December 2, 2026 | Microsoft Technology Center, Times Square, New York City
NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
The 2026 HITLAB Women’s Health Tech Challenge (the “Challenge”) is organized by Healthcare Innovation & Technology Lab, Inc. (“HITLAB”) to recognize emerging women’s health technologies and female-founded healthcare companies. These draft rules are subject to HITLAB approval and legal review.
Seed Stage: Healthcare companies at the Seed funding stage developing solutions that advance women’s health.
Series A: Healthcare companies at the Series A funding stage developing solutions that advance women’s health.
Female Founder: Healthcare companies founded by at least one woman. Funding stage does not matter for this category; companies may operate in any healthcare sector.
For the Seed and Series A groups, illustrative funding amounts are approximately $500,000–$5 million and $5 million–$20 million, respectively. These are not strict dollar thresholds. The Female Founder group has no funding-stage requirement. A company eligible for more than one group must be assigned to one live-pitch group before voting; no company may win more than one category award.
A company must be nominated through a HITLAB-authorized nomination process and formally accept its nomination.
Companies must provide truthful information about their business, founder(s), applicable funding stage, and product or service.
Female Founder eligibility requires at least one woman founder; being solely woman-led without a woman founder does not independently satisfy this category.
All companies accepting nominations must have an authorized representative attend the December 2 event in person, whether or not selected as a finalist.
No participation fee is charged. Companies are responsible for travel, lodging, and other attendance expenses.
Nominations will be accepted through November 9, 2026. Nominated companies must formally accept their nomination by end of day (11:59 PM Eastern Time) on November 10, 2026 to be eligible for the Challenge.
November 11–13, 2026: HITLAB community voting.
November 16, 2026: Finalists notified.
December 2, 2026: Three live pitch groups, in-person judging, and awards.
Accepted nominated companies will appear in a curated digital showcase distributed to the HITLAB community and participating investors and healthcare leaders. HITLAB will select finalists for each of the three groups based on eligible community votes, subject to verification.
The Challenge will feature three distinct live pitch groups: Seed Stage, Series A, and Female Founder. Finalists will present in person on December 2, 2026, before a judging panel. Each finalist is scheduled for a five-minute pitch followed by five minutes of questions, subject to the final agenda. Judges will assess innovation, healthcare impact, supporting evidence, feasibility, commercial potential, and presentation quality. The judges will decide one winner in each group based on the live pitches and their evaluation. Community voting determines finalists, not award winners. HITLAB will establish tie-breaking and conflict-of-interest procedures before voting begins.
SEED STAGE WINNER — Evidence Advisory Package
SERIES A WINNER — Expanded Evidence Advisory Package
FEMALE FOUNDER WINNER — Comprehensive Evidence Package
The awards are separate category prizes, not first-, second-, and third-place rankings. Prize provider(s), estimated retail values, and fulfillment deadlines: The awards are separate category prizes, not first-, second-, and third-place rankings. Prize provider(s) have estimated the retail values.
Prizes consist solely of the listed in-kind services; no cash alternative is offered. They are nontransferable. Winners must supply reasonably requested materials and cooperate in scheduling. The service provider and recipient will agree on scope, milestones, confidentiality, publication approvals, and deliverable ownership in writing before work begins. Services are advisory and do not guarantee regulatory approval, clinical validity, investment, or commercial success. Additional work is outside the prize scope. Applicable prize taxes, if any, are the winner’s responsibility.
Companies retain ownership of pre-existing technology and intellectual property. By accepting nomination, companies authorize HITLAB to display submitted, approved company names, logos, founder details, descriptions, and links in the showcase and Challenge promotion. Participants should not disclose confidential material in public pitches. Confidential prize-related materials will be handled under a separate agreement. Event photography and recordings may be used for Challenge publicity, subject to applicable law and releases.
HITLAB may verify eligibility, reject inaccurate submissions, investigate improper voting, and disqualify participants who violate these rules. Finalists and winners may be required to sign reasonable eligibility and prize documents. HITLAB may make necessary schedule or operational changes consistent with applicable law. Participation does not guarantee funding, partnerships, or future opportunities. Any required liability, dispute-resolution, governing-law, and tax provisions must be approved by counsel before publication.
By accepting a nomination, the company confirms its agreement to these rules, including the mandatory in-person attendance requirement and the applicable category eligibility and prize conditions.
