Challenge Launch: September 30, 2026 (Kickoff & Info Session, virtual)
Submission Deadline: April 5, 2027
Subscribe to the Digital Health Challenge interest list to be notified of events, mentor opportunities, and when the submission window opens.
Overview
Women’s health is one of the most urgent, underfunded frontiers in healthcare today. Despite women spending nearly a quarter of their lives in poorer health than men on average, less than 5% of clinical trials report results broken out by sex, and less than 5% of global health research funding goes toward women-specific conditions beyond oncology. Here in Wisconsin, roughly 1 in 7 counties now lack any obstetric clinician or birthing facility, leaving tens of thousands of women navigating pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and urgent care far from the nearest provider. Advances in AI, digital health tools, and connected care are opening new possibilities — but fresh ideas and bold experimentation are needed to close these gaps.
The Tech Exploration Lab invites innovators, startups, students, researchers, and professionals to the 2027 Digital Health Challenge: Focus on Women’s Health. We’re seeking bold, technology-driven ideas and prototypes that close the gap in women’s health — from access and maternal care to the research and data gaps that leave common conditions under-diagnosed and under-treated. This challenge builds directly on “Closing the Gap in Women’s Health,” introduced this fall as a warm-up challenge at Badger BuildFest — if you built something there, this is where you keep going, starting with our kickoff session right after BuildFest wraps. If you didn’t participate in BuildFest, you can jump in at any time.
You can work asynchronously or take part in optional peer feedback sessions, mentors, and curated resource roundups to help you strengthen your concept before the deadline.
Finalists will be invited to present on April 14, 2027 on the UW-Madison campus to an audience of industry leaders, alumni, and faculty innovators.
Who Should Apply
- Students, researchers & campus innovators affiliated with UW–Madison
Focus Areas
- Explore the Frontiers of Women’s Health — We are seeking technology-driven ideas that address the full spectrum of women’s health, including maternal and pregnancy care, chronic and autoimmune conditions historically underdiagnosed in women (endometriosis, PCOS, and similar), postpartum recovery and support, and health literacy and navigation for women in care deserts.
Key Dates
- Kickoff & Info Session (virtual): September 30, 2026
- Applications Open: February 1, 2027
- Challenge Bootup + Pizza: February 4, 2027
- Mid-Point Check-In: March 15, 2027
- Submission Info Released: March 18, 2027
- Submission Deadline: April 5, 2027
- Finalist Presentations: April 14, 2027, 5:00–6:30
Prizes & Recognition
All Selected Finalists:
- Present at a Showcase event in April
- Exposure to industry leaders, alumni, and UW thought leaders
- Certificates + Lab spotlight features + ongoing mentorship options
Team members can be from any accredited college/university but should have at least one UW–Madison team member.
- 1st: $2,500 • 2nd: $1,000
- Invitation to the next Venture Build program (MBA partners + industry connections)
- Strategy session with the Tech Exploration Lab (commercialization pathways, partnerships); Team-Up option with UW–Madison students with specific skillsets and backgrounds if desired
What You Will Submit
- Team/Organization Info — names, roles, affiliation, contact
- Project Title & Summary — 250-word overview
- Problem Statement — the women’s health need and who it affects
- Proposed Solution — approach + tech used; where it fits (access, diagnosis and data, postpartum support, health literacy and navigation)
- Impact & Feasibility — beneficiaries, outcomes, scalability, technical readiness
- Innovation & Differentiation — what’s new, how emerging tech is used responsibly
- Prototype / Supporting Materials (optional) — links to demos, mockups, visuals, short video pitch
How Submissions Are Evaluated
- Problem Clarity — real need, well defined
- Solution Fit — directly addresses the need
- Innovation — originality and differentiation
- Use of Emerging Tech — effective and responsible
- Feasibility — realistic near-/mid-term path
- Impact Potential — benefit to individuals, families, and communities
- Presentation Quality — clear, well structured
Guided Accelerator Touchpoints (Optional, Recommended)
- Peer Feedback Sessions — share progress, get constructive critique
- Mentor Office Hours — targeted guidance on tech, market fit, and execution
- Resource Roundups — tools, templates, case studies to sharpen your approach
Questions? sandra.bradley@wisc.edu
About Douglas D. Bradley, M.D.
The Douglas D. Bradley Digital Health Challenge honors the life and legacy of Douglas D. Bradley, M.D. (UW–Madison BS ’54, MD ’57), a physician, leader, and proud Wisconsin alumnus.
Dr. Bradley’s career was marked by deep integrity, service, and vision. He served with distinction in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, ultimately achieving the rank of Brigadier General, and later held leadership roles at Kaiser Permanente in California, where he championed preventive medicine and patient-centered care. Throughout his decades of service, he remained dedicated to improving lives through leading by example, collaboration, and a belief in technology and innovation as a force for good.
By naming this Challenge in his memory, we celebrate Dr. Bradley’s lifelong commitment to advancing health and well-being and carry forward his passion for building a healthier future through education, innovation, and responsible leadership.