Newly launched by LIVESTRONG in 2014, the global innovation competition, The Big C, is a one-of-a-kind competition to generate innovations that improve the daily quality of life for the 32.5 million people around the world living with cancer. The program started earlier in the year with an open invitation to entrepreneurs, trailblazers, technology whizzes, medical geeks, game changers and anyone with an audacious product, service or innovation that helps those facing cancer today.
Ventures competed for $140,000 in seed funding, mentoring and global exposure to a community of potential customers and investors to develop programs, services, new technology and inventions that improve cancer patients’ and survivors’ daily quality of life. Out of 168 semi-finalists, 20 ventures were invited to the accelerator program where teams were matched with expert mentors to help develop investor-ready pitch decks and given the opportunity to crowdfund for their venture. In October, the top five teams were invited to final pitch in Austin, Texas.
An esteemed panel of high-profile CEOs, medical professionals, academics and entrepreneurs reviewed the pitches of the top five finalists and determined who would take home the grand prize. Decisive Health earned both the People’s Choice and $25,000 Grand Prize award for their online technology platform designed to enable patients and physicians to make shared treatment decisions. Congratulations to all the finalists and the entire LIVESTRONG Foundation for continuing to drive patient-centered innovation in the fight against cancer.
