India's Premier HealthTech Innovation Platform Returns
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Building the future of healthcare innovation, together.
Hosted at India's Premier Academic Institutions
The Platform Powering India's Next HealthTech Breakthrough.
Built on the success of two impactful editions, the DHN HealthTech Innovation Challenge 2026 returns with an even sharper focus on solving India's biggest healthcare challenges through technology.
Third Edition. Bigger Challenges. Greater Impact.
This year, we're looking beyond products to identify scalable, clinically relevant, AI-powered innovations that improve access, efficiency, trust, and patient outcomes across India's healthcare ecosystem.
Whether you're transforming primary care, building smarter hospitals, strengthening trusted health data infrastructure, or advancing preventive and chronic care, this is your opportunity to showcase your innovation before the people shaping the future of healthcare.
We’re backing real-world solutions. If you're enabling frontline care with AI, building on the ABDM stack, or delivering care that works across systems and geographies, this challenge puts your work on a national platform, built to scale.
Pitch to hospital CXOs from India and the US, top healthtech investors, digital health pioneers, and key ecosystem enablers. Our jury brings deep clinical, technical, and operational expertise, people who’ve built and led healthcare systems.
Finalists get access to decision-makers from leading hospitals, funds, and institutions across India and the US. This is where serious solutions meet the platforms that scale them, plus a spot on DigitalHealthPlace.com, India’s first curated digital health marketplace.
The DHN HealthTech Innovation Challenge 2026 invites entries in four high-impact tracks that reflect India's most urgent healthcare priorities.
The DHN HealthTech Innovation Challenge is open to startups developing innovative digital health solutions that address real-world healthcare challenges. Whether you're building for hospitals, primary care, diagnostics, health data, AI, patient engagement, cybersecurity, we invite founders creating scalable and impactful solutions to apply.
Early-stage, Mid-stage to Late-stage startups working in digital health
Companies with a functional product and demonstrated traction
Solutions that align with the focus categories
Teams committed to building for scale, adoption, and health outcomes
Think your startup belongs here?
Start your application today.
All entries will be evaluated by our expert jury based on the following parameters:
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Originality, technical strength, and relevance.
Potential for national or system-level deployment.
Demonstrated need, traction, and demand.
Experience, execution, and domain knowledge.
Ability to improve healthcare access, outcomes, or efficiency.
Why Participate in DHN HEALTHTECH INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2026
DHN HEALTHTECH INNOVATION CHALLENGE is more than a stage to present your innovation. It's an opportunity to connect with the people, institutions, and partnerships that can accelerate your growth.
Showcase your innovation to hospital leaders, policymakers, investors, technology partners, and digital health experts.
Featured startups receive exposure through Digital Health News' editorial platform, digital channels, interviews, and ecosystem outreach.
Refine your solution with valuable feedback from experienced healthcare professionals, investors, and innovation leaders.
Explore collaborations with hospitals, enterprises, technology providers, and ecosystem partners looking for innovative healthcare solutions.
Present your innovation live before an expert jury during the Grand Finale hosted at IIT Kanpur.
Your journey from idea to India's biggest healthcare innovation stage.
Application submission opens for DHN HealthTech Innovation Challenge 2026.
Final date for online application submissions.
Review, shortlist, and notify selected startups.
Selected startups present their solutions to the jury.
Scoring, finalist communication, and Demo Day invitations.
Live showcase & awards at IIT Kanpur.
Application submission opens for DHN HealthTech Innovation Challenge 2026.
Final date for online application submissions.
Review, shortlist, and notify selected startups.
Selected startups present their solutions to the jury.
Scoring, finalist communication, and Demo Day invitations.
Live showcase & awards at IIT Kanpur.
Every milestone brings you one step closer to presenting your innovation before India's leading healthcare ecosystem.
CEO, IISc Medical School Foundation
Founder & CEO, ScaleHealthTech & Digital Health News
Founder, Somerset Indus Healthcare Fund
CEO, CHARAKA – HealthTech, MedTech & AssistiveTech CoE, Government of Karnataka
Real Stories. Real Partnerships. Real Outcomes.
The true measure of innovation isn't recognition. It's adoption.
Over the years, DHN HealthTech Innovation Challenge has helped promising startups build strategic partnerships, unlock commercial opportunities, gain national visibility, and connect with the stakeholders shaping India's digital health ecosystem.
Following their participation in DHN HealthTech Innovation Challenge, HeyDoc AI secured a strategic engagement with Clearmedi Healthcare, demonstrating how the platform facilitates meaningful industry connections.
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