Power Play Pitch Competition

Overview of the Power Play Pitch Competition program:

The Power Play Pitch Competition is a Dragons’ Den-style contest designed to accelerate innovation and commercial success in the healthcare industry. Participants include entrepreneurs with transformative ideas and startups with innovative products or services aimed at solving healthcare challenges. The competition is divided into two categories: Innovative Concept: Open to individuals or groups with groundbreaking healthcare ideas, even if they’re not in business yet. Innovative Startup: Designed for startups with a proven concept, product for sale or license, or one under development. Finalists pitch their ideas live at ICAIR 2025 in Toronto, an event that gathers leading scientists, clinicians, investors, and entrepreneurs. Winners receive cash prizes and opportunities to connect with key players in the healthcare and technology sectors. Program Deadline Business Plan and Video Submission: February 28, 2025 Finalist Selection Notification: March 31, 2025 Live Pitch Competition: May 1-2, 2025

Benefits of the Power Play Pitch Competition program:

• Financial Support: Prize money for winners to fund further development.
• Mentorship and Visibility: Networking with industry leaders, clinicians, and investors.
• Exhibit Space: Dedicated space for finalists to showcase their ideas or products during ICAIR.
• Networking Opportunities: Connections with healthcare innovators and academic leaders, including representatives from the University Health Network and the University of Toronto.
• Collaboration: Opportunities to collaborate with over 1,000 professionals in healthcare, engineering, and rehabilitation technology.

Eligibility criteria of the Power Play Pitch Competition program:

• The two categories of entries are:
• The Innovative Concept - This award is open to all new, exciting, creative and innovative early stage change-making ideas that have the potential to make a transformative impact on all levels of the healthcare system. This is the only award for which innovators do not need to be in business; they just need to prove that they have a viable idea that's going to make an impact.
• The Innovative Start-up - This award is open to all start-up companies who ever have a proven concept with a novel service offering or technology or product for sale or license, or a new product or service currently under development. The technology can be drawn from any field in the healthcare industry as long as the company is actively aiming to solve a gap in the healthcare market.
• For example, we will accept the following stages of start-ups:
• Prototype Blueprint Developed - No current users
• Prototype Developed - No current users
• Prototype Developed - Pilot users
• Product Developed - Current users
• Eligibility:
• Companies must:
• Not have had greater than $1 million in cumulative revenue from sales of products or services, and
• Not have raised greater than $10 million dollars in funding from all sources. This does not refer to government research and development grants.
• Companies may only enter one product or service in the Power Play Pitch Competition
• Companies may only enter the Innovative Startup Category if they are an incorporated company.
• Previous winners (1st, 2nd or 3rd) in either category are not eligible to participate.