LITTLE ROCK (March 11, 2020) 一 HealthTech Arkansas and PwC Singapore will be cooperating to bring HealthTech portfolio companies and supported startups of the PwC Singapore’s Venture Hub to Arkansas to work with the 11 Arkansas healthcare providers participating as part of the HealthTech Arkansas provider coalition.
As part of the cooperation, HealthTech Arkansas will evaluate HealthTech portfolio companies and supported startups of PwC Singapore’s Venture Hub for prospective participation in clinical trials or pilot projects in Arkansas. This effort aligns with HealthTech Arkansas’s mission to identify and bring superior healthcare technologies to Arkansas to benefit the state’s providers.
“Our goal at HealthTech Arkansas is to introduce promising new technologies to our hospitals, which makes our hospitals stronger and increases the quality of care for all Arkansans,” said Jeff Stinson, director of HealthTech Arkansas. “Working with the HealthTech team in PwC Singapore’s Venture Hub opens new opportunities to find the best innovations in healthcare, and also provides the opportunity for international companies to develop relationships with U.S. healthcare providers.”
For PwC, the opportunity to work with an accelerator program that provides deep clinical engagement for its startups is valuable. Dr. Zubin Daruwalla, Health Industries Leader, PwC Singapore said, “We are very excited for this first-of-its-kind cooperation which is specially designed to be beneficial for HealthTech startups and will help to grow the HealthTech capabilities in PwC Singapore’s Venture Hub. This cooperation will not only provide our HealthTech portfolio companies and startups that successfully complete the tailored programmes we run for them with direct access to potential pilot projects and/or clinical trials, but also provides support to bridge the gap between the US and APAC regions. This will enable HealthTech startups to have greater access to the required and experienced support from both a business and clinical perspective.”
In addition to bringing new healthcare innovations to the state, the cooperation with PwC may result in new jobs in Arkansas. By making connections to Arkansas healthcare providers, the participating startup companies build relationships that can require them to hire staff in Arkansas to manage their contracts.
Applications for the core HealthTech Arkansas program are now open, and the 2020 cohort will be selected by June 30. The program is seeking companies in three categories: digital health and software, medical devices, and diagnostic platforms. Each company will receive $75,000 of investment capital and is guaranteed at least two pilot projects with Arkansas healthcare providers. More information about HealthTech Arkansas, including an online application, can be found at HealthTechArkansas.com.
ABOUT HEALTHTECH ARKANSAS
HealthTech Arkansas is a healthcare accelerator and investment fund that connects early-stage healthcare companies with disruptive technologies to Arkansas healthcare providers. Focused on the intersection of technology and healthcare in three categories — digital health (software), connected medical devices, and diagnostic platforms — HealthTech Arkansas is by providers and for providers, seeking technologies that can improve Arkansas providers’ quality of care and increase their efficiency. HealthTech Arkansas is a collaborative effort among 11 healthcare providers — Arkansas Heart Hospital, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Arkansas Urology, Baptist Health, CHI St. Vincent, Conway Regional, Mercy, St. Bernards Healthcare, OrthoArkansas, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), and Washington Regional Medical Center — and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC). Learn more at HealthTechArkansas.com.
ABOUT PwC
At PwC, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. We’re a network of firms in 157 countries with over 276,000 people who are committed to delivering quality in assurance, advisory and tax services.
Our global network of more than 12,900 health industry experts including Health Services and Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences provide assurance, tax and advisory services that are grounded in an unmatched understanding of the entire healthcare system and the dynamics that drive it. We use our unparalleled network of resources to provide strategies that help clients succeed in a competitive and changing market. Within our network, we have a range of expertise across the health continuum, including leading minds in medicine, science, information technology, operations, administration, and health policy.
PwC refers to the PwC network and/or one or more of its member firms, each of which is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details.
For more information, contact
Jeff Stinson
501.766.0633
jeff@healthtecharkansas.com
Natalie Choo
+65 8722 7545
natalie.yl.choo@pwc.com