AWS Healthcare Accelerator Australia/New Zealand for Aged Care

Overview

The AWS Healthcare Accelerator Australia/New Zealand for Aged Care and Digital Health, delivered in collaboration with ANDHealth, is a four-week technical, business, and mentorship accelerator that will scale high-potential startups focusing on health technology solutions looking to solve the increasing challenges of an ageing population.

The proportion of people 65 and over in Australia has increased from 12.4% to 16.3% between 2000 and 2020¹, with the over 65 group projected to increase more rapidly over the next decade. This creates increased demand across the healthcare and aged care systems, creating challenges around funding, low uptake of new technologies, workforce requirements, quality of care and the ability to support patients and the elderly in their homes.

To help address the challenges of an ageing population, the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care has embarked on a digital transformation initiative for the aged care sector to create a better-connected sector that is consolidated, sustainable, automated and modern.

The AWS Healthcare Accelerator Australia/New Zealand for Aged Care and Digital Health will seek startups with Australian and / or New Zealand- based operations who are focusing on the following areas of aged care and health:
• Equitable access to services that are streamlined and easy to navigate;
• Provider digital solutions including improved use of data to inform actionable insights to improve care; and,
• Workforce improvements including technologies which promote new, better, and more productive ways of delivering care.

Beyond the delivery of care within an aged care environment, our ageing population is also placing pressure on the broader healthcare system through increasing incidence of chronic disease and complex medical conditions, accessibility and equity of healthcare (especially for regional and remote healthcare consumers) and overarching affordability of a world class healthcare system.

Program

The four-week program will be delivered both virtually and in-person in 2023. Startups in the cohort will receive technical and business mentorship from AWS and ANDHealth experts, up to USD$25,000 in AWS credits, and collaboration opportunities with AWS healthcare customers, industry leaders, and members of the AWS Partner Network (APN). The program begins with an individual deep-dive assessment of each startup, who will then be immersed in a custom-designed curriculum with hands-on technical training and a cloud architecture review.

Through the accelerator, startups will experiment with AWS technologies and accelerate their growth with foundational knowledge of cloud architecture, operations, and data. Startups will also have the benefit of collaboration with many of our AWS healthcare customers and partners, who will provide valuable industry expertise and insights. The culmination of the program will be the AWS Healthcare Accelerator Australia/New Zealand for Aged Care and Digital Health demo day, where startups will showcase their technology to industry experts and investors.

The AWS Healthcare Accelerator Australia/New Zealand for Aged Care and Digital Health is being delivered in collaboration with Australia’s dedicated digital health commercialisation organisation, ANDHealth. The program is also supported by IRT Group, a large aged care provider, which will lead the curation and qualification of clear problem statements in the aged care space.

Mission

The AWS Healthcare Accelerator Australia/New Zealand for Aged Care and Digital Health will seek Australian and New Zealand- based startups that can clearly articulate and provide evidence of solutions which will address the challenges of our ageing populations, including three key themes:

1. Citizen Access:
Technologies which improve equitable access to aged care and health, social and aged care services.

2. Provider Solutions:
Technology solutions which support aged care and health service providers to deliver higher quality care.

3. Workforce Improvements:
Technologies which promote new, better and more productive ways of delivering care.

Accelerator Timeline
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Applications open: 09:00 am (AEDT), 8 November 2022

Applications close: 11:59 pm (AEDT), 11 December 2022
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Pitch day for shortlisted applicants: Week commencing 19 January 2023
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Cohort notified: Week commencing 23 January 2023
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Week Zero kick off: Week commencing 6 February 2023
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Accelerator Program: 27 February 2023 – 23 March 2023

To apply, complete the application form here.‍
‍
You can submit applications online from November 8, 2022 through December 11, 2022. If shortlisted during the selection process, your company will move to phase two and be invited to pitch to the selection panel. AWS and ANDHealth will notify the 10 selected companies by the week commencing January 23, 2023.

How will applications to the AWS Healthcare Accelerator be judged?

AWS and ANDHealth experts will judge applications on several factors, including, but not limited to, the innovation and the overall value the solution will bring to the industry, the creative application of AWS to solve problems, the team’s ability to deliver on an identified opportunity, and the ability of the startup to clearly articulate how they are addressing the three key themes outline in the mission of the program.

How many participants will be selected for the cohort?

10 startups will be selected to participate in this four-week accelerator. Selected startups will receive up to US$25,000 AWS Promotional Credits, as well as technical, business, and go-to-market mentorship from AWS and ANDHealth experts. The program will also offer collaboration opportunities with AWS healthcare customers and members of AWS Partner Network (APN) looking for healthcare solutions.

What is the application process?

You can submit applications online from November 8, 2022 through December 11, 2022. If shortlisted during the selection process, your company will move to phase two and be invited to pitch to the selection panel. AWS and ANDHealth will notify the 10 selected companies by the week commencing January 23, 2023.

What does the accelerator do for me?

The AWS Healthcare Accelerator Australia/New Zealand for Aged Care and Digital Health, delivered by ANDHealth, is designed as an intensive, advanced curriculum to help companies focused on the healthcare domain accelerate their growth using AWS. It is the only program for our customers in the public health industry that combines hands-on mentorship and coaching, with experienced technical and business teams from AWS and ANDHealth to support healthcare startups at all stages using AWS. This is the only healthcare accelerator program through which startups can benefit from a combination of ANDHealth’s unique domain expertise in healthcare commercialisation and investment, and receive mentoring with AWS healthcare domain and subject matter experts.

What are the requirements to participate?

There is no equity or financial obligation to participate. The accelerator is open to any growth-stage company that meets the following criteria:
• Must have a digital health software solution
• Privately held company
• Australian or New Zealand-based company or international company with existing operations in Australia and New Zealand
• Can commit 10-15 hours per week throughout the four-week accelerator
• Participants must be fluent in English and able to join video conference events, primarily held during AEDT business hours.

Who do I contact with questions or to get involved?

For questions about the application or program, contact our programs team.
If you would like to get involved as a speaker, contact our programs team.

Contact Programs Team

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