We want to identify aspiring healthcare entrepreneurs, startups, researchers and teams with solutions and technologies aimed at improving the lives of people living with pain across all specialties and fields of medicine and provide them with the opportunity to pitch their ideas and solutions in a “shark tank” style competition in front of patients, providers, institutional and industry leaders, and venture capital firms for a chance to win prizes, mentorship, and exposure to advance their innovations.

This is the first pitch competition of its kind presented by one of the world’s leading pain medicine organizations: The American Academy of Pain Medicine. Combined with the resources and support of the world’s most prestigious healthcare innovation group, MIT Hacking Medicine, this opportunity is not to be missed!

Who can participate in The AAPM Innovation Challenge?

• Anyone over age 18
• Anywhere in the world
• We are accepting all submissions from idea stage to advanced stage start-ups

Do I have to be an AAPM member to participate in the Challenge?

No! This challenge is open to anyone and non AAPM members are encouraged to apply.

Selected judges will go through all pitch decks submitted by the deadline and vote on their favorites to be finalists for the live final pitch-off event at the AAPM Annual Meeting.

Do I need an IRB or a Formal Project?

No, your submission can be purely at the idea stage. We are accepting submissions from the idea stage through the advanced stage start-up phase. You don’t need to have started a company, or have a prototype, or have an IRB approval already. Just explain your ideas/plans in the submission form.

The focus of your idea/team/start-up must be based on addressing challenges in pain medicine, acute, chronic, or otherwise–the topic is broad and we would like to see a broad array of approaches and solutions from various backgrounds.

Potential for Impact (25%)

• Each submission will be rated on the strength of its potential to improve the health of individuals and/or communities specific to pain medicine diagnosis defined above.
• Applications will be rated on their ability to address a specific need and potential for further development.

Design and Usability (25%)

• Each submission will be rated on how well it meets the specific needs of its intended user.
• User friendliness and human-centered design
• Priority may be given to submissions that are easily accessible to a range of patients and on a variety of platforms.

Solution Feasibility (25%)

• Solution will be rated on the presented market analysis and proposed plan for development, growth, scale, and sustainability.

Creativity and Innovation (25%)

• Each submission will be rated for the degree of creativity and innovation compared with existing solutions.

Can I edit my entry after I submit it?

No.

Can I submit more than one idea?

Yes, you can submit up to 3 ideas.

Who is the sponsor of the challenge?

American Academy of Pain Medicine + MIT Hacking Medicine. Additional supporting sponsors can be seen on the Sponsors page of the submission website.

The top submissions will be invited to pitch their solutions in front of a live judging panel and audience at the AAPM Annual Meeting.

At the live event, Finalists will have 5 minutes to pitch followed by 3 minutes for questions from the judges. Finalists should state their mission, stage of development, and proposed roadmap. Tell us how being part of AAPM can help your company achieve its goals and what you plan to do post competition. A panel of expert judges and AAPM conference attendees will hear each of the finalists’ solutions and will choose a grand prize winner and a runner-up.

At least 3 winners will be selected at the Live Final Event:

• 1 Grand Prize
• 1 Runner-up
• Sponsor Award –selected and presented solely by one major sponsor