The Sandbox Challenge Program is designed to find and accelerate digital health solutions that address key health care challenges in Massachusetts. The program is funded and administered by the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.
Each Challenge begins with a call for applications. Companies from across the U.S. are encouraged to apply, with the goal of 50% of selected companies having a presence in Massachusetts. Selected entrepreneurs participate in Mass Digital Health Connects, a three-month series of interactive, virtual workshops designed to introduce participating companies to the Massachusetts digital health ecosystem. During the program, participants are also assessed on their testing and validation needs and then matched with members of the MA Digital Health Sandbox Network, a group of cutting-edge research and development organizations supporting digital health companies.
Challenges culminate in judged competitions where participants pitch both their product and their proposed sandbox project. Judges select winners to each receive grants paid directly to the sandbox to complete their testing and validation projects. The grants can typically cover user experience testing, access to cutting edge lab facilities and subject matter experts or a small pilot in a health care setting. Read about previous projects funded through the Sandbox Program here.
Challenge 4: Primary Care Innovation
The Primary Care Innovation Challenge focuses on digital health innovations that address urgent issues in primary care, specifically in the areas of administrative burden, workforce burnout and patient access. Challenge finalists will compete for $300,000 in grant funding to support validation projects with MeHI’s Digital Health Sandboxes.
Applications are now closed. Learn more about the Primary Care Innovation Challenge here.
Challenge 3: Advancing Health Equity in Massachusetts (AHEM)
This Challenge is divided into four tracks, all aimed at meeting the AHEM Initiative’s goals of eliminating racial, economic and regional disparities in health outcomes. Digital health startups can apply for one of the four tracks:
- AI for Health Equity;
- Addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) for Cardiometabolic Diseases;
- Maternal and Infant Health;
- Medicaid Pilot Track (MPT).
Challenge finalists in the AI for Health Equity, SDOH for Cardiometabolic Diseases and Maternal and Infant Health tracks will compete for a total of $150,000 in grant funding that must be used to fund validation projects at one of MeHI's Digital Health Sandboxes. Finalists in the Medicaid Pilot track will compete for the opportunity to pilot their solution with members of Community Care Cooperative (C3), an Accountable Care Organization operating in Massachusetts. The pilot will be designed and executed by UMass Chan Medical School, one of MeHI’s Digital Health Sandboxes, and is valued at $100,000.
Learn more about the AHEM Challenge and the 12 finalists here.
Challenge 2 - Women’s Health
The Women’s Health Challenge sought startups and entrepreneurs who are developing and validating digital health solutions that support Women+ Health. Learn more about the Women’s Health Challenge and the winners here.
Challenge 1- Healthy Aging
The Healthy Aging Challenge sought startups that are developing solutions that improve the lives of older adults and help them remain active, productive, independent and socially connected. Learn more about the focus of the Healthy Aging Challenge and the four winners here.