Catalyzing change in healthcare.
We help promising healthcare startups to research and verify their breakthrough idea, at zero cost.
Previous startup success stories
We partner with innovative startups to spark change in digital healthcare delivery.
Through a yearly application process, we open our doors to promising startups, with the aim of helping them overcome the hurdle of research and fostering connections with global healthcare brands who could benefit from innovative technologies.
Sponsoring Members Include:
We offer the following benefits to selected innovators at no cost:
Refinement of key concepts and prototypes from healthcare professionals.
Design and implementation of a study to rapidly verify the core innovation.
Opportunities to develop strategic relationships with industry leading brands.
Zero cost to apply, zero cost to participate, no equity taken by HITLAB.
Our current board members are industry leaders from across the digital healthcare sphere.
Mikko Baylosis
Project Manager, NYC/EDC
NYC Economic
Development Corporation
William (Bill) Taranto
Founder & President
Merck Global Health Innovation Fund
Patrick Pilch
Co-Founder & Director
Healthcare Excellence & Innovation at BDO Global
Jim McGough
Co-Founder
Novartis Biome
Judith Dunn
Executive in Residence (EIR) Atlas Venture
Fernando Gomez-Baquero
Director of Runway and Spinouts
Cornell Tech
Guy Eiferman
Partner (Former Merck Exec)
Nextstep Health
Heather Cole-Lewis
Director of Behavior Science
Johnson & Johnson
Lauren Doolan
Venture Operations
Startup Health
Wen Dombrowski
Founding Principal & Chief
Convergence Officer
Catalaize
Harsha Murphy
Managing Partner
Consummate Capital LLC
Sean Dowling
Managing Director, Strategic Ventures
Northwell Health
Emily Kagen
VP, Digital & Innovation Strategy Northwell Health
Robin Roberts
Co-Founder, Managing Director – Head of Strategy Novartis Biome
Amy West
Head of US Digital
Health & Innovation Strategy
Novo Nordisk
Dr. Sheldon Elman, MD
Chairman & Co-Founder Esplanade Ventures
Breakthrough bridges the gap between industry-leading healthcare companies and the promising digital health startups that will help shape our tomorrow.
Our application process
Call for
Applications
Rolling Review
of Applications
Applications
Close
Final Review
& Selection
Innovators
Announced
Study Design
Development
Studies
Implemented
Final Study
Results
Quick Submission Form
Accepting submissions now through November 19, 2021 at 11:59 PM EST.
What is Your Solution?
Please note all applicants must fill out Part Two of the application as well.
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Learn more about becoming a board member, alongside fellow industry executives.
About Breakthrough
HITLAB Breakthrough Alliance was created to accelerate digital health innovations through evidence-based research and insights. This new digital health alliance is a subscription-based service with a mission to improve health outcomes and care delivery from verifying emerging technologies and research—driven by the perspectives and strategies of its members.
NYCEDC launched the Digital Health Breakthrough Network in 2016 as part of its broader efforts to facilitate growth in New York City’s healthcare and life sciences sectors. Now, HITLAB operates the program independently and continues to provide prototype testing services to the digital health ecosystem.