Penn Nursing is offering funding of up to $20,000, depending on the track, to assist with the creation and testing of early-stage solutions to improve health and healthcare outcomes with a priority on populations of greatest need. The innovation accelerator offers funding, mentorship, and education to help advance an innovative concept, provided the applicant already has a low-fidelity prototype. A low-fidelity prototype allows the end user to interact with your solution and provide feedback. It is a simple representation of an idea; for example, it could be a sketch or flow diagram on paper or a product made from cardboard.

Winners will attend a six-week educational session designed to sharpen their business strategy.

The lead innovator for the application must be a full-time member of the Penn Nursing faculty (standing, associated, or teaching faculty) or a matriculated student in a Penn Nursing program with a minimum of one calendar year remaining in their program.

Nurses employed full-time in a Penn Medicine hospital or a Penn affiliated hospital or practice partner such as AtlantiCare, the Philadelphia Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, ChristianaCare, and Nemours Children’s Health are welcome to participate in the innovation accelerator if they partner with a Penn Nursing faculty or student lead or co-lead. Penn Medicine nurses or nurses in an affiliated hospital who need help finding a Penn Nursing co-lead can reach out to innovation@nursing.upenn.edu.

To apply or register for an information session, visit https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/our-expertise/innovation/innovation-accelerator/. The deadline to apply is February 28, 2025. The pitch event will take place on April 15, 2025.