LOUISIANA – August 15, 2019 -- Start-ups, entrepreneurs, and small business owners in Louisiana are invited to apply to Get Started Medical, a pitch contest in which they get to present their innovative business ideas geared toward the medical industry before a panel of judges for a chance to win a $20,000 Cash prize.

Get Started Medical will take place on Thursday, November 14^th at the Acadiana Center for the Arts as part of Innovate South and the event is in partnership with Lafayette General Health and Opportunity Machine.   

"There are many ideas that are geared toward the medical industry to help further medical technology toward procedures, cures and other means and entrepreneurs who are ready to take their medical business ideas to the next level," said Leigh King, vice president of Cox Business Louisiana. "Get Started Medical is a great way for our business community to showcase innovation and talent, while accessing valuable advice and tips to launch and grow their businesses."

Candidates interested in pitching their idea can apply online from Monday, August 19^th until 11:59 p.m. CST Sunday, September 22^nd at GetStartedMedical.com.  

Up to eight finalists will be chosen to pitch to a panel of judges in front of a live audience, and the winning business will win a $20,000 cash prize. 

Contestants will be given two-and-a-half minutes each to pitch their idea. Ken Kraft, SVP Cox Business Marketing & Sales Operation will be the host of Get Started Medical.  He will be joined by a panel of judges who will follow-up with questions and observations. This year's judges are:

• Aimee Quirk – CEO of InnovationOchsner, Ochsner Health System
• Cian Robinson – Executive Director of Innovation Research, Lafayette General Health
• Molly Hegarty – CEO, Junum
• Sujata Gosalia – Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Cox Communications
• Dr. Vindell Washington – Chief Medical Officer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana

These experts will review each of the plans and select a winner based on innovation, ease of implementation and consumer/community benefit. 

Entrants will be notified by October 4^th if they have been selected to pitch at the event. The 8 finalists will receive coaching sessions each in advance of the event to prepare provided by Innovate South.   

Where:                Acadiana Center for the Arts

                                101 W Vermillion St

                                Lafayette, LA 70501

When:                  Thursday, Aug. 30

                                5:00 p.m. Happy Hour

                                6:30 p.m. Pitch Event

                                8:30 p.m. Event Ends

To learn more about Get Started Medical, visit http://www.getstartedmedical.

To register to attend, visit innovatesouth.org.

Cox Business Get Started Medical is presented in Partnership with Lafayette General Health and Opportunity Machine. Additional support comes from Touche' Printing, Biz NOLA, Cox Media, LEDA and UL Lafayette.

Acerca de Cox Communications

Cox Communications está comprometido a crear momentos significativos de conexión humana a través de aplicaciones y servicios de banda ancha. The largest private telecom company in America, we proudly serve six million homes and businesses across 18 states. We're dedicated to empowering others to build a better future and celebrate diverse products, people, suppliers, communities and the characteristics that makes each one unique. Cox Communications es el segmento más grande de Cox Enterprises, una empresa familiar fundada en 1898 por el gobernador James M. Cox.

About Cox Business
The commercial division of Cox Communications, Cox Business provides voice, data and video services for more than 355,000 small and regional businesses nationwide, including health care providers; K-12 and higher education; financial institutions; and federal, state and local government organizations. The organization also serves most of the top-tier wireless and wireline telecommunications carriers in the U.S. through its wholesale division. For more information, please visit www.coxbusiness.com.