LaunchPad
This year’s LaunchPad competition was held during the ACRM Annual Conference — the largest interdisciplinary rehabilitation research conference in the world.
CONGRATULATIONS 2022 ACRM Launchpad Winners
A special THANK YOU to our 2022 LaunchPad Judges
A Rehabilitation Technology Innovation Competition
Developed by the ACRM Technology Networking Group
What is it?
The ACRM Technology Networking Group is pleased to present 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.
2022 Contestants
- Information forthcoming. Call for Proposals in process until 13 May.
How it Works
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 13 May. 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 >>
Accepted Competitors receive 20% DISCOUNT off the Registration Rates for the Annual Conference.
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 ACRM Annual Conference.
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
- Accepted Competitors receive 20% DISCOUNT off the Registration Rates for the Annual Conference
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 2023 Annual Conference EXPO, including 1 exhibitor registrations to attend Core Conference programming ($4,499 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 2023 Annual Conference EXPO.4
Questions or Referrals?
Email Megan Mitchell, PhD or Submit them via the form below.