Where Are They Now? Hackovate Health Winner Liam Ryan

Liam Ryan, founder of GetHealth.

It’s been about 5 months since the Hackovate Health Finale in Kansas City and many people are starting to wonder: where are the winners now?  Back in February, Hackovate named four innovation competition winners.  One of those winners was Liam Ryan of GetHealth.  So where is Ryan today and how has GetHealth progressed since February 2013?  Think Big held a question-and-answer session with Ryan (all the way from Ireland!) to find out:

THE HIGHLIGHTS:  Since the Hackovate Health Finale, GetHealth has made new high-level partnerships across the world, was chosen to participate in GE’s healthymagination, was featured in TechCrunch, plans to establish and US base in New York and has launched a public funding raise for accredited investors. 

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TBP:  It’s been about 5 months since the Hackovate Health Finale in Kansas City.  How has GetHealth progressed or changed since then?

LIAM:  Since our amazing experience in Kansas City, where we were awarded first runner up in the Global Hackovate Healthcare Innovation Competition, things have been moving non-stop for GetHealth. One of our key goals coming out of that competition was to turn that success into real, tangible traction with clients: to build relationships and get real results. With this in mind, we have been on-boarding a number of big clients over the last few months and seeing fantastic progress. We are now working with Aer Lingus (one of Ireland’s largest employers), VHI (with over 1.5 million customers), Centric Health (a primary care provider) and Spafinder in the US, to name a few.

TBP:  What successes have you had seen since Hackovate in February?

LIAM:  One amazing success was when we were chosen as one of 13 international companies picked as a ‘Healthcare Transformer’ by New York-based programme, StartUp Health Academy. We are now participating in a 3 year programme run by Start-Up Health in partnership with General Electric. The program is part of GE’s healthymagination initiative, a $6 billion global commitment to provide better health for more people by improving quality, access, and affordability of care. Furthermore, we have just last week been selected as the StartUp in Residence in ‘The Irish Times’ – a 154 year old global brand, and Irelands leading newspaper.

TBP:  Congratulations!  Tell us more about the GE’s healthymagination. 

LIAM:  The funding was originally announced on TechCrunch on the 3^rd of April 2013. The real value of the programme lies in the validation it offers for the vision behind GetHealth. We now have the backing and support of one of the largest healthcare companies in the world. In order to get the award, we first showcased GetHealth at the mHealth Summit in Washington D.C. in Dec. 2012 at the StartUpHealth Mobile Health Pavillion. We also had a number of interviews with executives from GE itself and StartUpHealth over a 4 month period.

TBP:  We heard that over 400 companies (from 22 countries) applied for the GE/Startup Health Fund.  What do you think made GE pick GetHealth as one of the 13 companies? 

LIAM:  We were also only one of 2 international companies chosen to join the programme. Right now there are many digital health companies out there who focus on tracking data: counting steps, measuring movement, tracking heart rate, etc. But what we do at GetHealth is more than this. We take this data and focus it on behaviour change of the unhealthy and at risk. We interpret the data and give it back to people in a meaningful and actionable way. GE saw this as a differentiator and were excited to bring us on board. Also, we have a great team of passionate people, with experienced advisors, such as Ted Vickey: a member of the Board of Directors for the American Council on Exercise and a former athletic director in the White House under Bush, Clinton and Bush.

TBP:  How has this opportunity with GE impacted your business?  What direction are you going in now? 

LIAM:  The main change in our business has been in the amount of exposure we now get to industry leaders, on a global scale. Having meetings with the likes Todd Park (CTO of the United States), Jonathan Bush (CEO of Athenahealth), and Toby Cosgrave (CEO of Cleveland Clinic – arguably the most innovative medical centre in the world) is a fantastic opportunity to learn and grow. Knowing that they believe in the impact we can have on the healthcare industry and that they are willing to use and buy our product, is invaluable to us at this stage of growing our business.

TBP:  Where do you see GetHealth at the end of 2013?

