Cigna a global health services corporation, and MATTER, the preeminent healthcare incubator and innovation hub, have opened applications for the 2021 Cigna Innovation Challenge. The goal of the challenge is to find solutions that will help people with diabetes and their carers manage their disease while also reducing the environmental variables that contribute to disease prevalence and progression.
- Collaboration: More than 300 cutting-edge startups from across the world are part of the MATTER collaboration, which is collaborating with dozens of hospitals and health systems, universities, and industry-leading enterprises to shape the future of healthcare.
- Improvement: “The need to improve diabetes management, especially in communities of color, is urgent and deeply important,” said Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER. “This innovation challenge gives entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to work hand-in-hand with one of the largest insurance companies in the world to further develop their solutions. Together we have a real opportunity to accelerate change that will improve the lives of people living with diabetes.”
- Deadline: After the submission deadline, eight to 12 semi-finalists will be chosen to take part in an incubation phase where they will engage with Cigna experts and MATTER mentors. The incubation phase will culminate in a virtual pitch day on October 21, where semi-finalists will present their solutions to a panel of experts and the MATTER community. Following the event, three to five finalists will be selected to progress to the accelerator phase where they will have the opportunity to develop and pitch their pilot proposal. Three startups will receive a $10,000 award from Cigna.
- Challenge: One of the main challenges for people living with diabetes is consistent disease management through diet, exercise, monitoring, or supportive interventions. Diabetes is growing at an alarming rate, and particularly with type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes, we know that meaningful interventions can lead to a lifetime of better outcomes.
- Disparity: “We recognize that there is a disproportionate occurrence of the disease in communities of color and many social determinants of health that affect diabetes progression,” said Shawna Dodds, Product Managing Director, Cigna. “This innovation challenge is aimed at finding solutions and partnering with innovators to make positive, transformational changes in how we support people living with diabetes.”