NurseHack4Health Pitch-A-Thon 2026
By SONSIEL
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Quick Answer
Up to US$175,000 (about ₹1.66 crore) for nurse-led teams at health systems and nursing organisations in low- to mid-resource countries such as India. The 2026 round is closed.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- SONSIEL
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 22 September 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by SONSIEL. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this competition
The 2026 round of the NurseHack4Health Pitch-A-Thon is closed: final proposals were due on 21 September 2026 at 11:59 PM ET (9:29 AM IST on 22 September). The official page announces no next round, so use this page to prepare for the following cycle. The 2026 finalists are in a four-week accelerator and pitch live online on 12 November 2026, with no in-person step mentioned on the page.
The Pitch-A-Thon is presented by Johnson & Johnson, SONSIEL and Microsoft, with support from the Johnson & Johnson Foundation. It looks for nurse-led solutions that create lasting change for a thriving nursing workforce and healthier work environments, with up to US$400,000 in funding in 2026. For Indian organisations, the relevant route is Track 2, worth up to US$175,000 (about ₹1.66 crore).
What the program offers
There were three tracks in 2026. Track 1 was for health systems and nursing organisations in high-resource countries, up to US$225,000. Track 2, for those in low- to mid-resource countries, was up to US$175,000. Track 3 was for US-registered, nurse-founded startups, up to US$35,000. The grant must fund implementation of the project. Beyond the money, finalists get coaches during a four-week Innovation Accelerator, help building a one-year budget, and practice for the pitch. The page also offers recorded sessions on design thinking and crafting a pitch, office hours during the call, and subject-matter mentoring on request.
Who can apply
Tracks 1 and 2 are for health systems and nursing organisations. The applicant must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit (the US tax-exempt status) or the equivalent in its own country, or work through a fiscal sponsor, meaning a tax-exempt non-profit that receives and manages the money for a project without that status. Teams must be nurse-led and are encouraged to be interdisciplinary, with members from the same organisation. At least one executive leader must act as advisor or sponsor, and vendors cannot be grantees. A Country Resource Guide on the site shows which category a country falls in.
For India, this means a hospital, health system or nursing organisation with non-profit status or a sponsor. An Indian startup is not eligible: Track 3 is only for companies registered in the United States, with a US bank account and under US$50,000 in capital. The 2026 finalists include an Indian team, Aaradhya Jeevan.
How to apply
Applicants chose their track and used the Apply Now button on the site; a partial application can be saved and finished later, and a confirmation email follows submission. Attending at least one information or pitch-prep session, held between June and September, was mandatory. A practical tip: attend a session early, because it teaches what judges want, and have your executive sponsor named before you start.
How applications are judged and what happens next
Top entries are invited into the Innovation Accelerator (14 October to 9 November 2026). Coaches help finalists test the solution, build a one-year budget and rehearse. Finalists then pitch live online to a panel of industry-expert judges, who select the awardees. The Pitch-A-Thon is a virtual event, so no travel is needed.
About the organisers
Johnson & Johnson, SONSIEL and Microsoft present the program, with the J&J Foundation supporting it. Microsoft Teams is used for the kickoff, training and collaboration, though teams can use any tools. The organisers say they take no intellectual property: it stays with the inventors, and no patent is needed to apply.
Things to check before you apply
- Applying and taking part are free.
- Do not submit confidential information, because anything submitted is treated as non-confidential.
- Indian non-profits receiving foreign money should check FCRA, FEMA and tax treatment with an adviser before applying.
- Teams must show a sustainability plan that continues beyond the grant cycle.
- Confirm the funding timeline in the next call, since spending deadlines are tied to each year's grant cycle.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Prizes & Awards
What You Get
Track 2 winners receive up to US$175,000 (about ₹1.66 crore) to create, test or expand an early-stage solution that builds a healthy work environment for nurses and the patients they care for. Finalists join a four-week Innovation Accelerator where coaches help them pressure-test the solution, build a detailed one-year budget and rehearse the pitch. All applicants can get design-thinking and pitching training through the Innovation Academy, office hours and mentoring on request.
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Top entries are invited to the Innovation Accelerator, where coaches help finalists test their solutions, build a one-year budget and practice their pitches. Finalists then present live online to a panel of industry-expert judges, who select the awardees.
Application Process
- 1
Info session
Attend at least one information or pitch-prep session.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NurseHack4Health Pitch-A-Thon 2026 still open?
No. Final proposals were due on 21 September 2026 at 11:59 PM ET, which is 9:29 AM IST on 22 September. The official page gives no date for a next round.
Can an Indian hospital or nursing organisation apply?
Yes, through Track 2, which is for health systems and nursing organisations in low- to mid-resource countries. You need non-profit status or the equivalent in India, or a fiscal sponsor, and a nurse-led team.
Can an Indian startup apply to NurseHack4Health?
Not as a startup. Track 3 is only for nurse-founded startups registered in the United States with a US bank account. Vendors cannot be grantees in Tracks 1 and 2.
How much can a Track 2 team receive?
Up to US$175,000 (about ₹1.66 crore). The page says up to US$400,000 in total was on offer across the three tracks in 2026.
What is a fiscal sponsor?
It is a tax-exempt non-profit that receives and manages grant money on behalf of a project that does not have that status. It handles filings, compliance, payments and reporting.
Is it free to apply?
Yes. Applying and taking part are free, because the sponsors, coaches and judges contribute their resources and time.
Do finalists have to travel?
No. The Pitch-A-Thon on 12 November 2026 is a live virtual event, and the page mentions no in-person element.
What happens to our intellectual property?
The organisers do not acquire any IP, which stays with the inventors. A patent is not required to apply, but do not submit confidential information.
What do I need to do before submitting?
Attend at least one information or pitch-prep session, which is mandatory. You also need a nurse-led team, an executive sponsor and a plan for sustaining the work beyond the grant.
When are winners decided?
Finalists pitch live on 12 November 2026 after the Innovation Accelerator, which runs from 14 October to 9 November 2026. The page does not state when funds are paid.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
