Events / HealthTech Hack

Overview

A sprint for turning impactful ideas into newly-funded ventures

​Join us for GiveBackHack’s HealthTech Hack—a weekend of building new healthcare-focused ventures from 0 to 0.1.

1. ​Pitch your idea

2. ​Form teams

3. ​Start building (with help from us!)

4. ​Win up to $5K to drive your venture forward

​All tickets are pay-what-you-can, $15 suggested, $5 minimum. These include four meals and helps us keep the event open to everyone. Don’t hesitate to chat with us if price is an issue.

​GiveBackHack is generously supported by The Columbus Foundation.

​Building with AI

​We encourage the thoughtful use of AI tools (such as Claude Code, Loveable, and ChatGPT) to aid in the product development process. Technical attendees are welcome to use additional tools as they’d like. For those not yet familiar with using AI tools, we’ll provide guidance on using them to assist (and not replace) you with research and prototyping.

​GiveBackHack has been your launchpad for social innovation since 2014. We host community events and workshops for founders building impactful technology.

​Questions? Talk to us.

FAQs

Do all ideas have a chance at getting funded?

​Not all ideas will move forward after initial pitches on Saturday. Once pitches are complete, we’ll vote for top ideas and form teams around the 4 – 7 ideas with the most votes. You must recruit at least three total team members (including the founder(s)) to move forward and have a chance at getting funded on Sunday. If your idea doesn’t move forward, you can join another team!

​Do I have to submit my idea online prior to the event?

​Unlike previous years, we don’t have the option to submit your idea online prior to the event. Instead, everyone will be going through a brainstorming exercise on Saturday that’ll help you prepare for your initial pitch.

​Will we be working for 24 hours straight?

​Nope. The event is split over two days. You’ll be building on Saturday and pitching on Sunday.

​Do I have to pitch an idea?

​Nope. You can pitch your own idea or join a team.

​What types of entrepreneurs does GBH support?

​While GBH most often works with technology startups, we support any organization (for- or non-profit) that incorporates non-negotiable social impact. Read more about types of social entrepreneurs here.

Schedule

Sat, Feb 21

9:30a

Doors open

10a

Ideation session

11a

Pitches and team formation

12p

Working lunch

2p

Mentor visits

6p

Free work (optional)

9p

Doors close

Sun, Feb 22

10a

Doors open

11a

Mentor visits

12p

Showcase

1p

Final pitches and awards

2p

Wrap

Judges & Mentors

The list of mentors and judges will be added soon!

Sign up for our mailing list in the footer below to stay in-the-loop.

Event Sponsors

Lead Sustaining Sponsor

The Columbus Foundation is dedicated to strengthening and enriching the Central Ohio community through impactful philanthropy and community-driven solutions. Guided by our core values of innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity, we are committed to supporting initiatives that create lasting change. Our investment in social enterprises exemplifies this commitment, as we believe in the power of entrepreneurial solutions to address complex social issues. Partnering with organizations like GiveBackHack, we aim to empower changemakers to transform visionary ideas into real-world impacts, improving lives and fostering a brighter future for all.

Facilitators

Owen Myers

Education Programs Lead, GiveBackHack

 

Owen Myers leads education programs for GiveBackHack, which have reached over a thousand students since 2022. Previously, he was the founder of TeachTo, a GBH-backed edtech startup, and an associate researcher for the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.

Adam Morris

Community Impact Lead, GiveBackHack

Adam is the Community Impact Lead for GiveBackHack, where he oversees community events and programs that empower social entrepreneurs. A co-founder of Wild Tiger Tees, Adam brings his extensive experience in technology and social innovation to his role, guiding teams to create impactful solutions for social issues. He also hosts two podcasts, People Helping People and Green Champions, which focus on ... Read More » social change and sustainability. Driven by a belief that business can be a force for good, Adam is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections within the community.

Organizers

Lydia Stutzman

Art Director & Designer, Lydiary Design

 

Lydia is the senior graphic designer at AndHealth and has over 10 years of experience working with nonprofits, social enterprises, and startups. She is on the boards for the Columbus Center for Architecture and Design (CFAD) and Columbus Society of Communicating Arts (CSCA).

Suzy Bureau

Founder, GiveBackHack

The ebullient Suzy Bureau (as she was referred to in TechCrunch) is dedicated to building impactful communities & products. Suzy is the Founder of GiveBackHack, an organization that helps bridge the gap between tech & social impact communities through the integration of Lean Startup/Design Thinking. GiveBackHack comes to life via a volunteer-based team of 50+ and has helped vet over 100 social ... Read More » impact concepts into prototyped products and provided over $150,000 in initial funding to take them to next steps. She honed her technology & startup chops via Product Ownership as an early employee at CoverMyMeds, a US-based HIT startup that grew from 40 people to $ 1.3 billion "Unicorn" acquisition over her time there. In addition to GiveBackHack, Suzy is a Group Product Manager for Thirty Madison, a fast-growing unicorn health tech startup. Suzy has been honored as the first “Create Columbus Visionary” award recipient via resolution by Columbus City Council and the Create Columbus Commission, and was recently honored with the VentureOhio Catalyst of the Year award and the YWCA “Woman on the Rise” distinction.

Wesley Giles

AI Full Stack Software Engineer, CoverMyMeds

 

Wesley Giles is the founder of SeraphDev and an full-stack engineer at CoverMyMeds.

Shah Syed

Staff Software Engineer, Gap Inc.

 

Shah is Staff Software Engineer at Gap Inc.

Noel Castillon

Co-Founder, Columbus Code & Coffee

 

Noel is the co-founder of Columbus Code & Coffee and a Technical Support Engineer at Buckeye Innovation.