Sydney, 7 February 2018 – HCF – Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund – today reveals its new cohort of ten Australian health technology Startups and Scaleups participating in the third year of HCF Catalyst, as HCF continues to lead the way in health technology innovation.

The new assembly of health technology entrepreneurs reflects a growing demand in Australia for remote and online access to healthcare. The cohort also reflects a growing focus on developing solutions that harness innovations such as virtual reality, AI and cloud-based systems to propel Australia’s health care system into the future.

HCF Catalyst, accelerated by Slingshot, selected the ten participants for this year’s Catalyst program through a nationwide entry process, with finalists pitching their ideas to a leading panel of judges during the HCF Catalyst Pitch Days in December 2017. The new cohort of entrepreneurs will spend the next twelve weeks turning their health tech ideas into high impact businesses. The program will aid in developing compelling business models and securing the traction, viability and investment needed for each business to succeed. HCF Catalyst also includes hands-on resources such as mentorship, funding, industry relationship-building, and strategic guidance.

The 2018 HCF Catalyst Cohort:

Startups

• 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)
• Birthbeat – Designs Midwifery services delivered via Telehealth to prepare families for birth
• Pracway – 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
• Soldierly – Provides veteran soldiers with practical tools and structured exercise programs that strengthen physical and mental health, while also reinforcing personal connections within the veteran community – a program created by soldiers, for soldiers
• Mindbodyhealing – Disrupts the management of chronic pain and fatigue with ‘mindbody’ e-medicine innovation
• MEKSI – Improves a variety of learning, training and assessment scenarios with simulation, to evolve both the teaching of medicine and how trainees and junior doctors develop their essential skills

Scaleups

• Dresden Optics – Delivers Australian-made, eco-friendly modular eyewear and high quality eye health care globally to customers with vision loss
• SleepFit – Provides digital sleep health programs for employers, insurance companies and health providers to improve their employee’s sleep outcomes through personalised awareness, education, screen, diagnosis and treatment programs
• 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 instead of on claims and illness
• 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

Of the new cohort, Sheena Jack, Chief Executive Officer at HCF said, “We have chosen this year’s Catalyst participants because they align with HCF’s vision to drive affordable, high quality outcomes throughout the health industry.”

“We’re proud that HCF Catalyst continues to attract the brightest minds in the health tech space and we want to continue to lead the market by finding disruptive technologies and solutions that solve the biggest problems in health care,” Ms Jack said.

HCF Catalyst has already fostered the success of multiple health technology businesses since the program’s inception two years ago. HCF continues to support Catalyst graduates by funding pilot trials that provide value to HCF members, including recent programs launched with Curo, She Births and The Pelvic Expert.

“We are thrilled to officially reveal the third Catalyst cohort with HCF,” added Chief Executive Officer of Slingshot, Karen Lawson.

“This year’s selected cohort will have the opportunity to be mentored by leading tech entrepreneuers, to expand their networks, and to showcase their innovative health and wellness ideas to their peers, and potential commercial partners and investors.”

This year, HCF Catalyst will feature mentorship from prominent health and technology industry leaders, including Nick Molnar, CEO of Afterpay, Tim McDougall, Founder of Curo Technologies, and healthcare expert Professor Hung Nguyen, Director at the Centre for Healthcare Technologies, UTS.

The project will culminate with a ‘Demo Day,’ where participants will showcase their business models and progress in the hope of driving interest from investors and partners.

For further information on the program and to follow the new cohort’s journey, visit the HCF Catalyst website. 

View a video summary of last year’s HCF Catalyst Demo Day.

-Ends-

Issued on behalf of HCF by WE Buchan. Media enquiries to:

• Ellen McIver
  Ph: (02) 9237 2814
  M: 0414 137 686
  E: emciver@buchanwe.com.au

• Sophia Brockman
  Ph: (02) 9237 2815
  M: 0416 558 002
  E: sbrockman@buchanwe.com.au

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

About Slingshot

Slingshot is Australia’s leading corporate accelerator program, working with clients such as Qantas, Lion Group, SEEK, Hudson, HCF, ING Direct, the NSW Government, the QLD Government and UTS. The Slingshot methodology is validated and university accredited, with their STAR4000 course helping to equip the next generation of entrepreneurs. This year Slingshot also launched a new platform, CoVentured, to connect corporate Australia to a growing community of Startups and Scaleups. Founding corporates on the platform included Westpac, Woolworths, Optus, Australia Post, Energy Australia, Lendlease and Tabcorp.