LIAM:  Within the next 8-12 months I see GetHealth having over 100 clients and impacting over 50,000 employees across the globe. We will have closed off our round of financing and have grown our team substantially. We are also moving to New York to establish a base in the United States. Overall, I see GetHealth as being established as a world-leader in creating lasting behaviour-change among the unhealthy and at risk.

 TBP:  What are you most excited about for GetHealth?  What new opportunities do you now see after Hackovate?

LIAM:  What most excites me about GetHealth is the opportunity to have an impact on a global level, and not just for employees, but for families, kids, schools and so on. GetHealth can disrupt the healthcare landscape by moving away from the reactive/treatment model to a more patient-centric style of care, where people get proactive about their health and take the steps to prevent the onset of chronic diseases. I want GetHealth to contribute to making the world a healthier and ultimately, a happier place.

Since Hackovate in Febraury 2013, GetHealth launched their public funding raise for accredited investors. Find out more information about how to join their team, visit www.investor.gethealthapp.com or contact their CEO, Liam Ryan at liam@gethealthapp.com.
 And remember, it’s because of launchpads like the Hackovate Health that startups like GetHealth get on the map.  Who knows what the next innovation competition will unveil.  To inquire about hosting an innovation competition of your own and partnering with Think Big Partners to discover the next big thing, contact us at info@thinkbigpartners.com. 

Think Big and H&R Block Announce Winners of Hackovate Health Innovation Competition

The global health care focused innovation competition Hackovate Health came to a close when it announced four winning business ideas at the Finale event at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri.  Organized by H&R Block and Think Big Partners, the Hackovate Health Finale brought together innovators, entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals and industry leaders for a half-day pitch fest and awards ceremony.

Ten finalists, four judges and many community leaders, supporters and attendees joined to see innovation and entrepreneurism in action.  At the event, a panel of four Finale judges determined the grand prize winner ($15,000), the runner-up ($5,000) and the second runner-up ($2,500).  Finale judges included Kush Saxena (H&R Block), David Edwards (Cerner), Phyllis Faulkner-Johnson (Google Fiber) and Anna Haghgooie (Sandbox). In addition, attendees had the chance to watch 10 pitches from finalists and vote for their favorite via mobile platform for the Google Fiber People’s Choice Award. 

Tami Hutchinson and her team at eLuminate Health (Kansas City, MO) was announced the winner of the $15,000 grand prize.  eLuminate Health is an online platform where surgeons and patients can easily find one another and compare procedures based on price and quality ratings.  The eLuminate Health platform predicts to save up to 17% on procedures and 5% per year on healthcare costs.  The company solves problems for consumers, payers, administrators and providers while improving healthcare quality and decreasing costs.    In addition to the cash prize, eLuminate Health has been recognized as one of the top startups in the healthcare tech industry.

“We truly appreciated this entire process,” said Tami Hutchison of eLuminate Health.  “Hackovate has helped us think in new ways and we will use this opportunity to get our product into the market and bring value to consumers in the U.S.” 

Karan Srivastava and his team of SHHADE (Miami, FL) was declared the winner of the Google Fiber People’s Choice Award after receiving a majority of the public vote.  SHHADE stands for Supply Home Health Care Alternatives and Dedicated Education.  The SHHADE platform allows for remote patient monitoring, health coaching, care coordination and mobile primary care services.  As the winner of the Google Fiber People’s Choice Award, SHHADE will gain bragging rights and media exposure. 

Liam Ryan of GetHealth (Dublin, Ireland) was announced as the Hackovate first runner-up, receiving a $5,000 cash prize from H&R Block.  The GetHealth mobile app is “Foursquare for health” as it improves consumer health by “checking in” to different healthy activities.  The app incorporates “motifications”, notifications to help consumers improve their health.  GetHealth has already been named an effective WaaS (wellness as a service).

“As a company with a base in New York and Ireland, we are always looking for opportunities to showcase in the United States on a global scale.  Hackovate allowed us to not only do that, but to think big too,” said Liam Ryan of GetHealth. 

