BD and Guidepoint partner to connect healthcare startups with business and scientific experts
On July 8, Becton, Dickinson and Company and Guidepoint announced they would be teaming up to bring healthcare and medical technology innovations to market.
Together, they’ve designed a new program known as BD & Guidepoint Mentor that will provide selected early-stage healthcare companies with free access to Guidepoint’s expert network services. This new program is part of BD’s larger global innovation initiative to find and nurture new growth opportunities at the intersection of healthcare, medtech and digital technologies.
As reported last April, Breakout Labs established a strategic relationship with BD to provide additional funding and networking opportunities for early-stage startups. BD has also formed partnerships with business accelerators such as IBM Alpha Zone to support promising entrepreneurs with BD mentors, financial grants and access to other resources.
“As BD continues to expand its commitment to fostering innovation, we are excited about partnering with Guidepoint to tap into their independent network of global experts and benefit some of the most promising healthcare start-ups,” said Ellen Strahlman, MD, BD’s Executive Vice President of R&D and Chief Medical Officer. “Finding and nurturing cutting-edge technologies that will improve healthcare delivery and outcomes is at the core of our innovation efforts, and we realize that such opportunities will not just come from within our walls.”
Guidepoint will arrange phone consultations between the selected entrepreneurs and vetted expert(s) called Guidepoint Advisors. These Advisors may be current members of Guidepoint’s global network of 225,000 experts or may be custom-recruited by the expert network to counsel a specific entrepreneur.
Albert Sebag, CEO of Guidepoint, said: “Over the past 12 years, we’ve seen first-hand the impact that conversations with the right experts can have on innovation and business success. We are pleased to partner with BD to support development of new solutions that can improve the health of people around the world. And our research managers are looking forward to working directly with the entrepreneurs selected by BD.”
For more information on BD’s innovation efforts and BD & Guidepoint Mentor, contact Albert Lauritano, BD’s Director of Strategic Technology Partnerships, at al_lauritano@bd.com.
