Innov8 Talks - Driving innovation in healthcare - Arab Health

Innov8 Startup Competition

The healthcare competition "Pioneering the Next Era". Visionary startups from around the world pitch innovative ideas to a panel of esteemed judges. 

27 - 30 Jan 2025

Dubai World Trade Centre

What is Innov8?

At Innov8 we're accelerating healthcare entrepreneurship. Exciting startups from around the globe will pitch innovative concepts to a panel of judges with a wealth of industry knowledge and expertise. We're giving you the stage to showcase your healthcare game-changer.

With a focus on forward-looking technologies, from AI to biotech, the competition highlights the trailblazers who will redefine the industry in the coming decades. The winner will not only gain recognition but also take home a grand prize of USD 10,000.

Enter Innov8
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How does Innov8 work?

Competition format

  • The top 24 startups from all entries will be shortlisted.
  • Startups will be divided into three groups of eight.
  • Groups will compete across three days.
  • Each startup has 4 minutes to pitch and 5 minutes of Q&A with the judges.
  • The top 2 finalists from each group will compete in the finale on Day 4.
  • The winner will be announced on Day 4. 

Innovation criteria

  • Artificial Intelligence 
  • Generative AI
  • Metaverse  
  • AR & VR
  • Screening & Diagnostics
  • Disease management
  • Drug discovery
  • Healthcare data management 
  • Good health and well-being

Terms and conditions

  • The competition is free to enter, however, you are responsible for your own flight and accommodation to attend the event.
  • You will be contacted directly if your application is accepted.
  • Please share as much information as possible about your company/product/idea in order to be considered.

Don't miss the deadline to apply!

27 December, 2024 

The prizes

The winner of Innov8 Talks 2025, will not only get the recognition and the once in a lifetime opportunity to present their innovation to the international healthcare community but will also receive:

1st prize

US $10,000

Complimentary smart-up pod at Arab Health 2026

2nd prize

Recognition award

3rd prize

Recognition award

Meet the 2024 Judging Panel

Triska Hamid

Editorial Director,
Wamda, Dubai, UAE 

Sam Amory

Managing  Director, Middle East and Africa, Dedalus, Dubai, UAE

Reenita Das

Top 100 women in Healthtech and Femtech, Partner, Senior Vice President, Frost & Sullivan, Dubai, UAE 

Barbara Baumgartner

Investment Committee, Mindshift
Capital, Dubai, UAE 

Swethal Kumar

Former Mubadala &
 Hub71, Founder & CEO, Startupscale360, Dubai, UAE 

Dr Sarper Tanli

Managing Director, Mass
General Brigham’s, Dubai, UAE 

Yatin K Thakur

Chairman – Asia, Global
  Entrepreneurship Network, Founder & Managing Partner, Asiarath,
Dubai, UAE 

Abe Seksek

CEO, Rainmaking /
Startupbootcamp MENA and Africa, Dubai, UAE 

Hadi Saeed

Alshakhori

Founder, H2Solutions, Program Manager, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of
Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, KSA 

Dr Harry

C Sax

Professor and Executive Vice Chair of Surgery and Associate Dean for International Academic Programs, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, USA 

Dr Mussaad M.

Al-Razouki

Operating Partner, Deerfield
Management, New York, USA 

Faisal Belhoul, “Shark Tank Dubai”

Vice Chairman, Dubai
Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Founder and Chairman, Ithmar
Capital Partners, Dubai, UAE 

Dr Sadyk Gusniev

MD, MBA, HealthTech Expert and Researcher, Dubai, UAE

Sacha Haider

Partner,
Global Ventures, Dubai, UAE

Dr Tamara Sunbul

Medical Director of Clinical Informatics, John Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, KSA

Bader Khraibut

Senior  Consultant, Strategy& Middle East, Dubai, UAE

Dr Susan Amat

Director of Entrepreneurship Initiatives, Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), Founder & CEO, Venture Hive, Miami, USA

Elsa Hyland

Angel Investor (ex VC), Start-up Advisor, Mentor, Sweden

Lina Shadid

Healthcare Lead Partner, PWC Middle East, Dubai, UAE 

Nina Tandon

Co-founder & CEO, EpiBone, Inc,
New York, USA 

Investor Networking Lounge - Innov8


Engage in a series of purpose-driven and time-efficient 10-minute discussions with potential investors, gaining valuable insights to enhance your start-up and possibly increase the chances of securing funding.

The competition will run in person during Arab Health 2025, 27-30 Jan

How does this work?

The selected start-ups for the Innov8 Competition will receive access to this investor networking lounge

Investors will hand-select start-ups with the right fit and the GEN Accelerates and Arab Health team will help facilitate 1-1 meetings

The investor networking lounge will be held across 3 days from
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM