Matter, a Chicago-based health technology startup hub, and Three Lakes Partners, a Northbrook, Ill.-based venture philanthropy focused on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, unveiled the IPF Catalyst Challenge on April 27.
The IPF Catalyst Challenge calls on healthcare, technology and scientific research entrepreneurs to support patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an irreversible chronic lung disease. The challenge asks participants to create new quality-of-life tools, including oxygen therapy solutions, condition management apps and patient education services.
The healthcare challenge offers a $1 million cash prize.
"Too few people know about IPF, and far too few are developing solutions to help people suffering from this terrible disease," said Steven Collens, CEO of Matter. "Working with Three Lakes Partners to engage a global community of entrepreneurs, researchers, designers and industry experts, we will accelerate the development of technologies that will change the lives of people living with IPF."