1 (page number not for citation purpose) EDITORIAL Innovative Minds Shine Bright at the ConV2X 2023 Ignition Pitch Competition: Meet the Winners! Tory Cenaj Founder, Owner and Publisher, Partners in Digital Heath, Stamford, Connecticut, USA Corresponding Author: Tory Cenaj, Email: t.cenaj@partnersindigitalhealth.com Keywords: artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, clinical trial management, ConV2X, digital health, healthcare, innovation Blockchain in Healthcare Today ISSN 2573-8240 Abstract On Sept 1, 2023, Partners in Digital Health, publisher of Blockchain in Healthcare Today (BHTY,) conducted the 4th Annual ConVerge2Xcelerate (ConV2X) Ignition Pitch Competition. The competition was recorded for journal and On Demand broadcast viewing. Seven competitors in the digital health and DLT (distributed ledger technology) markets presented to eight decerning judges. Entrants were asked to demonstrate how products and services directly impact telehealth and blockchain in healthcare technology fields from around the globe. Product solution categories included, but were not limited to: AI & Tech in Telehealth and Medicine • Smart home care design, AI, sensors, robotics, chronic care condition(s) using RPM, reducing cost for health systems or patients, enhancing the physician-patient relationship, mixed reality to enhance outcomes in patient care, etc. Advancing the Business of Health with Blockchain Technology • Monetization of data, interoperability, improving population health, precision medicine, public health & equity, digital twins, secure identity, DeFi, medical metaverse, supply chain, clinical trials, etc. Scores were rated from 1-5, with 5 being the highest/best. Criteria appear below. Scores were tallied, and win- ners were selected for each category. • Impact: ° How likely is the solution to improve outcomes for the problem identified? • Innovation: ° Does the team provide a convincing rationale for why their solution may work? ° Does the solution provide a creative approach and address specific user needs? • Scalability: ° How easy would it be to develop and implement this solution? ° Could this solution scale across different markets and therapeutic areas? • Presentation: ° How effective was the presentation overall? ° Was the solution they are proposing convincingly articulated, presented or visualized? Submitted: September 28, 2023; Accepted: October 3, 2023; Published: October 13, 2023 mailto:t.cenaj@partnersindigitalhealth.com 2 (page number not for citation purpose) Citation: Blockchain in Healthcare Today 2023, 6: 283 - https://doi.org/10.30953/bhty.v6.283 Tory Cenaj The excitement was palpable as entrepreneurs, innovators, and healthcare leaders gathered for the highly anticipated 4th Annual ConV2X 2023 Ignition Pitch Competition focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI), telehealth, and blockchain technology in healthcare. After rigorous eval- uation of exceptional presentations and market initia- tives, judges determined the winners – and undoubtedly, revolutionized healthcare. The Proud Winners of the ConV2X Pitch Competition Blockchain Technology in Healthcare Bloqcube Inc: Clinical Trial Management & Financial System (CTMFS) platform, designed to accelerate Decen- tralized Clinical Trials (DCT), stood out as a remarkable solution. Your innovative approach to streamlining clini- cal trials with blockchain technology is nothing short of inspiring. AI and Digital Health Veta Health (Prosper): Commitment to empowering pa- tients with personalized Telehealth Solutions is a testament to the transformative potential of AI in healthcare. Your dedication to improving patient care is commendable. Rama Rao, CEO, Bloqcube, expressed sentiments of gratitude for organizing the ConV2X Ignition Pitch Com- petition stating “It was an incredible platform for innova- tors like ourselves to showcase our contributions, and the entire experience has been deeply enriching.” Camaraderie and expanding support networks are hall- marks of the ConV2X experience. Here’s what some of the competitors had to say: Seth Dobrin, CEO, Quantm AI: “Wow! What a great group of technologies and use cases. I am humbled by you all, what you have built, and where you are going. It was an honor to be part of this group.” Ryan Wright, Founder, Nvelope: “Thank you for the opportunity. More than anything, I was delighted to see focused people doing passionate projects that address tan- gible goals. Progress and Sagacity are around the corner!” Paniz Jasbi, Founder, Theriome: “The depth of innovation and dedication showcased by all teams was truly commend- able. Alex and I are grateful for the opportunity to have been part of this gathering and look forward to potential collabo- rations and interactions in the future. Thank you, everyone, for sharing all of your amazing projects and companies. It is inspiring to be presenting alongside you amazing innovators! Thank you for the opportunity; it was such a pleasure.” First Prize winners in each category received remark- able prizes valued at $13,000, along with a myriad of prestigious opportunities to propel their ventures to new heights including a seat in the prestigious October 2023 Scholarly Cohort at ILT Entrepreneur Academy, each val- ued at $3,000 each (details at ILT Academy). Runner-ups didn’t go empty-handed, and earned a waived journal ar- ticle APC for an accepted manuscript submission. Start- ups are encouraged to publish research in peer reviewed journals to add credibility and validation to products and services; which also distinguishes ad elevates a company’s reputation in the market and venture capital community. Companies that competed for top accolades alongside the winners included: • Quantm AI: Innovating the future of healthcare safety • NVFT Bio Oracles, Nvelope LLC: Pioneering bioin- formatics solutions for enhanced patient care • MyGenoVerse, Genobank.io: Unlocking the power of genetic data for personalized healthcare • PRIMS, PragmaClin Research Inc: Advancing clinical research with cutting-edge technology • Aristotle, BioMe, Theriome Inc: Shaping the future of healthcare with data-driven insights The judging panel featured some of the brightest in the industry: • Nisa Amolis, Managing Partner, A100x Ventures • Dr. Fernando De La Peña Llaca, CEO, Aexa • Ruby Gadelrab Tudor, CEO, MDsrupt • Shwen Gwee, Former VP and Head of Global Digital Strategy, Bristol Myers Squibb • Sweta Sneha, PhD, Executive Director of Health- care Management Informatics. Professor of Informa- tion Systems, Coles College of Business, Kennesaw University • William Taranto, President, Merck Global Health Inno- vation Fund • Nick Tietz, Founder & CEO, ILT Academy • Dr. Shayan Vyas, Former Executive Physician/Medical Lead, Teladoc, Health Systems Nisa Amoils, Esq., Managing Partner, A100X, stated “Thank you for organizing the ConV2X 2023 Ignition Pitch event. It is so important that healthcare use cases of blockchain and AI get recognition for their traction, which have been largely ignored by media.” Winners are poised to reshape the healthcare land- scape with their innovative solutions. As we celebrate their achievements, we also look forward to witnessing the impact they will have on the future of healthcare. For 2024 details and information, please contact Tory Cenaj, at info@partnersindigitalhealth.com https://doi.org/10.30953/bhty.v6.283 http://Genobank.io: mailto:info@partnersindigitalhealth.com