Sydney, 17 May 2018 - New healthcare innovations are primed to disrupt the industry, with ten graduates taking the final step in their journey with HCF Catalyst, at the accelerator program’s Demo Day. HCF Catalyst helps healthcare startups and scaleups to develop their ideas into investment-ready businesses over a 12-week period, where budding entrepreneurs access mentoring, marketing and infrastructure support.

Now in its third year, HCF with accelerator partner, Slingshot, are giving graduates of the Catalyst program the opportunity to pitch their businesses to an audience of HCF executives, stakeholders, peers and potential investors at Demo Day.

Demo Day, on 17 May 2018, will showcase the some of the best health technology ideas that tackle key problems in the healthcare industry. These include improving care accessibility through digital solutions, disrupting traditional health service models and transforming the way health professionals communicate with their patients.

According to Sheena Jack, Chief Executive Officer at HCF, this year’s cohort of Catalyst participants is again aligned with HCF’s strategic vision of making health care more affordable and understandable, and delivering high quality care that is putting patients at the centre.

“The healthcare industry needs to transform. HCF’s investment in innovation is not just about finding great ideas – it’s about translating these into practical outputs that improve patient outcomes.

“With this in mind, our Catalyst program attracts entrepreneurs who want to transform healthcare delivery to make it better, more efficient and more accessible for all in the future.”

Talking specifically to this year’s Catalyst graduates, Ms Jack said: “Technology is creating new opportunities to solve some of the biggest challenges facing the health system today. We are pleased to see the diversity in ideas, among this Catalyst cohort and are proud of what they have all achieved in such a short space of time.”

Start-up and scale-up businesses in the program include:

• Vantari VR: Builds tools to enable new ways to visualise, interpret and understand medical images by pulling together cutting-edge rendering technology to take medical imaging into Virtual Reality (VR)
• Birth Beat: Online antenatal education to prepare families for birth
• Consentic: Captures the patient consent process electronically for the first time in Australia, enabling informed consent which is crucial for safe and ethical medical practice ahead of surgery
• Overwatch by Soldierly: The world’s first smart app designed to reduce the incidence of veteran suicide, by monitoring and managing anxiety, stress and PTSD
• Freedom from Chronic Pain: Disrupts the management of chronic pain and fatigue with ‘mind-body’ psychotherapy techniques delivered online
• Meksi: Simulation-based online learning for medical students and health professionals that facilitates consistent, high quality medical education
• Dresden: Australian-made, eco-friendly modular eyewear system, with glasses made on the spot in just 15 minutes at an affordable price point
• Sleepfit: Provides digital sleep health programs for employers to improve their employee’s sleep outcomes through personalised awareness, education, diagnosis and treatment
• Boundlss: Connects members with their health and life insurers directly through a conversational, AI health platform that puts the focus of insurance on helping members live a healthy, happy life
• Myhealth1st: Connects patients with their health providers directly through a trusted digital platform to find health providers and schedule appointments 24 hours a day, seven days a week

HCF Catalyst’s Demo Day will be held on Thursday 17 May 2018 from 5.30pm at VMAX Cinemas, 505 George Street, Sydney.

The event is free, however spaces are limited. To register your attendance, please click here for more information.

-Ends-

Issued on behalf of HCF by WE Buchan. For interviews with this year’s graduates or to get an update on where 2017 Catalyst graduates are now, please contact:

• Gabriela Czwarnos
  Ph: (02) 9237 2816
  M: 0450 396 290
  E: gczwarnos@we-buchan.com
• Ellen McIver
  Ph: (02) 9237 2814
  M: 0414 137 686
  E: emciver@we-buchan.com

ABOUT HCF

HCF, Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund protecting people since 1932, covers around 1.5 million members with health and life insurance, community care, travel and pet insurance. On average over the last five years, HCF has paid out more cents in every dollar in premiums to members as benefits than the industry average. With over 35,000 specialists participating in its Medical Gap Cover Scheme and approximately 10,000 providers participating in its 100% back More for You programs, HCF gives members access to quality healthcare with no gaps or minimal costs compared to non-participating providers. To empower members to put their health first, HCF also offers a range of health and lifestyle services including its My Health Guardian health management program, mobile Victor Chang Heart Health Checks and My Global Specialist second opinion service. HCF’s national network of retail outlets and Australian-based call centres have earned multi-award winning status. HCF members also have access to low cost, high quality services at HCF Dental Centres. Having contributed $50 million to support the health services research funded by the HCF Research Foundation, HCF is devoted to investing in the future of Australia’s health. To learn more about HCF go to hcf.com.au/about-us