Global Surgery Slingshot

Global Surgery Slingshot

The Global Surgery Slingshot will convene innovators with solutions to global surgery challenges and provide educational sessions on strategies to make innovative solutions attractive to various investing partners.

Solicitation is now closed

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Do you have an innovation that would make a positive impact on global surgery?  Apply to join a cohort of others attending educational sessions to further your innovation. Sessions are taught by Babson College faculty. Babson College is historically a top ranked school specializing in entrepreneurship, and known for its signature Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® methodology.

There is no cost to participants. This program is sponsored by The Steven C. and Carmella R. Kletjian Foundation.

No Cost to Par­tici­pants!

Join Us!

Faculty members from Babson College (#1 ranked college for entrepreneurship) will be providing 10 virtual sessions starting in January 2024. Join and learn with a small cohort of 20 innovators in the global surgery space. Participate from anywhere in the world. Mentoring sessions will also be provided each month and led by leaders in global surgery. The course will conclude with presentations with a global audience. Come meet others and expand your network. We are here to help and will surround you with the necessary resources to take your idea to market. We are excited to get started—Are you?

Objectives

  • Evaluate the commercial & impact potential of entrepreneurial opportunities, including their go-to-market strategies. 
  • Develop a viable business model fit for scaling the opportunity and attractive to investors and other stakeholders. 
  • Master the fundamentals to drive financial sustainability and social well-being while deploying novel ideas, e.g., via , e.g., tech enabled services, platforms, product/service portfolios
  • Receive feedback from experienced venture leaders and investors
  • Access broader ecosystem of institutional and individual actors addressing global surgery
  • Work with Ministries of Health for district-level implementation of innovations with potential funders

Course Description

The course includes:

  • A series of ten 90-minute virtual sessions with customized convening materials
  • Participant networking and coaching opportunities
  • A final presentation session with external guests
  • Free sessions and materials for those selected to participate
  • Course certificate will be issued upon completion of the course

Potential Participants

  • Country representatives with National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anesthesia Plans (NSOAPs)  seeking to expand surgical care in innovative ways
  • Medical and research professionals with global surgery-related innovations
    • Devices
    • Tech enabled services
    • Topics where there is opportunity and demand (e.g., supply chain for laparoscopic surgery)
    • Infrastructural services: internet/cable, water, power, waste management
  • Early-stage ventures with global surgery technology or service or more established that are newly considering emerging market adaptation
Schedule
October 3, 2023 Application opens
November 9, 2023 Open House Information Session (virtual)
November 20, 2023 Applications due date
December 11, 2023 Applicants notified of status
January 10–May 15, 2024 Cohort meets virtually every two weeks
May 2024 (TBA) Final presentations at G4 Alliance Summit (virtual)

Session Topics Include

Surgical care ecosystem mapping-Public and Private Partners, Social Impact Analysis, Business Model Design for Attracting Public and Private Funding, and Pitching and Storytelling

All sessions will be virtual from 8–9:30 am ET. Sessions will be recorded and available for later viewing.

For more information, please contact us at GSslingshot@babson.edu.

Program Facilitators

Wiljeana Jackson Glover, Founding Faculty Director

Wiljeana Jackson Glover

Faculty Co-director

Sinan Erzurumlu

Sinan Erzurumlu

Faculty Co-director

Alia Crocker

Faculty Instructor

Phillip Kim, Professor, Lewis Family Distinguished Professor in Social Innovation

Phil Kim

Faculty Instructor

Ellie Kyung

Ellie Kyung

Faculty Instructor

Kim Sawyer

Kim Sawyer

Faculty Instructor

Andrew Zacharakis, Professor, John H. Muller, Jr. Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies, Entrepreneurship Division

Andrew Zacharakis

Faculty Instructor

Dheera Ananthakrishnan, MD

Dheera Ananthakrishnan, MD

Organizing Committee Member and Judge

Mack Cheney, MD

Mack Cheney, MD

Organizing Committee Member and Judge

Tonja Danowski

Tonja Danowski ’09, MBA

Organizing Committee Member and Judge

Salim Afshar, MD, DMD, FACS

Salim Afshar, MD, DMD, FACS

Mentor and Judge

Devang Parikh

Devang Parikh, MS, MBA

Mentor and Judge

Gauri Singh, Lifebox

Gauri Singh

Mentor and Judge

David Tswamuno

David Tswamuno

Mentor and Judge

Michele Bernier, Associate Director, Programs

Michele Bernier, MBA

Program Manager

Why Babson College?

Babson College has long been pioneers in entrepreneurship and business education, consistently ranking as the top college in the United States for entrepreneurship at the undergraduate and MBA levels. Babson College is a leader across all of higher education as evidenced by the Wall Street Journal ranking Babson College as the number ten college in the country.

Where does the program take place?

All sessions will be virtual. Each session will be recorded for later viewing.

Is there a cost for the program?

There is no cost for the program. The course time and materials are free.

What is needed for the program?

You will need access to Wi-Fi. You will need dedicated time for the course sessions (90 minutes from 8-9:30 am EST every other week starting on January 10 and going to May 15, 2023). You will also need dedicated time outside of the session time to work on assignments and applying the content to your innovation.

What language will be used for the course?

The course and all materials will be presented in English.

Will I forfeit any Intellectual Property (IP) rights by participating in this program?

No. We will not gain any IP from your innovation. The program is free with no financial obligations or forfeiting of IP. If at a university, please check with your institution technology transfer/IP/commercialization office before applying. Inquire about the rules for your institution.

Will there be networking opportunities in this program?

Yes. You will network with your cohort and with mentees. If there are specific requests/needs, we will leverage our networks to find a connection.

Should I include confidential information in my application?

No. Do not include confidential information in the application. 

Do I need a finished product/solution?

No.

Do I need to already have a team in place to work on the innovative solution?

No.

If a venture is getting some traction and funding to operate in a developed country but is now interested in expanding to global/underserved markets, would that be an applicable innovation to participate in this program?

Yes, if the mission is affordability for underserved global markets, or if you currently have a partner in an underserved area and struggle to gain traction. If the price is high with no plans to reduce costs, then we would ask for a demonstration of cost reduction.

Can I apply individually? Or as a group?

You may apply individually or as a group. If applying as a group, there is less likelihood of the whole group being accepted into the program.

Have another question not listed here?

Contact us at GSSlingshot@babson.edu.