AWS says it is now accepting applications for the next Healthcare Accelerator, which focuses on improving health outcomes for the underserved.
Where someone lives and works can have a profound impact on their health. Simply being born in a high-income country versus a low-income country gives a person an 18-year advantage in life expectancy, according to the World Health Organization. Reducing health disparities is a complex challenge, but we believe we have an opportunity to apply modern technology to help address these issues by speeding research and innovation, increasing access to care, streamlining supply chains, and using technology in new ways.
To help tackle health disparities, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is announcing the next AWS Healthcare Accelerator cohort—this time with a focus on health equity. The accelerator is one more way we are harnessing the power of the cloud to make access to healthcare equitable. It builds on other efforts we’ve launched in this area, including the AWS Health Equity Initiative, a $40 million, three-year global commitment designed to support innovations in this space. Both the Health Equity Initiative and the Healthcare Accelerator are part of AWS for Health, an offering of AWS services and AWS Partner Network solutions designed to help organisations increase the pace of innovation, unlock the potential of health data, and develop more personalised approaches to therapeutic development and care.
AWS Healthcare Accelerator on health equity
Now in its second year, the accelerator will support 10 startups with U.S.-based operations through a four-week technical, business, and mentorship program. Startups focused on one or more of the following areas will be considered: increasing access to health services, reducing disparities by addressing social determinants of health, and using data to promote equitable and inclusive systems of care. Participating startups are eligible for:
- Up to $25,000 per startup in AWS Promotional Credits
- Connections to venture capital firms through our innovation network
- Collaboration opportunities with other AWS healthcare customers and AWS Partners
- Specialised AWS training and mentoring from domain and technical subject matter experts
- Guidance on business development and fundraising from AWS and accelerator program collaborators
- Go-to-market planning
The program builds on the success of last year’s U.S.-based cohort and this year’s UK-based cohort that kicked off in March.
“Participating in the AWS Healthcare Accelerator exposed our team to innovations and relationships that will help take our products and processes to the next level,” said Ruben Amarasingham, CEO of Pieces, a participant in the 2021 AWS Healthcare Accelerator. “It is so exciting that we are beginning to uncover technologies and approaches that can finally help address these long-documented challenges related to the social determinants of health.”
Startups fuel innovation and experimentation, solve challenging problems, create millions of jobs, and drive economic development around the globe. At the same time, we recognise that startups have unique needs and require customised support, funding, and expertise. Our goal with the AWS Healthcare Accelerator is to help startups get the support they need to take their concepts to the next phase using the power of the cloud. This year’s program will bring in healthcare industry leaders to collaborate with startups on topics ranging from defining business models to certifying compliance, security, and growth.
Applications for the 2022 AWS Healthcare Accelerator are open. For more information or to apply, visit the AWS Healthcare Accelerator.
