Young Entrepreneurs Present Ideas That Could Revolutionize the Oral Healthcare Industry!
The Dr. Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial Fund, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to the recognition and development of innovative and entrepreneurial leaders in oral health care and named after the late Dr. Edward B. Shils, recently held its inaugural The Great Oral Health Pitch: Innovate, Elevate and Generate Your Idea to Advance Oral Health! event on November 26th, 2023. The event took place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City during the Greater New York Dental Meeting.
The Great Oral Health Pitch: Innovate, Elevate and Generate Your Idea to Advance Oral Health! seeks to continue Ed Shils’ by encouraging young entrepreneurs and students to foster innovation in the field of oral health. Through a series of three in-person “practice pitch” events, this program provides an educational forum to help entrepreneurs deliver a successful pitch, with the goal of winning the prize over $50,000.
During this “shark tank” inspired event, entrepreneurs pitched their innovative oral health ideas to a panel of judges who are industry experts in various fields. The judges at the first of three events included: David Branch, Founder/President/CEO, Integrated Media Services; George Wolfe, President of DMG America; and Jane Levy, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Plan Forward. Each judge provided personalized feedback to help the presenters elevate their innovative ideas into a successful pitch with the goal of winning the grand prize sponsorship package. The panel was moderated by Keith Drayer, President of the Shils Fund.
“The applicants and quality of presenters made us feel excited about the future of oral health. The innovations were diverse and included an autonomous hygienic system, an on-demand e-commerce marketplace connecting patients with local dentists, and pediatric gaming systems. These entrepreneurial presenters carry forward Dr. Ed Shils legacy by building on their vision and values through innovation and creativity, ensuring a lasting impact for society’s benefit,” said Keith Drayer.
“This was an amazing session filled with ideas that will not only increase access to care for all but will change the way dentistry is delivered well into the future,” said George Wolfe.
“Innovators seek to solve the current problems they see, and this group of young entrepreneurs delivered a broad and exciting vision of the future of oral care,” added Jane Levy.
In addition to the in-person pitch events taking place at three major meetings: The Greater New York Dental Meeting, California Dental Association and Chicago Midwinter, the program also includes a series of educational webinars, designed to educate entrepreneurs on all levels with best practices learned from top leaders in the oral healthcare space.
The Shils Fund looks forward to its next in person pitch event which will take place during the Chicago Mid-Winter Meeting on February 24, 2024. For entrepreneurs and students interested in attending, please visit The Great Oral Health Pitch Program.
