LAUNCHPAD
A Rehabilitation Technology Innovation Competition
Developed by the ACRM Technology Networking Group
This year’s competition will be held during the Virtual ACRM Annual Conference — the largest interdisciplinary rehabilitation research conference in the world.
ACRM is where cutting-edge research and technology meet clinical practice to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. The conference is attended by thousands of researchers and clinicians who value cutting-edge research and technology.
Congratulations to 2020 LaunchPad Winners
- Best Overall: Interactive Activities of Daily Living Assistance Device
Presenter: Sam Colachis - Most Impactful: Limber: A Digital Self-Management & Outcome Measurement Tool for Evidence-Based Musculoskeletal Therapy
Presenters: Nathan Hogaboom and Marc Gruner - Most Innovative: NeurOpTrek: Dynamically Assessing Visual Midline/Center of Mass for Application of Yoked Prisms to Reduce Risk of Fall
Presenter: William Padula
2020 CONTESTANTS
- Wireless Smart System of Vocalization Sensors for Convergent Evidence of Post-Discharge Communicative Participation in Everyday Life Contexts
- Limber: A Digital Self-Management & Outcome Measurement Tool for Evidence-Based Musculoskeletal Therapy
- NeurOpTrek: Dynamically Assessing Visual Midline/Center of Mass for Application of Yoked Prisms to Reduce Risk of Fall
- Assessing Muscle Fatigue with Accelerometry: Quick, Easy, and Inexpensive
- Interactive Activities of Daily Living Assistance Device
2020 LaunchPad Judges
Gerard Francisco, MD
Professor and Chair
University of Texas Health Science Center McGovern Medical School
Tiffany Wilson
Mohanraj Thirumalai, PhD
Assistant Professor
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Matteo Tomasi, PhD
CEO
EYEnexo
John Morris, PhD
Senior Clinical Research Scientist
Shepherd Center
WHAT IS IT?
The ACRM Technology Networking Group is pleased to announce LaunchPad — an exciting opportunity to pitch your company or idea to a panel of rehab industry experts and an audience of clinicians, researchers, engineers, and decision-makers to receive market feedback and win prizes.
LaunchPad is an annual competition created to highlight innovative rehabilitation technologies developed by non-profit research and engineering labs and startup companies. The competition is held at ACRM’s annual conference each fall.
STAGE 1 – Spring
LaunchPad is a 6-month, 2-stage competition, beginning with the submission of applications in the spring by competitors. The application deadline is May 15, 2020. Applications should include an Executive Summary that describes the following:
- Your innovative rehabilitation technology
- Your target user
- The problem addressed
- Evidence of efficacy and other user feedback
- Evidence of adoption, if any
Download the Executive Summary Outline to identify the information needed to submit an application.
SUBMIT AN APPLICATION >>
These applications will be reviewed by the LaunchPad Task Force of ACRM’s Technology Networking Group and five finalists will be chosen.
STAGE 2 – Fall
Finalists will present their technologies before a panel of interdisciplinary judges, including healthcare administrators, rehabilitation technology researchers and engineers, rehabilitation clinicians, medical doctors, and technology entrepreneurs to win prizes and gain valuable feedback from rehab professionals at the Virtual ACRM Annual Conference 19-24 OCT 2020.
“LaunchPad offers a unique opportunity for startups and R&D labs to receive feedback on their rehabilitation technology solutions directly from experts with deep knowledge of health technology R&D, rehabilitation services and technology acquisition” —Tracey Wallace, CCC-SLP, Chair of the LaunchPad Task Force
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
- Early-stage health technology companies
- (Limited to companies that have less than $500k in funding and have been in business less than 4 years, or if in business longer than 4 years, have less than $200k in revenue)
- Rehabilitation research labs/ researchers working on technology-based solutions
THE AUDIENCE
The conference is attended by thousands of researchers, physicians and clinicians, engineers, and business and community leaders who value cutting-edge rehabilitation research and technology. Last year, 81% of all attendees identified themselves as purchasing decision-makers & influencers for their departments!
AWARDS & PRIZES
First place: “Best Overall”
- The recipient will receive an 8 x 10 inline exhibit booth space at the ACRM 2020 Annual Conference EXPO, including 2 exhibitor registrations to attend Core Conference programming ($2,499 value)
- The recipient will be interviewed by Dr. Ford Vox, Digital Media Editor, for an upcoming episode of the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation podcast, RehabCast.
Secondary awards: “Most Innovative” and “Most Impactful”
*All three winners will be featured in a shared inline booth space (8’ x 10’) at the ACRM 2020 Annual Conference EXPO.
APPLY TO COMPETE >>
See last year’s contestants and winners >>
