The partners unveil an innovation challenge for technology startups to foster meaningful collaborations to improve diabetes care
MATTER, the premier healthcare incubator and innovation hub, today announced a partnership with Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company with 95 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes. Through this challenge, MATTER and Novo Nordisk plan to collaborate with entrepreneurs and the broader healthcare innovation community to focus on accelerating innovation and advancing care for those living with diabetes.
More than 400 million people worldwide are living with diabetes. While there is no cure for the disease today, when diabetes is properly managed it’s possible for people to lead full and active lives. The challenge aims to explore, design and co-develop digital health solutions that help people living with diabetes achieve better health.
“By bringing together bright minds, the healthcare startup community and our experience from developing digital health solutions, we aspire to further accelerate innovation to the benefits of those living with diabetes,“ said Kenneth Strømdahl, Senior Vice President of Device R&D at Novo Nordisk.
“Great things happen when entrepreneurs and industry leaders work together,” said MATTER CEO Steven Collens. “Through our partnership, Novo Nordisk makes it clear that their doors are open to entrepreneurs and innovators working to advance care for those living with diabetes. I look forward to seeing what new solutions are developed through our community’s work with Novo Nordisk.”’
About the 2018-19 Novo Nordisk Innovation Challenge
The Novo Nordisk Innovation Challenge is now open for applications. Individuals and teams across the healthcare ecosystem — from existing startups and university researchers to students and other industry innovators — are invited to apply. Novo Nordisk is seeking digital solutions that will improve the experience of people living with diabetes, empower people to improve their self-care and achieve a sense of normalcy, and enable smarter, more efficient management of diabetes.
Ten to fifteen semi-finalists will have the opportunity to incubate their solutions at MATTER — including a three-day bootcamp with Novo Nordisk and MATTER mentors — in advance of a pitch competition and demo day to be held in Boston, MA on December 5, 2018.
Winning teams will receive a $25,000 cash prize and a one-year opportunity to co-develop their solutions with Novo Nordisk, beginning with a 12-week, semi-virtual accelerator program at MATTER. Program participants will build and test their solutions with Novo Nordisk mentors, MATTER staff and stakeholders from across the healthcare community.
Applications are due October 26, 2018 at 11:59pm CST. Learn more about the challenge.
Attend a Q&A session
Join us in Chicago or Seattle to learn more about Novo Nordisk’s innovation strategy, approach to working with startups and the 2018-2019 Novo Nordisk Innovation Challenge.