The University City Science Center has a new opportunity for entrepreneurs in the fast-growing digital health and health care IT sectors.
The West Philadelphia research campus is accepting applications for its new Digital Health Accelerator (DHA). Up to six companies will receive up to $50,000, office space at the Science Center, professional mentorship and introductions to healthcare stakeholders including insurers, pharmaceutical companies, and hospital and research institutions.
“As the healthcare and IT sectors converge, digital health is rapidly becoming an area of opportunity for forward-thinking entrepreneurs,” says Science Center CEO Stephen S. Tang in a statement. “With its concentration of healthcare providers and a growing start-up sector, Greater Philadelphia is well-positioned to become a leader in the development of the health IT sector. Through the DHA, the Science Center is poised to serve as a landing ground for these new companies.”
Jeanne Mell, the center's vice president for marketing communications, says the DHA is “interested in supporting companies that already have evidence of some financial maturity — either through seed investment, or through revenues from initial sales of their products. These companies would either be ready to deploy their product for the first time in a pilot setting, or looking to expand their market penetration following a successful pilot.”
The deadline to apply is March 31; further applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through March 31, 2015 if funds are available.
Source: Jeanne Mell, University City Science Center
Writer: Elise Vider