27 Jan 2025 Applications open for eighth year of Healthcare Innovation Sprint
CONWAY — Conductor, BioVentures, Arkansas INBRE, and UAMS are proud to announce the eighth annual Healthcare Innovation Sprint, an immersive 4-day program designed to empower undergraduate and graduate students from across Arkansas to innovate and problem solve. The event will take place May 19–22, 2025 in Conway, Arkansas.
“This has been a flagship program for the Conductor for many years. Special thanks to our partners at UCA, Conway Regional Health System, Arkansas INBRE and BioVentures for helping to make the Healthcare Innovation Sprint happen.”, said Jeff Standridge, Managing Director at Conductor.
The program immerses students in an entrepreneurial journey, equipping them with tools to:
- Identify healthcare challenges
- Engage with key stakeholders and customers
- Develop innovative solutions
- Build and pitch viable ventures
Over four days, participants work alongside over 70 industry experts, healthcare professionals, and veteran entrepreneurs to solve real-world problems. Dr. John Sherrill who has been a mentor for the Sprint said, “The Healthcare Innovation Sprint is such a fun, hands-on way to dive into real-world entrepreneurial problem-solving. You’ll work side by side with healthcare professionals, gaining business insights that mirror the same skills we teach in medical innovation courses in med school. If you’re looking to learn how to turn healthcare challenges into creative solutions, you really can’t beat this crash course!”
In 2024, 19 students collaborated with experts to tackle critical healthcare issues. The winning team of 2024 introduced ‘SwiftScan,’ an innovative predictive model addressing the high cost and inefficiency of workforce back pain treatment by streamlining care, reducing costs, improving recovery, and enhancing provider efficiency.
A 2024 participant reflected, “The Healthcare Innovation Sprint was a game changer for me! I met with so many incredible healthcare leaders in Central Arkansas and gained a ton of knowledge and confidence. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the future of healthcare!”
The impact of the Sprint extends beyond the program:
- A Harding University team competed and won the 2023 Arkansas Governor’s Cup.
- Five alumni have since launched healthcare startups in Arkansas.
- Another alumni team advanced to the Regional I-Corps program in Austin, Texas.
The cost of lodging, meals, and program participation is fully covered for selected students, thanks to support from Arkansas INBRE, BioVentures, and the Conductor. The program welcomes students from a wide range of majors and backgrounds. To qualify, applicants must have completed at least their sophomore year of college and must be enrolled at an Arkansas college or university. Space permitting, highly qualified recent graduates as well as graduate and doctoral students may also be considered for participation.
The program concludes with a Demo Day on May 22, 2025, at 5 pm, held at the Arnold Innovation Center. The public is invited to attend in person or virtually as teams present their venture ideas.
The application period begins on January 27, 2025, and candidates may find more information and apply at arconductor.org/sprint. The early consideration deadline for the Camp is March 27, 2025. All other applications are due by April 25, 2025.
To learn more and apply, visit https://arconductor.org/sprint/.