In addition, Scott Speranza of InAssist Health Management Solution (Torrance, CA) was announced as the second runner-up and received a $2,500 prize courtesy of H&R Block.  InAssist specializes in medical protection services and solves for the problem of hospital overcharges.  With an integrated portal, consumers can log in to the InAssist system to pay medical bills and better understand what they are getting charged for.  InAssist incorporates TotalCare, which allows for a proprietary method for carriers and doctors. 

In addition to celebrating the announcement of the Hackovate winners, attendees were invited to listen to keynote speakers Ned Holland of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“We are thrilled with the results of the Hackovate Health Finale,” said Herb Sih, co-founder of Think Big Partners.  “Today, we saw a wide range of innovations and ideas that are helping to change the way we think about healthcare.  We hope that attendees, finalists, sponsors, judges and supporters learned something new about the changing healthcare landscape and believe in the innovations that are helping to solve real problems.”  

WEATHER UPDATE- Hackovate Health Finale Postponed Until Thursday, February 28

Just because Kansas City is experiencing its second "snowpocalypse" of the week doesn't mean that innovation needs to stop in its tracks!

Due to inclement weather, the Hackovate Health Finale has been postponed to Thursday, February 28, 2013 from 3:00pm-7:00pm.  

What other changes can you expect?  Here's are all the changes you need to know:

• WHEN:   Thursday, February 28, 2013 from 3:00-7:00pm (a Finale agenda will be released before the event) 
• WHERE:  Union Station Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Board Room (Theater with stage, lighting and audio)
• WHO:  Featuring our 10 Finalists as well as keynote speaker Ned Holland (and videos from Senator Jerry Moran and author David Murray)

Other than the changes mentioned above, the Finale will run very similar to what we announced earlier last week.  Any updates will be communicated through our blog and email communications   

The Finale will still be live streamed at www.hackovate.com/live.  

Couldn't make the Finale that was scheduled for Tuesday?  There's still time to register for our postponed Finale on Thursday!  Register now.  

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday.  The entrepreneurial spirit cannot be broken here in Kansas City--we are geared up for a wonderfully innovative event!  

WEATHER UPDATE - Watch a Healthcare Innovation Idea Go from Concept to Potential Commercial Success LIVE at Hackovate Health - Feb 26th, 2013

Watch a healthcare innovation idea go from concept to potential commercial success…LIVE at Hackovate Health Innovation Competition – Tuesday, Feb 26^th, 2013.

In the event of inclement weather, you will also be able to watch this event via LIVE STREAM. Currently (As of 1:30 pm CST, Sunday, February 24th, 2013) the Kansas City metro area weather forecast shows snow showers beginning Monday morning through Wednesday, with the bulk of the snow received on Monday evening/night.

Please RSVP if you plan on attending and we will make every effort to keep you informed of any weather related changes. With luck, the roads should be reasonably clear by Tuesday morning...and the human spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship will go on!

Finalist Presentations: 1-5pm

Innovation Keynotes & Live Judging: 5-5:45pm
Community Networking Reception (Complimentary Beer / Appetizers): 5:45-8pm

Come watch 10 finalists from all over the world present their healthcare innovation idea onstage to a panel of judges to win the opportunity of a lifetime! Each finalist will explain how their idea can help “hack” healthcare innovation (1-5pm), especially addressing the healthcare challenges that The Affordable Care Act has created. Finalists have the opportunity for H&R Block to help bring their idea to commercial success via a partnership to be determined only by imagination. This is truly a WIN-WIN-WIN for entrepreneurs with ideas, large companies looking for low risk innovation partnerships and the world to benefit from problems being solved in the healthcare space. Get tickets now! 

Three winners will win cash prizes, and even more could win opportunities for partnerships after the competition. A People’s Choice Award will also be given for an idea that is voted on by the audience during the finale.

Two thought-provoking keynote presentations will open your mind to healthcare innovation, with Ned Holland and David Kord Murray bringing innovation needs and innovation possibilities together in one event.

