ideas to apply. That said, we are looking for companies that have capital-efficient business models that can make meaningful progress in the short length of the program. Businesses that involve significant regulatory barriers are less likely to be appropriate candidates.

How far along does our company need to be before we can apply?
We work with companies at various stages of development, from an idea to a revenue-generating company. In general, most applicants have a prototype solution that has undergone some initial user testing.

Can we apply if we’ve already received funding?
Absolutely.

How will applications be evaluated?
An investment committee comprised of our Strategic Partners and the Healthbox team will review your application. It will be judged on the strength of your solution’s unique value proposition, company’s business model and team’s experience.

Do we have to be in the program city full-time during the program?

We are looking for fully-committed teams that are eager to devote the large majority of their time to the program during its duration.

Given that Healthbox startups thrive on the collaborative work environment, a founder will be expected to be present in the program full- time. That said, we will address the needs of participants on a case-by-case basis and be flexible when appropriate.

Do we have to stay in the program city after the program?
Nope.

Does my entire team need to participate?
We require at least one of the founders to participate full-time and typically like to work with teams of two to four. Single founders are also welcome to apply, but we generally prefer teams. Given the accelerated pace of this program, it is helpful to have a partner (or two or three) to even the load and distribute responsibilities.

How are teams matched with mentors?
Based on the interests and experience of the mentors as well as the needs of the startups, we arrange a series of introductory meetings. After these initial discussions, the founders and mentors mutually decide on next steps. In some cases, the initial meetings lead to additional introductions, a structured weekly meeting or an as-needed advisory relationship. Participants are encouraged to identify specific mentors with whom they’d like to connect, and the Healthbox team will gladly make the introductions.

What happens to me after the program ends?
Healthbox is a partner for life—we continue to allow companies to use the vast Healthbox resources and network as they continue to extend sales channels, expand operations and raise future capital. Healthbox companies are now located throughout the country and the world - each has been through the struggles of starting a healthcare company and made it! This network provides new Healthbox companies with a wealth of knowledge from their fellow trailblazers in in the healthcare industry.