How to spot a health problem worth solving and what to do next.
The Health Innovation Bootcamp is McMaster’s early-stage launchpad for curious health innovators. This immersive, project-focused program brings together students, clinicians, and researchers to explore and validate health ideas over six sessions. Whether you have a concept or are just starting to explore a problem, this is where to begin. The program fee ($50 + HST) is pooled, and a total of $1,000 is awarded to the participant who completes all challenges and delivers the best final pitch.
Learn. Collaborate. Share.
Bootcamp participants will start to build their business foundation and understand high level entrepreneurship/business concepts and terminology. Students are encouraged to use each session to network with one another and bounce ideas off each other, and they are challenged to apply the concepts learned in the bootcamp to their own innovation by completing weekly challenges.
Fall Health Innovation Bootcamp
October 9 – November 27, 2025
The Health Innovation Bootcamp sessions will be held on Thursdays from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. in The Clinic at McMaster University (lower level, Health Sciences Library). Bootcamp will also be running simultaneously at The Clinic @ St. Joe’s, The Clinic @ HHS, and MACcelerate Waterloo.
Registration is closed.
Expandable List
Key Takeaways
- Identify and prioritize unmet healthcare needs.
- Validate problems with real-world evidence.
- Understand the impact of solving the right problem.
Key Takeaways
- Craft a clear and compelling value proposition.
- Analyze market gaps and competitive dynamics.
- Map key stakeholders and potential users.
Key Takeaways
- Develop an MVP tailored to healthcare needs/current state.
- High-level overview of IP and key regulatory channels (Health Canada, FDA).
- How to think of compliance within health settings.
Key Takeaways
- Learn how to create an effective three-minute pitch deck for various audiences (pitch competition, investor, partner, customer).
- Structure your pitch for different stakeholders and impactful delivery techniques.
Key Takeaways
- Explore early funding opportunities and pathways.
- Understand healthcare-specific commercialization strategies.
- Build a go-to-market plan to gain traction.
Key Takeaways
- Each participant will have the opportunity to apply all bootcamp concepts in their three-minute business pitch to the bootcamp cohort, Clinic mentors, and three or four judges.
- Students will receive feedback on their pitch, and an opportunity to win the prize pool.
Bootcamp Facilitators
Information Box Group
Sophini Subramaniam, PhD Candidate
