With objective to improve healthcare outcomes for the worlds developing outcomes, GE Healthcare, the healthcare technology division of GE, has launched its first healthcare accelerator, five.eight. The accelerator will target global health startups with a vision to improve healthcare quality and accessibility in developing or low-resource settings “ from education and training to disruptive, low-cost technologies and digital applications.
Portfolio companies from four social impact investors: Acumen, Aavishkaar-Intellecap Group, Unitus Seed Fund and Villgro, will be among the initial applicants for the first accelerator program.
Through the program, major focus areas of GE Healthcare and each startup will be:
- Focus on commercially scaling healthcare innovations for emerging economies, with the potential for GE Healthcare distribution of the startup product
- Integration of the service into GE Healthcares Affordable Care Portfolio
- Potential funding of up to $5M/per startup will be uated on a case-by-case basis as the collaboration between GE Healthcare and each startup evolves.
Globally, its estimated that more than 5.8 billion people in the world lack access to quality, affordable healthcare, said John Flannery, President & CEO of GE Healthcare.
Weve had a continuous commitment to improving healthcare for those who need it most, but we know we cannot do it alone. Through five.eight, our goal is to fuel the greater global health ecosystem, partnering with social impact investors and global health startups, in order to maximize impact and outcomes for populations with the greatest need, added John.
Collaborating with investors allows us to work with some extraordinary entrepreneurs that have promising technologies to extend our portfolio of affordable solutions. Our goal is to define the next generation of care delivery technologies that can deliver impact where it matters, said Terri Bresenham, President & CEO of GE Healthcares Sustainable Healthcare Solutions, which develops the companys affordable care portfolio of high-value, low-cost technologies and healthcare delivery solutions for emerging markets.
Five.eight aims to welcome at least 10 startups in its initial program, with applicants sourced from the four social impact investors, but not limited to these portfolio companies.
The first company signed on to join five.eight is Tricog, a Bangalore-based startup focused on improving survival rates of heart attacks in India by decreasing the average time between symptoms and treatment. As the first startup in five.eight, GE Healthcare and Tricog will collaborate on scaling Tricogs solution to more markets globally.
Five.eight joins GEs Innovation Network “ a global, connected ecosystem of accelerators, startups, and innovators working on technologies that disrupt and grow markets through digital transformation. The startups joining five.eight will now have access to Innovation Network programming and resources as well as connectivity to other GE global innovation centers in Helsinki, Cardiff, Istanbul, Calgary, Johannesburg, Dubai and more.
The Accelerator is also open to partnerships with global health startups directly, or other players within the global health ecosystem, including academia, NGOs or other healthcare providers. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact five.eight; applicants will be uated and accepted on a rolling basis. The accelerator is open to all global health startups, regardless of location.
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