Lyfebulb-CVS Kidney Care Innovation Challenge

The Lyfebulb-CVS Kidney Care^® Innovation Challenge will take place in March 2022 and is currently accepting applications through December 14, 2021. Selected applicants will receive an invitation to pitch their ideas and solutions to an expert panel of judges comprised of healthcare industry, medical, and patient leaders over the course of the two-day summit. One entrepreneur will be awarded the 2022 Lyfebulb-CVS Kidney Care Innovation Award, including a $25,000 monetary grant to grow their company. Competing finalists may be considered by CVS Kidney Care for possible partnerships or investment opportunities.

In addition to presenting their innovative ventures, finalists will have the opportunity to exchange ideas on how to further advance patient innovation in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and engage with Lyfebulb founders, CVS Kidney Care leadership, representatives from the CKD/ESRD patient community, key opinion leaders, and potential investors.

Note: The Summit is currently scheduled to take place in person. However, Lyfebulb will continue to monitor the national, state, and local COVID-19 situation, and the details of this event remain subject to change from in-person to virtual as needed.

KEY PILLARS OF INNOVATION

Through Lyfebulb and CVS Kidney Care’s shared commitment to patients and their loved ones, the Lyfebulb-CVS Kidney Care Innovation Challenge is seeking a wide range of solutions to address health disparities among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In order to address the health disparities facing kidney patients and their care partners, we will identify scalable solutions that do one or more of the following:

• Improve early evaluation for kidney disease
• Educate health care providers and patients around eGFR kidney function
• Increase cultural empathy among healthcare workers
• Remove social barriers that affect kidney health outcomes
• Increase the diversity of nephrologists

We also encourage the submission of all creative and strategic solutions to provide equitable care and improve patient and care partner outcomes. Primary areas of interest supporting this mission include education and awareness, early identification and disease progression, and overall quality of life.

CRITERIA FOR APPLYING TO THE CHALLENGE

Applicants from historically underrepresented communities and those personally affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are particularly encouraged to submit their ideas.

CATEGORIES OF INNOVATION

• Devices
• Consumer products
• Healthcare IT
• Healthcare services

ORGANIZATIONS

• US entities only
• For-profit companies
• Non-profit organizations
• Individuals with registered organizations

STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

• Idea stage
• Early development
• Mature development

JUDGING CRITERIA

The judging panel will assess the following:

UNMET NEED

• Strategic basis for addressing health equity challenges facing patients and their care partners
• How these challenges are specifically being addressed

IMPACT

• Potential of the innovation to improve the lives of people affected by kidney disease
• Degree of impact (market impact and patient impact)
• Measurability of impact

MARKET FEASIBILITY

• Uniqueness to the market
• Feasibility of development and implementation
• Market sustainability

THE CHALLENGE IN NUMBERS

1

NOVEMBER

Applications open on Monday, November 1, 2021

14

DECEMBER

Applications close on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at 11:59 PM EST

2

DAYS

The Challenge will take place March 2-3, 2022

$25

THOUSAND

One entrepreneur will be awarded the 2022 Lyfebulb-CVS Health Innovation Award, including a $25,000 monetary grant to grow their company