Healthcare Innovation Keynote Address: Ned Holland, Jr. Assistant Secretary for Administration (ASA), Department of Health and Human Services 

Entrepreneurship & Innovation Keynote Address: Best Selling Innovation Author David Kord Murray, Borrowing Brilliance and Plan B

After the event (5:45 – 8pm), come meet entrepreneurs, community leaders, innovation experts, investors, industry partners, healthcare thought leaders and people who are making it happen, from all over world, to include the Kansas City region. Complimentary beer and appetizers are provided.

There will also be a few special surprises & giveaways guaranteed to open your mind to an innovation mindset that you can use in everyday life!

Hackovate Health Innovation Competition is a free event but RSVP’s are requested. Walk ups will be accommodated on a space permitting first come, first served basis. This event is being held at Union Station Extreme Screen Theater and Union Station Sprint Festival Plaza (main floor). Ample parking is available via Union Station parking facilities.

Contact:
Sarah Snyder or Herb Sih
ssnyder@thinkbigpartners.com or herb@thinkbigpartners.com
816.842.5244

Get frequent updates by following @Hackovate. 

Don't Miss Out on the Innovation! Hackovate Health Finale Agenda

Don't miss out on the Hackovate Health Finale on Tuesday, February 26 from 12:30-8:30pm!  Here's what you can expect: 

12:30 PM Registration & Check-In (All day)

1:00 PM Welcome & Introduction

• Tyler Prochnow, Senior Partner & Co-Founder, Think Big Partners
• Paul Richardson, Business Development, H&R Block
• Ramsey Mohsen, Director of Social Media, DEG

1:20-3:00 PM Finalist Presentations Group 1 

• My Healthcare Reform Guide by eXperient Interactive & Useagility Video
• ReMARK Health
• HealthPlan Select by Strenuus
• OkCopay, Inc.
• NAYA JEEVAN REJUVENATE

Address from Senator Jerry Moran

Break

3:15 -5:00 Finalist Presentations Group 2

• SHHADE
• eLuminate Health
• Aavya Health
• GetHealth
• inAssist Health Management Solution

Vote for your favorite in the People’s Choice Award! Send your one vote from 5:00-5:40PM by texting the CODE to 22333.

5:00-5:45 Innovation Address

• Herb Sih, Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Think Big Partners
• David Kord Murray, President, Kord Consulting Group
• Kush Saxena, Chief Strategy Officer, H&R Block
• Ned Holland, Assistant Secretary for Administration, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

5:45-6:00 Awards Presentation & Closing

• Google Fiber People’s Choice Award
• Cash prizes from H&R Block

6:00-8:30 Community Address and Closing Reception

Haven't registered for the Finale yet?  It's not too late!  Register here. 

Learn more about Hackovate! @Hackovate 

Announcing the Hackovate Health Top 10 Finalists!

We are absolutely thrilled to announce the top 10 finalists who will present at the Hackovate Health Finale on February 26!  These 10 finalists will continue in the pursuit of the $15,000 grand prize, the $10,000 runner-up prize and the $5,000 second runner-up prize.

The 10 Hackovate Health finalists are:

1. Anant Vinjamorri, Aavya Health (Boston, MA, USA)
2. Tami Hutchinson, eLuminate Health (Kansas City, MO, USA)
3. Liam Ryan, GetHealth (Dublin, Ireland)
4. Scott Speranza, inAssist Health Management Solution (Torrance, CA, US)
5. Asher Hasan, NAJA JEEVAN REJUVENATE: Transformation Healthcare for the Uninsured (New Life) (Karachi, Sind, PAK)
6. John McCluskey, OkCopay, Inc. (Seattle, WA, USA)
7. Matthew Kafka, ReMARK Health (Kansas City, MO, USA)
8. Karan Srivastava, SHHADE (Miami, FL, USA)
9. Jug Stanovcic, HealthPlan Select by Stenuus (Overland Park, KS, USA)
10. Chrys Sullivan, My Healthcare Reform Guide by eXperient Interactive & Useagility (Kansas City, MO, USA)

The Hackovate Health semi-finalist judging panel consisted of 19 diverse experts from a variety of fields.  The panel includes experts and leaders in the healthcare industry, entrepreneurs, investors, service providers, professional association executives, as well as public and private sector officials.

