Wayra, Telefónica's leading open innovation program, Pfizer, and the Pfizer Foundation are joining forces to launch the 5th edition of Innomakers4Health, a program where innovation and technology address the challenges of the healthcare sector to create prototypes that improve the population's quality of life.
Only 100 candidates will be selected to join Innomakers4Health, which will be held on December 1st and 2nd at the Telefónica Foundation's Campus42 Madrid. Participants will develop their proposals in groups of six, with the support of top professionals from Wayra, Pfizer, and the Pfizer Foundation. The profiles sought for this call for applications are: students, professionals with or without experience, entrepreneurs or startups with an interest in the healthcare sector, with STEAM skills and knowledge of current disruptive technologies. We are also looking for people with a background in social sciences and knowledge of market analysis and strategic planning. Candidates can register at the following link: https://bit.ly/Innomakers4healthHackathon2023 from today until November 17. To ensure all participants start from the same point, the specific challenge to be addressed in this edition will be announced at the event itself, but the central theme will be the use of technology for the control of cardiovascular diseases. “For Wayra, it is a source of pride to join Pfizer and the Pfizer Foundation in this exciting challenge to find disruptive solutions in a collaborative environment where the latest technologies can be used in a key sector of our society, such as healthcare. Furthermore, we offer young people the opportunity to become entrepreneurs by giving them the chance to develop their projects in a cooperative, inclusive, and creative environment,” says Andrés Saborido, CEO of Wayra Global. For his part, Sergio Rodríguez, president of the Pfizer Foundation, points out that “Innomakers4Health has become a benchmark event for the healthcare entrepreneurship community. With this program, we want to promote innovation and creativity in our sector, as well as showcase the innovative talent we have in Spain, giving young people the opportunity to develop their ideas for the benefit of patients.” The top three finishers will share a prize worth €6,000, and the winner will have the opportunity to accelerate their project at Innomakers LAB, Pfizer's hub, together with Wayra, which in turn will provide access to a 6-month mentoring program; the possibility of workspace in its Madrid hub; access to Telefónica's multiple business units; and the opportunity to be invested by Wayra in the future.
About Wayra
Since 2011, Wayra has been Telefónica's main program connecting it with the entrepreneurial ecosystem around the world. It has seven locations covering nine countries in Latin America and Europe, through which it invests in and supports startups. Wayra invests in startups with the potential to generate business with Telefónica, ready to scale, preferably in one of the following sectors: Entertainment (Gaming and Video), IoT, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, eHealth, Fintech, Energy, Metaverse, and Web3. Wayra always invests alongside other VCs in founder-controlled startups with a ticket of up to €350k.
Since 2022, we have been managing capital for Telefónica Group companies through Vivo Ventures and Íope Ventures.
In these eleven years, Wayra has invested €68M in 870 startups and currently has more than 400 startups in its portfolio, of which more than 170 work with Telefónica.
More information available at www.wayra.es
About the Pfizer Foundation
The Pfizer Foundation has been committed for more than 20 years to promoting science, technology, and innovation and bringing them closer to society. To this end, it has reinforced its strategic commitment to scientific and technological innovation by building bridges between research activity and society, with the aim of translating scientific advances into practical applications for the benefit of people. For more information: www.fundacionpfizer.org
About Pfizer, innovations that change patients' lives®
Pfizer, as a biomedical company working to improve people's health, is dedicated to developing innovative therapies and vaccines to cure and prevent diseases or alleviate their symptoms. With a history of more than 170 years, Pfizer maintains its commitment to society and invests in R&D to meet the medical needs of today and tomorrow. The advancement of science and technology, as well as its medical application, requires collaboration with all stakeholders to maximize the portfolio of medicines and ensure that pharmaceutical innovation reaches all those who need it quickly, affordably, reliably, and transparently, in accordance with the highest standards of quality and safety. For more information www.pfizer.es