IMAGINE IF! accelerator for life sciences and healthtech ventures

 

Overview

Benefits

  • Non-dilutive cash prizes: up to $20k
  • Community: build relationships with other founders, mentors and investors
  • A three-month core & executive programme: expertly curated resources and workshops, 1:1 mentoring and life-long support to accelerate your venture
  • 6 months of free laboratory space
  • Partners: Additional support from our expert partners for free/discounted price

Free Core Program overview (3 months)

Virtual workshops and events
We give founders the tools they need to succeed. For 1-2 hours/week, the programme covers market access, intellectual property, marketing & branding, fundraising and pitching etc.

Mentorship
Each start-up is matched with at least 1 expert mentor who provides 1:1 support and advice

Founders’ stories
We invite successful founders to share their no-frills stories and experiences

Local Finals
Teams will battle it out in the local pitching finals to gain a spot in the executive programme


Free Executive Programme overview (3 months)

1:1 surgery
We work closely with the finalists to understand their needs and provide tailored support

Connections
We make introductions and help the finalists build relationships with potential clients,  business angels, VCs, hospitals and other organizations

Executive coaching
Finalists get to work with the best in the game to get strategic advice and support

Demo Day
Demo Day marks the end of the programme where the finalists showcase their progress by pitching their start-ups to an audience of investors, mentors, partners and supporters


Cost: FREE (no fees and no equity)

 

Applications for IMAGINE IF! 2022 are closed

 

IMAGINE IF! Stats

 

 

Why apply?

No need to consume the same content over and over

We curate top resources so you can learn from the best, in your own time.

No more generic advice and huge cohorts

Generic advice feels great. But it’s not actionable, nor specific enough.
We’ll stress test your startup like never before.
Weekly sprints on key topics, AMAs, office hours, mentoring and assignments will make your project 10x stronger.

You won’t be a lottery ticket

Because of our 100% free program (no fees and no equity), we support every founder in our program.
Taking your company to the next level in a smart way will help you attract top talent and capital.

 

 

Mentors

View all mentors

About

“A great accelerator for aspiring startup founders to meet other aspiring founders and profit from a wide array of workshops and coaching to bring your startup to the next level!”

  

   Luca Perin
   CFO, FraterSwiss and IMAGINE IF! 2021 alumnus

 

“As a first-time founder and CEO, my involvement with IMAGINE IF! has been instrumental in gaining the knowledge and experience I needed to help get my venture up and running. Through expert mentorship, an extensive network, constructive feedback, and the opportunity to pitch on the international stage, this competition has contributed immensely to my entrepreneurial journey”

 

   Dr Isaac Johnson
   CEO, Verinnogen and IMAGINE IF! 2021 alumnus

 

As healthcare science start-ups stem from a broad spectrum of scientific and technological fields, they are not always easily categorized.
Therefore, we encourage applications from all projects that have a significant impact on improving human health and well-being or that have a clear healthcare application.

Note that our Lausanne branch is also running a parallel Cleantech programme.

Any questions? 
Get in touch at [email protected] 

IMAGINE IF! Diagram

 


Structure

Phase I
Application
Application deadline: 9th Mar 2022

Applications to join the IMAGINE IF! 2022 program are open and candidates should apply online before the 9th Mar 2022.

You will need to select your closest Innovation Forum branch during the online application (i.e. Cambridge, Oxford, London, Manchester, Barcelona, Lausanne, Hong Kong, or our global pool).

Application process

  • Stage 1: written application, including a 90-second short video submission 
  • Stage 2: A selection of startups will be invited for an interview 
  • Final admission into the program
 
 
Phase II
Core Programme & local finals
March - June 2022

The top teams per branch will be selected to participate in a 12-week virtual Core Programme that consists of one-to-one mentorship, expert speakers-led interactive workshops and free professional services. You will be working alongside other elite start-up founder peers around the globe virtually supported by the Innovation Forum teams. 

The highly structured programme is designed as a series of weekly sprints, each of them with a different topic or theme to give founders the tools, advice and hands-on experience they need.

Some of the sprints include:

  • Market access
  • Regulatory Affairs
  • Intellectual Property
  • Law & finance
  • Product development
  • Marketing & branding
  • Building a team
  • Storytelling & pitching investors
  • … and many more!

Sprints are also associated with milestones to help founders build a strong proposition to attract potential partners, early employees and investors.

The Core Programme ends with the local finals held in June/July by each individual branch, in which startups will pitch in front of a jury of serial entrepreneurs and investors for a spot in the next phase of the programme.

Phase III
Executive Programme & global finals
July – Oct 2022

Winners of the local branches will compete in the second phase of the accelerator programme.

The finalists will have the opportunity to benefit from mentoring & coaching, one-to-one clinics sessions and an executive curriculum through our partnerships with leading academic and industry experts.

The Executive Programme culminates with a Demo Day when the finalists will present their startups and progress in front of a panel of investors and partners within our global network. The winner of the competition will take away a non-dilutive cash prize amongst other benefits.

If you’re curious, have a look at the Invest in Innovation conference, which also hosted the 2021 IMAGINE IF! global finals.

 
 

THE ACCELERATOR FOR DEEP TECHNOLOGY

Apply now!

Sponsors

Gold

Bronze

Request sponsorship opportunities package

Become a sponsor
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best tailored experience on our website based on your preferences. By continuing to use our services, you are giving us your consent to use cookies. Learn more here.