StartupFuel Launches COVID-19 Global Innovation Challenge!
Calling innovators around the world to help fight this pandemic.
Startups, do not go gentle into that good night. Old age should burn and rave at close of day; yet innovation rages against the dying of the light.
Dear Recipient,
This is a global call for all startups, entrepreneurs, innovators, worldwide organizations and individuals supporting innovation to unite in the fight against COVID-19. We need each other at these times more than ever!
My name is Ashley Martis, Co-Founder & CEO of StartupFuel.com, an online platform of startups, entrepreneurs, and innovators. With over 570 startups and 250+ entrepreneur support organizations from 32+ cities around the world, we are declaring full-scale war on COVID-19.
As of March 17th, Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, has spread from 1 country to over 163 infecting 182, 723 people and causing 7,174 deaths in less than 50 days. The exponential growth in the spread of infection is alarming medical professionals from around the globe.
This upcoming week, StartupFuel is launching the GLOBAL COVID-19 INNOVATION CHALLENGE. A worldwide challenge to find and support the innovations that can help humanity at these dire times.
You can also donate at our GoFundMe Campaign and proceeds will go to funding top innovations.
Awards/Prizes — exposure, support, partners, cash & in-kind prizes
1 startup will win the Grand Medal of Honor Award
COVID-19 Innovation Medal Of Honor: prize for the startup selected that provides the best overall help against the Coronavirus.
3 others will receive the following category prizes:
Global COVID-19 Prevention Award: venture whose innovation minimizes the spread of Coronavirus.
COVID-19 Global Treatment Innovation Award: venture whose innovation maximizes the quality of life/recovery for patients who are infected with the Coronavirus.
COVID-19 Global Impact Innovation Award: venture whose innovation helps respond to the impacts of Coronavirus.
This challenge is open worldwide & applicants must apply with StartupFuel profile. Apply here to Global COVID-19 Innovation Challenge.
Sponsors:
Lassonde School of Engineering — York University (Toronto, Canada) (Cash prize, Support, and Exposure)
Boast.AI — Traction Conf VIP invite only tickets (up to 4)
More Sponsors — Coming soon
Partners:
StartupHansa (Warsaw, Poland) — https://www.startuphansa.com/
BlumeX (Toronto, Canada) — https://blumex.io/
Judges:
Andrew Maxwell (University Technology Entrepreneurship Chair) (Canada) — https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewlmaxwell/
Andrew is the Bergeron Chair In Technology Entrepreneurship, and Director Bergeron Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology. He received his Ph.D. in Technology Entrepreneurship from the University of Waterloo in 2011, winning the Academy of Management’s Heizer Award for the top PhD in his field. He is also a journal editor for the Journal of Business Venturing. While at Waterloo, Andrew taught the capstone technology entrepreneurship class, helping numerous technology entrepreneurs get their start. Prior to this Andrew worked for three years in the technology transfer office of the University of Toronto (also teaching at Rotman and UTM). Andrew’s work experience includes founding four technology companies and working in in two technology multinationals. He has an MBA from London Business School, and a B.Sc. (Eng.) in Electrical Engineering, from Imperial College London.
Susan Nash (Energy Innovation Expert) (USA)- https://www.linkedin.com/in/susannash/
Diversified and creative professional, with proven track record in developing and managing successful programs in industry and higher education, with a focus on innovation and new technologies for economic, professional, and organizational development. I like taking a creative, entrepreneurial approach so that individuals and organizations can transform and succeed in an environment of rapid change. Through new technology showcases, conferences, and pitch events, I like to fast-track investment, knowledge transfer, and innovative application of technologies that protect human safety and the environment while they increase the efficiency, supply and distribution of energy.
Daniel Werner (Prominent HealthTech Entrepreneur) (Canada) — https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielariwarner/
Daniel is a serial entrepreneur, start-up advisor, consultant and speaker with more than a decade of award-winning experience, in the start-up, scale-up and non-profit spaces in Canada and the US. His purpose is to improve the health care space by empowering health and wellness professionals to build their own private practices without the constraints of a brick and mortar clinic, unlocking their potential and enabling better patient access to care. Daniel’s start-up experience spans building one of the world’s first social media sites in 2004, a youth marketing agency in 2006, a digital receipts software co in 2012, a mobile coupon app (acquired by Groupon) in 2014 and most recently, a digital home health care platform.
Franklin Champlin — (Professor of Medical Biology, Phd. Bacteriology) (USA) — https://www.linkedin.com/in/franklin-champlin-a6414427/
Professor of Microbiology at Oklahoma State University. Has a doctorate in Bateriology, research in his laboratory is focused on the cell envelope physiology of opportunistically pathogenic gram-negative bacteria representing nosocomial, community-acquired, and endogenous etiologies. Particular interests in the contribution of outer membrane impermeability to intrinsic antibacterial resistance mechanisms.
In a global crisis threatening humanity, the various factions of the world are called upon to exercise their responsibilities in society. The medical faction of humanity scrambles to save lives, the political faction works tirelessly to protect its nations’ people, the agricultural work into the night so we may be fed etc.
Now, the innovation faction, startups, creators, entrepreneurs, researchers, testers, pioneers, discoverers, must fulfil their responsibilities and answer society’s call for help.
Help us help the startups helping us all by sharing this challenge with everyone you know.
