Hackovate Health Innovation Competition Announces Top 10 Finalists and Keynote Speakers Ned Holland & David Murray for Feb. 26 Finale
KANSAS CITY, MO—February 12, 2013—H&R Block and Think Big Partners have announced the top 10 finalists who will present at the Hackovate Health Finale on February 26, 2013 in Kansas City, Missouri. These 10 finalists will continue in the pursuit of the $15,000 grand prize, the $10,000 runner-up prize and the $5,000 second runner-up prize. Additionally, H&R Block and Think Big Partners have announced other Hackovate Finale details including keynote speakers Ned Holland and David Murray.
The Hackovate Health semi-finalist judging panel consisted of 19 diverse experts from a variety of fields. The panel includes experts and leaders in the healthcare industry, entrepreneurs, investors, service providers, professional association executives, as well as public and private sector officials.
The 10 Hackovate Health finalists who will present at the Hackovate Finale are:
- Anant Vinjamorri, Aavya Health (Boston, MA, USA)
- Tami Hutchinson, eLuminate Health (Kansas City, MO, USA)
- Liam Ryan, GetHealth (Dublin, Ireland)
- Scott Speranza, inAssist Health Management Solution (Torrance, CA, US)
- Asher Hasan, NAJA JEEVAN REJUVENATE: Transformation Healthcare for the Uninsured (New Life) (Karachi, Sind, PAK)
- John McCluskey, OkCopay, Inc. (Seattle, WA, USA)
- Matthew Kafka, ReMARK Health (Kansas City, MO, USA)
- Karan Srivastava, SHHADE (Miami, FL, USA)
- Jug Stanovcic, HealthPlan Select by Stenuus (Overland Park, KS, USA)
- Chrys Sullivan, My Healthcare Reform Guide by eXperient Interactive & Useagility (Kansas City, MO, USA)
The above Hackovate finalists are invited to present pitches for their businesses at the Hackovate Health Finale on February 26, 2013 at The Extreme Screen in Union Station, Kansas City, Missouri. Finalists will submit a presentation and deliver a 10-minute pitch before a panel of finale judges. Presentations will be followed by five minutes of questions from the judges. The finalists must be present at the Hackovate Health Finale to be eligible for a prize.
“We are extremely impressed with the quality of Hackovate Health submissions,” says Herb Sih, co-founder of Think Big Partners. “Those selected to participate in the Hackovate Health Finale now have a real opportunity to solve real problems in the healthcare industry. We cannot wait to watch these companies come to life on stage.”
The Hackovate Health Finale is a free event open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. At the event, attendees will have the chance to watch the final pitch presentations, network and learn more about healthcare technology and entrepreneurship. Additionally, the Hackovate Health Finale will feature two keynote speakers.
The first keynote speaker at the Hackovate Health Finale is E.J. “Ned” Holland Jr., assistant secretary for administration (ASA) for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Mr. Holland has the responsibility for the leadership and management of approximately 3,800 Federal employees and contractors, operating 12 separate budgets totaling almost $1.4B and providing the following services to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Mr. Holland is actively involved in the Kansas City healthcare landscape, serving a variety of community and economic development organizations and several healthcare-related organizations including the Truman Medical Center, the Kansas City Missouri public hospital system, the Kansas City Area Hospital Association, the Kansas Health Policy Authority and Joint Commission Resources.
The second keynote speaker at the Hackovate Health Finale is David Murray, author and aerospace engineer/entrepreneur. Mr. Murray is no stranger to innovation—as a scientist, chief marketing officer, entrepreneur, CEO, product development specialist, software programmer and line manager, he has worked on both the Space Shuttle as well as the International Space Station. Additionally, Mr. Murray has acted as the head of innovation at Intuit and has published best-selling books Borrowing Brilliance: The Six Steps to Business Innovation by Building on the Ideas of Others and Plan B: How to Hatch a Second Plan that’s Always Better than the First. Today, Mr. Murray serves as the president of Kord Consulting Group.
Other Hackovate Health speakers include Senator Jerry Moran, Kush Saxena of H&R Block, Herb Sih and Tyler Prochnow of Think Big Partners and more.
The Hackovate Health Finale will also feature exhibitor booths from the top 10 finalists, sponsors and partners as well as the People’s Choice Award, which can be voted for via mobile phone on the day of the Hackovate Finale.
For more information about Hackovate Health or to express interest in becoming a partner, please visit www.hackovate.com or call 816-842-5244.
For more information or to register to attend the Hackovate Health Finale, please visit http://hackovate.eventbrite.com.
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About Hackovate Health
Hackovate Health is a health-focused innovation competition hosted by H&R Block and Think Big Partners. The competition is designed to identify innovative mobile, online, social and other applications that help consumers navigate the new healthcare landscape and the Affordable Care Act. Tech entrepreneurs, startups, innovators, healthcare professionals and other teams from around the world were encouraged to compete in the three-month long competition, which has culminated in H&R Block and screening judges identifying 10 teams to convene in Kansas City in February to turn their promising ideas into new companies. The Hackovate process involves coaching and mentoring from business, policy and investor community leaders in the entrepreneurship and healthcare arenas.
About H&R Block
H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) is the world's largest tax services provider, having prepared more than 600 million tax returns worldwide since 1955. In fiscal 2012, H&R Block had annual revenues of $2.9 billion and prepared 25.6 million tax returns worldwide. Tax return preparation services are provided in company-owned and franchise retail tax offices by nearly 100,000 professional tax preparers, and through H&R Block At Home™ digital products. H&R Block Bank provides affordable banking products and services. For more information, visit the H&R Block Online Press Center.
About Think Big Partners
Think Big Partners is an early-stage startup accelerator and mentorship-based collaborative network located in Kansas City, Missouri. Think Big Partners has successfully launched or grown over 150 successful companies with its creation of coworking spaces (bizperc), entrepreneurial conferences (Think Big Kansas City and iKC), essential services, startup resources and funding (Think Big Ventures). To learn more about Think Big Partners, please visit http://www.thinkbigpartners.com.
Contact:
Allison Way
Think Big Partners
816-842-5244
away@thinkbigpartners.com
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