ProjectLift, a healthcare and technology seed and access acceleration program founded and managed by the partners of Chattanooga-based Lift1428, will be hosting a discussion around healthcare innovation in conjunction Chattanooga State Technical Community College on Sept. 27 in the Berry Auditorium of the Health Science Building on the school’s campus.
ProjectLift supports targeted startup communities with seed capital and acceleration programing for businesses focused at the intersection of healthcare and technology. The program provides entrepreneurs, innovators, and early stage companies with funding, guidance, access, and the tactile advice that healthcare entrepreneurs crave during the crucial early stages of business formation.
ProjectLift is exploring the option of funding one of their programs in Chattanooga – potentially housed in the Health Sciences Building at Chattanooga State. Chattanooga State leaders have shown interest in working with the Chattanooga-based healthcare strategy company and want to explore the possibility of starting a health science/technology accelerator on the school's campus and in the community, officials said.
“The city of Chattanooga has tremendous potential to become a national leader in the development of healthcare technology companies,” explained David McDonald, cofounder and CEO of Lift1428 and cofounder of ProjecLift. “Working with Chattanooga State, we are hoping to start a conversation centered on intersection of healthcare and tech, seeking out opportunities to encourage local entrepreneurs and to establish a foundation for the development of a health-tech hub in the city.”
A goal of the ProjectLift program is to bring together student innovators, faculty, healthcare leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and businesses from within the local (and global) communities who share an interest in healthcare technology, as well as to highlight emerging healthcare businesses and innovations. Such a program at Chattanooga State will also seek to create excitement, networking, intellectual bandwidth, and support for early-stage companies while inspiring and educating our community to embrace and support a vision of better health—all while building businesses and jobs in the community.
“Our city already has significant entrepreneurial momentum, and we want to help provide clarity for entrepreneurs in the health-tech space,” said J. Kevin Tugman, cofounder and chief creative at Lift1428 and cofounder of ProjectLift. “We are in the early stages of our discussion around this topic and, as we plan the launch, we would like the input of the relevant community. It is our hope that representatives from all levels of the community will join us as we start the conversation around Chattanooga’s health-tech hub.”
To register for the event, visit plchattstate14.eventbrite.com. For additional information, contact Adam Haskew at adam@lift1428.com.