HMH Emerge

Any Ireland-based healthcare startup regardless of where they are in the development process.

For the initial submission, we ask that you do not provide any proprietary information. Once we select the 10 startups to be in the program, we will work with each of those to sign NDAs and protect proprietary information.

All 10 startups that are accepted to the program will receive mentorship by our HMH team members to learn about the US healthcare market, how to partner with an organization like HMH, how to envision a pilot for the US healthcare market, and how to refine their pitch for an organization like HMH.

The Top 3 finalists may also receive additional mentorship, partnership, piloting, and/or investment after they give their final pitch. There is no single prize amount and there is no upfront equity transfer. All prizes and associated equity transfers, if any, will be determined with HMH and the chosen Ireland startups on a case-by-case basis.

We realize this may be different than most pitch competitions. The reason is that we want to keep this opportunity open to Ireland health startups across the development, funding, and maturity spectrum. Startups across that spectrum will have unique needs and we want to be sure to identify the best specific support for each startup with whom HMH ultimately determines they want to engage with.

The HMH Emerge Program is a pitch competition open to Ireland-based health startups. The startups will pitch to receive piloting, partnering, mentorship, and/or investment. Those that are accepted to the program will have opportunities to learn about HMH and the US healthcare market and receive support and mentorship from HMH team members while the startups refine their pitches. At the end of the process, a few highly-qualified startups will have the opportunity to pitch to our Bear’s Den board, whose decision-makers include HMH executives, HMH board members, and outside investors.

Ireland startups will start with a high-level submission and two-minute video pitch. The HMH internal team will narrow this down to 10 startups that will go through the program. Those that qualify will receive opportunities for mentorship by our HMH team members to learn about the US healthcare market, how to partner with an organization like HMH, how to envision a pilot for the US healthcare market, and how to refine their pitch for an organization like HMH.

Those 10 startups will be narrowed down to the Top 3 who will pitch to our Bear’s Den Board. Any of those three finalists may also receive additional mentorship, partnership, piloting, and/or investment after they give their final pitch. There is no single prize amount and there is no upfront equity transfer. All prizes and associated equity transfers, if any, will be determined with HMH and the chosen Ireland startups on a case-by-case basis.

• Launch Date: April 15, 2024
• Application Deadline: May 15, 2024
• Top 10 Notification: May 30, 2024
• Pitch Development Period: May 31 - July 9, 2024
• Bear’s Den Scouting Team Pitch: July 15, 2024 
• Finalist Notification: July 22, 2024 
• Final Preparation Period: July 23 - August 23, 2024
• Bear’s Den Final Pitch: September 9, 2024

Participation is simple. Please click here to submit your idea!

If you cannot find the information you need here, please contact us at bearsden@hmhn.org.

Any Ireland startups can apply. Based on those applications, 10 startups will be invited to participate in the program. Those will be narrowed down to the Top 3 after a pitch to the Bear’s Den Scouting Team. There is no set number of “winners.” After the final pitch, HMH will determine how many of the three finalist participating startups they are interested in partnering with and will approach those individually to determine the mutually best way to partner.

Applications will be judged by an interdisciplinary group of judges from across the HMH network. All materials provided by applicants will be reviewed and scored.

Unfortunately, we will not be able to share any feedback or scores to those that are not accepted into the program. This interdisciplinary group will determine the 10 startups who will be invited into the program.

To get to the Top 3 finalists, we will rely on our Bear’s Den Scouting Team to review your pitches. The Bear’s Den Scouting Team is made up of Clinical SMEs, operational leaders HMHRI representatives, and CTS leadership.

Those Top 3 finalists will get a chance to pitch to our Bear’s Den Board. The Bear’s Den Board is made up of HMH executives, HMH board members, and outside investors.

Unfortunately, we can only accept 10 startups into the program due to time and resource constraints. That means that many amazing ideas will not make it into the program for no other reason than our time and resource constraints or specific needs at that time. As such, we will strive to continue to engage with all applicants to see if there is an appropriate time in the future to partner either in a formal or informal manner.

No. You are more than welcome to participate in all elements of the program virtually. If you would like to join us in person for the pitches, we would love to have you. However, HMH will not be able to cover any costs for you and your team to participate in person.

HMH is short for Hackensack Meridian Health. Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care. The network has 18 hospitals and more than 500 patient care locations, which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers, physician practice locations, and a fitness and wellness center. With more than 35,000 team members and 7,000 physicians, Hackensack Meridian Health is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy and committed to the health and well-being of communities throughout New Jersey.

The network’s notable distinctions include having the only #1 ranked adult and children's hospitals in New Jersey, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report, 2023-24. Hackensack University Medical Center is nationally-ranked by U.S. News & World Report in six specialties. To learn more, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org.