The above Hackovate finalists are invited to present pitches for their businesses at the Hackovate Health Finale on February 26, 2013 at The Extreme Screen in Union Station, Kansas City, Missouri.  Finalists will submit a presentation and deliver a 10-minute pitch before a panel of finale judges.  Presentations will be followed by five minutes of questions from the judges.  The finalists must be present at the Hackovate Health Finale to be eligible for a prize.

The Hackovate Health Finale is a free event open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.  At the event, attendees will have the chance to watch the final pitch presentations, network and learn more about healthcare technology and entrepreneurship. For more information or to register to attend the Hackovate Health Finale, please visit http://hackovate.eventbrite.com.

Interested in getting involved with Hackovate?  There are plenty of ways to join the innovative movement!

• Sponsor
• Volunteer
• Attend Finale
• Get social 

Volunteer Opportunity at Hackovate Health Finale

Would you like to give back to the KC innovative community?  Now's your chance!  Hackovate Health, Kansas City's health-focused innovation competition, is looking for volunteers to help out at the finale on February 26!  

Become a part of the Hackovate Health team by volunteering at Hackovate Health as a time keeper during presentations, checking attendees in at our registration table, handing out awesome Hackovate swag or moderating the Extreme Screen doors.  

Interested?  Email Emily at  emily.leeper@thinkbigpartners.com and become a part of the growing movement of healthcare innovation! 

Learn more about our volunteer opportunities by following Hackovate on Twitter at @Hackovate.

The Hackovate Judging Process Begins...

The submissions have been tweaked, the deadline has passed and the Hackovate judges have taken their seats.  Now that the application window for the 2013 Hackovate Health innovation competition has closed, the judging process has begun.  Our group of judges will take a look at every application this week to determine which will move on to present at the Hackovate Health Finale on February 26, 2013 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Judging scores will determine the top 10 finalists for Hackovate Health.  The top 10 finalists for the Hackovate Finale will be announced on Monday, February 11, 2013.  Applicants will be notified beforehand via email.

Best of luck to all of those who have applied for Hackovate Health!  Results will be out soon...

Learn more! @Hackovate

Hackovate Health Extends Submission Deadline and Announces Extreme Screen Location

Hackovate Health, the health-focused innovation competition powered by H&R Block and Think Big Partners has made some exciting announcements this week.

Deadline Extension
Hackovate has extended the submission deadline to Monday, February 4, 2013 (original deadline was Thursday, January 31, 2013).  This extension will allow applicants to make any changes within the iStart platform, fully complete their submission and ask any last-minute Hackovate questions.

Extreme Screen Location 
The Hackovate Health Finale on February 26, 2013 will now be one of the first events to take place in Union Station's Extreme Screen.  The Extreme Screen is Kansas City’s largest movie theater with a 60-foot wide silver screen equipped to display presentations, documentaries, commercial entertainment and even enable high-tech teleconferencing. The Extreme Screen, along with theater-style seating for 440 audience members, is located in Union Station in downtown Kansas City. The screen is accompanied by a 1100 square foot performance stage as well as high-tech projectors and speakers. The Extreme Screen officially opened on February 1, 2013.  To register to attend the free finale event, please visit http://hackovate.eventbrite.com.  

To learn more about Hackovate Health and stay updated, visit www.hackovate.com.  

Follow Hackovate! @Hackovate

Hackovate Submission Deadline Just 48 Hours Away

Health-focused entrepreneurs, innovators, startups: You have just 48 hours left to submit your idea, technology or business to the Hackovate Health innovation competition, powered by Think Big Partners and H&R Block.  All submissions are due on Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 11:59:59pm.  After the January 31 deadline, all submissions will be closed.

Mark your calendars for January 31 and make sure that your submission is marked "complete" in our iStart program by the deadline! 

