Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Teams with SmartHealth Activator for Inaugural Biotech Business Plan Competition

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., May 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, in collaboration with the SmartHealth Activator, a Midwest healthcare ventures accelerator, is launching the inaugural Biotech Start-up Business Plan Competition this summer. This start-up training and competition — which will be staged virtually — features 19 Chicago teams/ventures in categories that include therapeutics, medical devices, digital health care and healthcare services.

The Biotech Business Plan Competition consists of a four-month training program for Chicagoland startups that pairs industry experts as mentors to each new venture and provides coaching on key startup business skills such as elevator pitch, business-plan creation and development, and final longer pitch with audio-visual materials. The event will culminate in a competition on July 21 in front of a group of industry and venture capital judges, with the top three companies competing for cash prizes. The Lake County chapter of SCORE — a national nonprofit network of volunteer mentors — is also providing assistance in the development, review and critique of the business plan component of the program.

"This program highlights new biomedical innovations that will hopefully benefit patients and healthcare organizations, and builds on our regional startup training activities at our Helix 51 Incubator and the new Innovation and Research Park," said RFU's Ron Kaplan, PhD, executive vice president of research. "It also fills an important gap by assisting these early-stage companies with industry mentorship and exposure in our community."

The final competition on July 21 will consist of three simultaneous tracks in the categories of therapeutics, medical devices and digital healthcare/services. Each team will compete for cash and prizes, with $10,000 to the 1^st place winner, $5,000 to the 2^nd place winner and $3,000 to the 3^rd place winner. A special award of $1,000 will go to the best elevator pitch. In addition, there will be prizes valued at over $1,000 to the four winners consisting of membership services in RFU's Helix 51 Incubator.

This is a free event open to the public, with registration available on the RFU website.

The Biotech Start-up Business Plan Competition sponsors include the following:
Gold: Exicure, Horizon Therapeutics, McCarthy Duffy, MBHB, Vetter Pharma
Silver: Abbott, Aptinyx, Cushman & Wakefield, Lundbeck, Perkins Coie, Xontogeny
Bronze: VanquaBio

About Rosalind Franklin University
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science is committed to serving the population through the interprofessional education of health and biomedical professionals and the discovery of knowledge dedicated to improving wellness. The university embodies the spirit of inquiry and excellence modeled by its namesake Dr. Rosalind Franklin, whose Photo 51 was crucial to solving the structure of DNA. The university is currently commemorating the 100^th anniversary of the scientist's birth. Recognized for its research in areas including neuroscience, brain-related diseases, inherited disorders, diabetes, obesity, and gait and balance, RFU encompasses the Chicago Medical School, College of Health Professions, College of Pharmacy, School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine. Learn more at rosalindfranklin.edu.

CONTACT:
Dan Moran
dan.moran@rosalindfranklin.edu

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SOURCE Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science