HIMSS (Organizer) is hosting the Health 2.0 VentureConnect Pitch at the HIMSS19 Global Conference during the Health 2.0 VentureConnect event on February 13, 2019. Health 2.0 VentureConnect Pitch Competition puts "Series A ready" companies center stage as they compete to be recognized as the most fundable start up from venture capitalists and corporate investors. The most promising health tech companies will present their business plan and face off to win the title of Startup Champion!

All startup companies who are “Series A ready” are welcome.

1. Health 2.0 welcome all startup companies in all categories of health who are Series A ready.
2. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
3. Only English-language submissions will be considered.

1. To submit an application into the pitch competition, visit the competition website himss19ventureconnect.skild.com beginning October 31, 2018 12:01 AM EST.
2. The final day of submission is December 12, 2018 6:00 PM EST.
3. There is no cost to submit an application for the Health 2.0 VentureConnect pitch competition.
4. Submissions for the Health 2.0 VentureConnect pitch competition will be reviewed and accepted by the Organizer on a rolling basis, beginning November 1, 2018. See below for selection criteria.
5. Submissions will then be judged by our panel of virtual judges starting December 17, 2018.
6. Health 2.0 VentureConnect pitch finalists will be notified on January 7, 2019.
7. Health 2.0 VentureConnect Pitch Competition will take place at the HIMSS Global Conference in Orlando, FL on February 13, 2019.

1. The Organizer will consider the following criteria, and others, when reviewing the applications:
   1. The company is ‘Series A ready’.’ Companies who are earlier or later stage will not be consider
   2. Whether the application is complete and adheres to the requirements of the application website.

1. Qualification of judges
   1. Pitch finalists will be chosen by a panel of virtual judges solely selected by the Organizer and Organizing Partners.
   2. Judges will be venture capitals, investors, and other thought leaders in the digital health space.
2. Judging process
   1. Virtual judges will begin judging December 17, 2018
   2. Judges will be provided:
      1. A brief description of your company & product
      2. The problem your technology solves
      3. Any funds raised to date
      4. Any pilots and/or revenue
      5. Any current or prospective partners.
      6. Their business plans
      7. An overview of their product
      8. (Potential) Video of their product
   3. Each judge will score each team based on the judging criteria using numerical ranking.
   4. The numerical rankings will be tallied and summed so that an overall score can be determined for each company.
   5. In the event of a tie, the winners will be determined based on a simple majority vote by the judges.
   6. The Organizer and Organizing Partners reserve the sole right to define and modify the judging process as deemed appropriate.
   7. Under no circumstances will a team be permitted to appeal the final decision of the judges. Judging decisions are final, binding and not contestable.
3. Judging Criteria
   1. Applications will be evaluated on the criteria of ccompetitiveness, potential of growth, strength of the pitch, and the overall application.
      1. Competitiveness in terms of the company and the product’s competitive environment in the market in their relevant fields.
      2. Potential of growth in terms of market growth of the product
      3. Strength of the pitch include, but is not limited to:
         1. Thorough responses of the open answers
         2. Detailed business plan and product overview
         3. Including a demo video of the product
      4. Overall application includes, but is not limited to:
         1. Whether the application is complete and adheres to the requirements of the application website.

1. Description of prizes
   1. Trophy
   2. Press release following win and press throughout the year
   3. Interview with HIMSSTV onsite at HIMSS19.
   4. Free One-Year HIMSS Membership
   5. 10-minute Stage Time on the Debut stage in front of HIMSS attendees on Thursday, February 14, 2019 at 12:45 PM.
2. Awarding of prizes
   1. Two winners of the pitch competition will be awarded the trophies at the end of Health 2.0 VentureConnect on February 13, 2019.
   2. Organizer will be working with the two winners regarding their 10-minute stage time on the Debut stage.
   3. Organizer will contact them in regards to their one-year HIMSS Membership after the event.

1. Organizer has the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify a company for a violation of the rules or an incomplete application.
2. Organizer may prohibit certain company from participating in the Health 2.0 VentureConnect Pitch Competition or winning a prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines the company has attempted to undermine the legitimate operation of Health 2.0 VentureConnect by cheating, hacking, deception, or any other unfair practice.
3. Organizer has the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any participant attempts to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other participants or representatives of Organizer.
4. Entries containing pornographic material, defamatory statements or are otherwise deemed offensive by Organizer are prohibited from participating in the competition.
5. Ineligible entries may be disqualified at any time without notice.

1. Organizer has the right to cancel or suspend the Health 2.0 VentureConnect Pitch Competition with or without notice and for any or no reason.
2. Organizer, and Organizing Partners, are not responsible and Participants hereby waive any claim for damages, claims, losses, or inconveniences caused by cancellation or suspension of the Health 2.0 VentureConnect Pitch Competition.

1. By providing a submission to the Health 2.0 VentureConnect Pitch Competition, each Participant represents and warrants that the submission does not violate any applicable law or any third party intellectual property rights.
2. Organizers and Organizing Partners do not make any claims to or take responsibility for IP that emerges from the Health 2.0 VentureConnect Pitch Competition.
3. It is up to each team, solely, to determine ownership of any work that is created and developed during the pitch competition.
4. Organizers and Organizing Partners accept no responsibility for resolving IP disputes among Participants.
5. The risks of exposing an idea and/or IP may be outweighed by the benefits of the feedback and collaboration you will receive if people get excited about your submission.
6. If you have concerns about the IP in your submission, we recommend consulting a lawyer before participating or sharing said IP.

1. Participant hereby grants Organizers the right to use or refrain from using Company’s name and/or likeness in any video, photo, recording or media b-roll without Company’s review, approval or compensation.
2. By applying and participating in Health 2.0 VentureConnect Pitch Competition, you are consenting to having HIMSS provide your information to third-party judges and partners. Personal information is collected for the purpose of registering teams for the pitch competition, administrating and promoting the pitch competition, communicating about current and future events, and will be provided to sponsors of the Health 2.0 VentureConnect event.
3. Applicants and participants expressly consent to receiving electronic messages relating to participation in the Pitch Competition.

1. Under no circumstance will Organizer, Organizing Partners or Sponsors be liable for any direct, incidental, indirect, special or consequential damages incurred by any participants or third parties in connection with, arising out of, or relating in any way to the Health 2.0 VentureConnect Pitch Competition or the official rules.
2. Participant shall indemnify and hold Organizer, Organizing Partners, Sponsors and their officers, directors, employees, successors and assigns harmless against any claims, losses, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ and other professionals’ fees) incurred by Participant in connection with, arising out of, or relating in any way to the Health 2.0 VentureConnect Pitch Competition or the official rules.
3. All disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or in connection with the Health 2.0 VentureConnect Pitch Competition, prizes, or the official rules, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action.
4. Participant agrees not to use in any advertising, publicity, marketing, press release, or in any other way, the name, trademark, logo, symbol, image, likeness or other intellectual property of Organizer, Sponsors, or Organizing Partners without the prior written consent of Organizer, Sponsors, or Organizing Partners respectively.