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Start Up Pitch-fest Application

The Healthcare 2040 Expo Pitch-fest, in partnership with Australian Healthcare Week, UNSW Founders, Friends of Sheba and AstraZeneca, offers early-stage start-ups a unique platform to raise profile and build networks with a diverse group of healthcare executives, clinicians, technology players, VCs and accelerators.

This year’s Pitch-fest will focus on digital health solutions that solve problems for health and aged care service providers. Categories are: 

Women’s Health
Improving Clinician Experience
Improving Consumer Experience
Evolving Models of Care

Our judging panel will select four applicants to pitch in front of a live audience on Wednesday 11th & Thursday 12th March. 

Selected start-ups will deliver a 5-minute pitch followed by 10 minutes of Q&A with the judging panel around the business model, value proposition and more.

What’s In It for You :

The winning start-up will: 

1. Be crowned “Start-Up of the Year”  

2.Get complimentary access to AstraZeneca’s A.Catalyst Network – a mentorship program connecting start-ups to AstraZeneca’s worldwide network and providing access to mentors, resources and support, as well as opportunities to learn and up-skill your capabilities. 

3.Receive a complimentary stand at the 2027 event – to help your start-up stand out and build your brand and awareness with senior health decision makers! 

4. Dedicated social, email & web promotion via Australian Healthcare Week & Healthcare 2040 Expo channels to increase exposure.

Please Note: Finalists must be available to pitch to our audience live and in-person in Sydney on Wednesday 11th & Thursday 12th March, 2026. Applications close Friday 30th January, 2026. 
1.Full Name
2.Company Name
3.Your Position
4.Email address
5.Phone Number
6.Please confirm your organisation complies with the below criteria:
- Company is not older than 6 years
- Has secured less than $200,000 in Seed/VC/Angel Funding
- No more than 25 FTE
- Is not a subsidiary of a multinational/corporate enterprise
- Has lesser than $2 million in annual revenue
7.Link to your website
8.Company Address
9.Year Founded
10.Number of team members
11.Which Pitch Category are you apply for?
12.How much funding have you received total?
13.Is anyone currently paying for your product?
14.What are your company goals over the next 6 months?
15.Problem Statement
16.Who are your competitors in the market?
17.Please describe your solution and it's use-case
18.Is anyone currently using your product?
19.What does the competitive landscape look like and what are your key differentiators?
20.What evidence is there of the market need of your solution?
21.What is your business model?
22.Please give us a short, 50 word summary of your pitch
23.Please tell us what you are hoping to gain from pitching?
24.Which key metrics best demonstrate your impact (e.g. reduction in hospital stays, improved workflow efficiency, cost savings, clinician time freed, or patient outcomes etc.)
25.How implementation-ready is your solution within a healthcare or hospital environment?
26.What level of clinical validation or real-world evidence supports your solution (e.g. pilot results, peer-reviewed data, hospital partnerships etc.)
27.Do you have a female founder?
28.Do you have a female CEO or MD?