IBX Game Changers Challenge

Enhancing health and wellness through innovation

Do you have a great idea that would help improve the health and wellness of the Philadelphia region? Then enter it in the IBX Game Changers Challenge, and you could win $50,000 towards making your idea a reality!

Independence Blue Cross (IBX) is teaming up with Wharton Entrepreneurial Programs, the Department of Public Health of the City of Philadelphia, VentureF0rth, and ?What If! Innovation Partners to launch the IBX Game Changers Challenge. The Challenge seeks to harness the creative energies of our community by soliciting proposals that can impact wellness indicators and improve our region’s health.

What you can do: Citizens, students, health professionals, and caregivers are invited to submit high-impact proposals that can improve the overall health and wellness of Philadelphia and the surrounding region. We’re looking for new companies, applications, technology, products, programs, or services that promote health and wellness.

Why? Philadelphia Needs to Shape Up!

A recent study published by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranked Philadelphia last of 67 Pennsylvania counties in matters related to health. Men’s Health and Women’s Health magazines ranked Philadelphia at the bottom of its 2012 lists of the 100 healthiest cities across America (Philadelphia came in 98th for men, 97th for women). If you have an idea to help improve health and wellness in our region, enter the Challenge. Your idea could help change the game for the Philadelphia region.

Take the Challenge

To enter your idea, apply online. The call for entries will be open until Tuesday July 10, 2012, and a select group of finalists will be asked to present their ideas to a panel of judges. Up to three winners will be chosen, and each will receive a cash grant of $50,000, mentoring support, and access to a network of health care decision-makers to help implement their winning idea.

Challenge Timeline*

• Friday, June 1, 2012: The Challenge begins and entries will be accepted.
• Tuesday, July 10, 2012: Deadline for online entry submission through the website is 5 p.m. EST.
• Monday, July 16, 2012: Announcement of finalists. Finalists will be notified by email and posted on this website.
• Tuesday, July 24, 2012: In-person presentation by finalists. Finalists will be invited to make a 10-minute presentation of their proposal, followed by five minutes of Q&A, to the panel of judges in Philadelphia.
• Week of July 30, 2012: Announcement of winners.

*IBX reserves the right to alter this timeline as the Challenge progresses. Please continue to check back.