Global
Site
Site
I. GENERAL
II. APPLYING
III. THE PROGRAMME (LOCAL)
IV. THE PROGRAMME (GLOBAL)
GENERAL
Q: DO I HAVE TO SHARE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT MY IDEA?
No. At no stage during our programme will you be required to divulge information regarding your IP. We may ask for proof of your Intellectual Property status; this does not relate to the content of your idea.
Q: “WHAT ARE LIFE SCIENCES AND HEALTHTECH VENTURES?”
We define “life sciences and healthtech ventures” as any businesses that are based on scientific discoveries, use technology and/or data to create products or services that aim to improve human or animal healthcare and wellbeing.
APPLYING
Probably! Teams should apply together through our registration process. An eligible IMAGINE IF! team is composed of between two and seven members that have together raised less than $300,000 USD (or the equivalent in local currency) in dilutive funding for the project or company that is submitted to the IMAGINE IF! accelerator.
You are eligible! We don’t set a lower limit on age or tertiary qualifications. Importantly you must be able to speak in technical terms about your scientific idea.
You are eligible! We don’t set an upper limit on years of employment either. Strong teams often include professionals with commercial experience as well.
Q: WHAT IF I AM NOT A SCIENTIST?
You are eligible! Any profile with business/finance/legal or any other background that complements scientific expertise is welcome to apply.
Q: CAN I APPLY AS AN INDIVIDUAL?
No, we ask you to submit as a minimum team of two people. Please only submit one application where you’ll be asked to share information about every team member.
Q: WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE A TEAM YET BUT WANT TO APPLY?
Networking events will be available virtually as well as across our local branches. We will actively connect keen individuals that enquire directly to the branch closest to you www.inno-forum.org/branches/
All applications (local branch and independent stream) are processed through our program webpage:
https://inno-forum.org/accelerator/
Q: CAN I EDIT MY APPLICATION ONCE SUBMITTED?
Yes. You will be able to edit the content of your application until the local / global pool deadline, after which we will assess your team’s eligibility.
For example, after submitting an initial application with a team of two people, you get to resubmit a new final application in case you’ve expanded your team or refined your idea before the deadline.
Q: CAN I APPLY FOR A LOCAL PHASE EVEN FROM A CITY WITHOUT A BRANCH?
Yes! The accelerator is a remote-first program. This means that all the value will be delivered virtually, including events, workshops, mentoring and pitching.
Of course, you’ll also be invited to any in-person events, both locally and globally and we look forward to meeting you in person at some point.
Q: WHEN IS THE APPLICATION DEADLINE?
The application deadline for the next round of IMAGINE IF! will be announced shortly.
THE PROGRAMME (LOCAL)
Q: HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE LOCAL WINNERS?
A qualified panel of experts will be selected to receive all applications and judge the local final pitches on the day. These experts will be drawn from the local community of venture capital firms, tech transfer officers, entrepreneurs, academics and business leaders.
Q: HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU SELECT FOR THE GLOBAL PHASE?
The winners of the local competitions qualify to the global phase automatically. Runner-ups from each branch, as well as external applicants, compete for the remaining spots in the global Top 15.
Q: HOW DO I DEVELOP MY IDEA?
We have a pool of mentors ready to provide expert advice on all aspects required for the development of your company/idea on progression through the local and global part of the programme.
THE PROGRAMME (GLOBAL)
Q: WHERE AND WHEN DO THE GLOBAL FINALS TAKE PLACE?
The global finals are going to take place during the 2022 Invest in Innovation conference, organised by Innovation Forum in the fall of 2022.
Q: WHO WILL I PITCH TO AT THE GLOBAL FINAL?
We have sourced across our network international business leaders (e.g. serial entrepreneurs, CEOs of international blue-chip companies and leading venture capitalists) to judge your final pitch.
The winner and all its representatives agree to use any funds provided by the Innovation Forum solely to cover the company’s expenses related to the project which won the IMAGINE IF! Competition (in either the local or global finals). The funds provided by the Innovation Forum cannot be used to pay salaries or other fees paid directly to founders or team members. Upon request from the Innovation Forum, the winner should provide evidence of the use of the funds such as copies of receipts and invoices and failure to do so within 20 working days will render the Winner liable to repay the prize in full within 30 working days. Founders agree jointly and severally to return to the Innovation Forum all funds which by the end of the agreement period have not been used for the agreed purposes.