The Heart of Healthcare Innovation Award

— 01-Mission

The Mission Behind This Award

Some of the most meaningful healthcare ideas are born from lived experiences, moments of frustration, compassion, observation, or hope.

Before funding.
Before traction.
Before anyone believes in them.

The Heart of Healthcare Innovation Award exists to help those early ideas take their first step forward.

— 02-PURPOSE

An award for ideas that haven't been believed in yet.

The Hearth of Healthcare Innovation Award was created to suport early-stage healthcare innovation
potential to improve patient care, healthcare experiance, workflow, accesibilty, compassion, safety, or clinical outcomes.

This award exists to help meaningful healthcare ideas moves forward during the earliest phases of innovation - before traditional funding, traction, company infrastructure, or indostry access may exist.

Some of the most meaningful healthcare ideas do not come from formal
innovation channels. They come from lived experience —
from noticing what could be better during moments of care, frustration,
compassion, observation, or hope.

This award was created to recognize and support those idea wherever they come from. The Hearth of Healthcare innovation Award is open to anyone who experiences healthcare.

— 03-AWARD AMOUNT

$5,000 Unrestricted Grant

The Award may be used toward any reasonable innovation-related expense, including but not limited to :

Technology Development

Research & Development

Design Exploration

Manufacturing Exploration

LLC formation

Patent Filing Assistance

Educational Development

Prototyping

Materials or equipment

Software or Product Development

Other Eearly-stages need

Pilot Testing

— 04-ELIGIBLITY

Eligibility Requirments

APPLICANTS MUST

Be at least 18 years old

Reside within the United States

Submit an original healthcare idea

Complete the application process

Agree to these Official Guidelines

APPLICANTS DO NOT NEED

A company or LLC

Raised funding

Existing patents

Prior traction

A completed prototype

Entrepreneurial experience

This award is intentionally designed to support innovation in its earliest stages.

— 05-WHO CAN APPLY

Anyone Close Enough to Care to Notice

The Award may be used toward any reasonable innovation-related expense, including but not limited to :

Patients

Caregivers

Nurses

Physicians

Technologists

Therapists

Allied Health Professionals

Support Staff

Clinic Operators

Healthcare Administrators

Students (18+)

Community Members

Family Members

Inovators

Transport Staff

— 06-ELIGIBLE AREAS

Eligible Innovators Areas

Applications may include ideas related to:

Patient Experiance

Compassion-centered care

Patient safety

Healthcare communication

Hospital or clinic environments

Healthcare technology

Operational efficiency

Community health

Healthcare accessibility

Clinical workflow improvement

Caregiver support

Mental or emotional support

Home healthcare

Healthcare education

Preventative care

Medical devices

Other healthcare-related innovation concepts (Both physical and non-physical innovation ideas are welcome.)

— 07-Selection

Selection Criteria

Applications will be reviewed by a panel selected by Spongies Comfort.
All selection decisions are final. Applications will be evaluated based on:

Real-world insight or lived experience connected to the problem

Meaningful healthcare impact - potential to improve care, experiences, or outcomes

Originality of the idea

Clarity of the identified problem

Compassion-centered thinking

Potential to improve experiences for patients, caregivers, or healthcare professionals

Feasibility or future potential

Thoughtfulness of the application

— 08-Process

Application Process

Applicants must submit all required information through the official application form available on the award website. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Spongies Comfort reserves the right to request clarification or additional information from applicants if needed. Submission deadlines and timelines may be updated at any time.

*No purchase, payment, donation, or business relationship is required to apply for or receive this award.

All applications must be submitted through the official form on the award website. Application submitted through other channels will not be considered.

— 09-INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Your idea Remains Yours

Applicants retain ownership of their submitted ideas and intellectual property.

Submission of an application does not transfer ownership rights to Spongies Comfort or any affiliated judges, sponsors, advisors, or partners.

While applications are reviewed thoughtfully and respectfully, applicants should avoid submitting highly confidential proprietary information they are unwilling to share within the review process.

Applicants are encouraged to seek independent legal counsel regarding intellectual property protection if desired.

Submission of an application does not create:

A partnership

A joint venture

An employment relationship

An investment agreement

*Between the applicant and Spongies Comfort.

— 10-CONFIDENTIALITY

How Your Application Is Handled

Applications will only be reviewed by individuals directly involved in the award review and selection process.

Spongies Comfort will make reasonable efforts to respect applicant privacy and innovation integrity throughout the review process.

However, confidentiality cannot be absolutely guaranteed, and applicants should use discretion when sharing sensitive or proprietary information.

— 11-Publicity

Recognition & Publicity

By accepting the award, recipients grant permission for Spongies Comfort to publicly announce:

Recipient name

General description of the innovation idea

Photos, videos, or interviews voluntarily provided by the recipient

Sensitive or proprietary details will not be publicly disclosed without permission.
Selected finalists may also be recognized or featured as part of the award initiative.
Public sharing of ideas or stories will only occur with participant permission.

— 12-Taxes

Tax Responsibilities

Award recipients are solely responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes associated with the award.

Recipients may be required to complete a W-9 form and may receive applicable tax documentation, including a Form 1099-MISC, where applicable.

Applicants are encouraged to consult a tax professional regarding tax implications.

— 13-Right & Modifications

Right to Modify, Suspend, or Cancel

Spongies Comfort reserves the right to:

Modify award timelines

Update eligibility requirements

Decline applications

Request additional information

Select no recipient if no application sufficiently meets award criteria

Modify award details

Suspend or cancel the award if necessary

Any updates to these guidelines will be posted on the official award webpage.

— 14-Liability

Limitation of Liability

By applying, applicants agree that Spongies Comfort, its affiliates, judges, advisors, sponsors, and partners shall not be held liable for:

Technical failures

Lost submissions

Application errors

Delays

Misunderstandings

Or other issues related to participation in the award process

Applicants participate voluntarily and at their own discretion.

— 15-Contact