Finalists Named in Biggest Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge Ever

Judges named 22 student finalist teams (detailed below) in the most competitive year yet for the Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge (HIC) at the University of Washington. The teams will pitch and showcase their innovations in front of entrepreneurs, investors and health professionals on Thursday, February 29.

A record-breaking 52 applications were submitted from seven colleges and universities across the Cascadia Corridor (WA, OR, ID, AK, and British Columbia). The new high-water mark comes in just the ninth year of the competition hosted by the UW Foster School’s Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship.

The students on the finalist teams (and two alternates) represent more than thirty academic departments, programs and majors at five schools including UW-Seattle, UW-Bothell, the Global Innovation Exchange (GIX) in Bellevue, Seattle University, and the University of Victoria.

Finalist teams will compete for a share of more than $40,000 in prizes this year including select $2,500 “Best Idea” prizes in the following categories:

• The Jim & Timmie Hollomon Best Idea for Patient Safety, which recognizes a technology-enabled solution that aims to improve patient safety through the reduction of medication-related errors, medical complications with patient care, procedure/surgery-related errors, infections, and/or diagnostic errors.
• The Best Idea for a Medical Device, presented by Fenwick & West, which recognizes a medical device concept (for a physical product) with the most promising opportunity to significantly improve the lives of patients or providers.
• The Kent & Lisa Sacia Best Idea in Digital Health recognizes an innovative digital health application that has a high likelihood of being implemented in practical healthcare situations with meaningful impact.
• The Best Idea for Addressing Health Access and Disparities, presented by the Population Health Initiative, which recognizes a student innovation or intervention that seeks to close the gap in health disparities for low-income and disadvantaged groups. The innovation or intervention must increase access to point-of-care healthcare services and/or addressing systemic biases within the current healthcare system.

Teams who were not selected to advance in the 2024 Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge received valuable feedback from judges which could lead to success down the road if they choose to apply for the Dempsey Startup Competition or the Jones + Foster Accelerator. You can read the recap of last year’s challenge day and awards presentation on the Foster Blog.

Good luck to the 2024 Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge Finalists

ACT-NIRS
ACT-NIRS is developing a probe that detects brain tissue oxygenation and helps prevent severe neurological issues in critically ill pre-term infants.

• University of Washington-Seattle (MS in Applied Bioengineering)

BioLegacy
BioLegacy is developing organ cryo-preservation and rewarming technologies to break down the barriers to donor organ availability.

• Seattle University, University of Washington-Seattle (Finance, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry)

BioSyft
BioSyft is developing a system to predict clinical drug study outcomes by combining deep learning technology with the tracking of animal movements.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Pharmacology, Business, Neuroscience)

CarePath
CarePath aims to be a navigation information source for hospitals that allows clinicians and patients to have easy access to turn-by-turn directions during a wide-range of care situations.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Executive MBA)

CellScavenger
CellScavenger is designing a non-invasive, cost-efficient method for epithelial cell sampling for regular screening and early detection of gastric cancer.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering)

DiabEase
DiabEase is working on an all-in-one, AI-powered solution for effortless diabetes management, providing real-time personalized diet and lifestyle recommendations.

• University of Washington-Seattle (MS in Entrepreneurship, Psychology, Biomedical Regulatory Affairs, Finance)

EagleEyeXR
EagleEyeXR is developing a technological solution that addresses the critical challenges faced by Wilderness Search and Rescue (WiSAR) operations by enhancing the capabilities of rescuers to navigate and execute missions in challenging terrains.

• University of Washington-Seattle (MS in Mechanical Engineering)

EcoFlo
EcoFlo is developing a filtration device that captures volatile gases released by anesthesia machines in hospitals and surgery centers.

• University of Washington-Seattle (MS in Applied Bioengineering)

GlucoScreen
GlucoScreen is developing an inexpensive, easy-to-use diagnostic tool that works with a smart phone to detect blood glucose and other biomarkers for chronic disease.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Computer Science and Engineering)

Mindful Odyssey
Mindful Odyssey created a board game that educates players on mental health through interactive play.

• University of Washington-Seattle (MBA)

MoleView
MoleView is developing a camera-equipped tool designed to make early skin cancer detection more accessible.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Computer Science, MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Piezo-Pulse
Piezo-Pulse is developing an “energy harvesting system” that can recharge an implanted leadless pacemaker to increase device longevity and decrease need for replacement or removal.

• University of Washington-Seattle (MS in Applied Bioengineering)

PT.AR
PT-AR provides augmented and virtual reality physical therapy assistance to patients and helps ensure high engagement during at home-therapy sessions thus reducing in-person visits.

• University of Washington-Seattle (MS in Biomedical Regulatory Affairs, PhD in Bioengineering, MBA, Computer Science and Engineering)

ReviveHer
ReviveHer is developing a cutting-edge, universal attachment for training mannequins that addresses the gender disparities in CPR outcomes.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Biochemistry)

Revyn Medical Technologies
Revyn Medical Technologies is developing an improved speculum for gynecological care that increases effectiveness, patient comfort, and practitioner usability.

• University of Victoria (Biomedical Engineering, Engineering and Computer Science)

RoboScope
RoboScope is developing a fully automated AI-empowered cystoscopy robot that can offer unmanned end-to-end medical services like disease diagnosis, medical report generation, and therapies.

• University of Washington-Seattle (PhD in Mechanical Engineering)

S2C Accelerator
S2C Accelerator is working on a machine-learning driven software solution to overcome the steep learning curves in Spelling to Communicate (S2C) therapies for non-speaking autistic individuals.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Technology Management MBA)

ShockSafe
ShockSafe is developing a next generation AED weight-detection accessory that accurately distinguishes pediatric and adult patients during in and out of hospital cardiac arrest emergencies.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, MS in Mechanical Engineering)

Smart Earring
Smart Earring is developing a lightweight, ultra-low power, wireless earring device designed for continuous body temperature monitoring that offers a unique solution for ovulation and cycle tracking.

• University of Washington-Seattle (PhD in Computer Science and Engineering)

SoundCheck
SoundCheck is developing a low-cost and accessible tool to assess the functionality of diagnostic ultrasound probes, improving health outcomes worldwide.

• University of Washington-Seattle (MS in Applied Bioengineering)

Tale
Tale is working on a real-time, context-based speech assistance solution that utilizes AI-driven analysis to empower individuals with aphasia, helping them regain language skills and confidence.

• Global Innovation Exchange (MS in Technology Innovation)

Vaccine Genie
Vaccine Genie addresses difficulties created by fragmented vaccine records around the world with an easy-to-use multilingual platform to facilitate data capture, language translation, retrieval and sharing of records and recommendations.

• University of Washington-Seattle, University of Washington-Bothell (Clinical Information, Computer Science, MS in Human Centered Design and Engineering, MS in Information Technology)

Alternate Teams for Final Round

Sakura MedTech
Sakura MedTech offers a patient-centric imaging device for cervical cancer screening to improve the patient experience and gynecological efficiency.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Computer Engineering, Bioengineering)

NeuroRad AI
NeuroRad AI is developing an AI solution for transforming MRI data into a rapid, cost-effective, and accessible way to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease.

• University of Washington-Seattle (MS in Applied Bioengineering)