Are expensive travel plans for the Hackovate Finale hindering you from submitting? Don't let them!  We recently opened a Hackovate Travel Scholarship.  Finish your iStart submission and request the Hackovate Travel Scholarship application to have 100% travel expenses paid to Kansas City for the Finale!  Learn more here.  

Hackovate Health Opens Submission Doors for Healthcare Innovation Competition

Think Big Partners and H&R Block have opened the submission doors for the 2012-2013 Hackovate Health innovation competition!  From now until January 31, 2013, entrepreneurs, innovators, tech startups, hopsitals, physicians, telemedicine professionals, healthcare companies and students are invited to submit their health innovation ideas and companies into Hackovate Health to win big prizes and life-changing opportunities.

So what do you need to know?  Here's some info to get you started:

WHO:  Applicants must be seeking funding, looking to obtain customers and/or willing to be acquired.  These applicants include:

• Entrepreneurs, innovators and tech startups
• Hospitals, physicians and telemedicine professionals
• Healthcare companies and providers
• Corporate innovators
• Students

WHAT: A global innovation competition to identify innovative, mobile, online social and other applications to help consumers navigate the new healthcare landscape.

WHEN: 
Application Period: Now – January 31, 2013 11:59PM CST
Finale: February 26, 2013

WHERE:
Worldwide innovation competition
Finale at Union Station in Kansas City, MO, USA.

WHY:  To improve the overall US healthcare systems by reducing costs, preserving quality care, improving healthcare satisfaction and supporting both innovation and job creation throughout the United States.

SUBMISSIONS CATEGORY EXAMPLES:

Innovative technology that does one or more of the following:

• Reduces healthcare costs, preserves quality care and/or improves healthcare satisfaction
• Reduces income disparity in the US
• Combats fraud, waste and abuse through prevention of improper payments
• Supports telemedicine, health robotics, wearable health, predictive intelligence or other trending topics in the health tech industry
• Reduces the budget deficit through big data
• Addresses those people in the Digital Inclusion (low income families that do not have the available resources to take advantage of new technologies that can assist in improving their education, communication and overall quality of life)
• Improves consumer health through exercise, diet management and weight loss
• Informs consumers facing a medical crisis
• Provides a platform for easier communications in healthcare education for small businesses, corporations and individuals
• Increases productivity and reduces costs
• Creates incentives for doctors, hospitals, and other providers of healthcare—or even their patients—to optimize efficiency or control costs
• Integrates data pools such as pharmaceutical R&D data, clinical data, activity (claims) and cost data and patient behavior and sentiment data
• Analyzes clinical outcome data to improve clinical decision making and leverage patient databases
• Provides online platforms and communities within the healthcare or medical industries
• Utilizes ultra high-speed, programmable broadband to bring innovative new products and services to the healthcare and medical industries
• Aids in the analysis, aggregation, manipulation and management of big data
• Promotes the research and development of better analytics for controlling healthcare costs 
• Enables partnerships and public awareness of the impact that advanced analytics can and is having on controlling healthcare costs
• Raises professional and public awareness of the impact that advanced analytics can and is having on controlling healthcare costs

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

• Receive coaching and mentoring from business, policy and investor community leaders in the entrepreneurship and healthcare arenas
• The opportunity to take a big idea and quickly turn it  a joint-venture partnership, strategic relationship or a potentially build a brand new company together
• Main prizes courtesy of H&R Block will be awarded to the top 3 innovative ideas.  Prizes include $15,000, $5,000 and $2,500 with the opportunity to meet senior management for additional discussions.

HOW TO SUBMIT:  Simply visit www.hackovate.com and locate the HOW TO ENTER tab at the top of the page.  Next, click the green SUBMIT NOW button.  This button will take you to the Hackovate iStart page, courtesy of our friends at the Kauffman Foundation.  iStart will allow you to log in or register and submit your idea, startup, company, technology or innovation into our judging platform.  Be sure to fill out all of the necessary information.

LEARN MORE:

www.hackovate.com 

info@hackovate.com

@hackovate