Thrival Festival, UPMC Enterprises And The University Of Pittsburgh Innovation Institute Partner To Attract, Recruit Local Health And Wellness-Focused Startups

PITTSBURGH, PA – The Thrival Innovation + Music Festival is partnering with UPMC Enterprises and the University of Pittsburgh Innovation Institute to create an interactive workshop on Thursday, September 24, focused on health and wellness-related startups interested in investment, mentorship, and capacity-building opportunities with the global health system.

As part of Thrival’s “Health & Wellness Revolution” theme for that day, UPMC Enterprises will host a three-hour session at its Bakery Square offices dedicated to both established and developing startups that want to learn about health care entrepreneurship and opportunities within UPMC’s technology development and commercialization arm. An intentionally broad label, “Health & Wellness” spans an array of sectors — from hardware and software to media marketing and more.

With a host of resources at this nationally acclaimed medical center, including a significant amount of investment funding, UPMC Enterprises hopes to discover and connect with high-quality startups, as well as business and engineering talent, in order to improve health care and create new jobs in the communities it serves. Session attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from the leadership team at UPMC Enterprises. A handful of startups will then be pre-selected to pitch to UPMC officials and receive feedback on their products and services.

“UPMC Enterprises and the University of Pittsburgh’s Innovation Institute are excited to be hosting an interactive event to share some of our clinical, technological, and managerial expertise with health care startups. “We’re looking forward to a lively session with other innovators who might benefit from our lengthy experience developing and launching health care technology products and services,” says Rasu Shrestha, M.D., Chief Innovation Officer at UPMC.

“We can’t underestimate how important a player UPMC Enterprises is within the health and wellness space,” says Bobby Zappala, Founder and CEO of Thrill Mill. “Through the Thursday program, our startup community has a tremendous opportunity to access vital resources that can help them grow and succeed in both the short and long term.” Startups interested in participating can submit an application at thrivalfestival.com/upmc-pitch.