The NYU Stern Berkley Center for Entrepreneurship recently hosted the 2026 Healthcare Access Hackathon Social Entrepreneurship Challenge, bringing together students from across NYU to present bold, human-centered solutions to some of today’s most pressing healthcare and social challenges. The event centered on three tracks:
- Track A: Sustainable Rural Healthcare Access – focused on bridging geographic and systemic gaps in care for rural communities, exploring solutions like community-based health hubs, mobile clinics, and trust-building initiatives to restore access and continuity.
- Track B: Designing the Future of Aging in Place – challenged students to create proactive, scalable solutions for home modifications and service models that support older adults’ independence, safety, and well-being.
- Track C: Gen Z and Mental Health in the Digital Age – aimed to address the effects of digital technology on youth mental health, developing interventions for schools, clinical settings, and families that leverage technology while reducing its harms.
The day began with an introduction to design thinking and rapid prototyping, led by Emily Wazlak, Director of the NYU Law Entrepreneurship & Venture Capital Program. Students explored user-centered problem solving, empathy mapping, and journey mapping to frame challenges around real-world healthcare needs. Workshops and team sessions throughout the morning and afternoon helped participants refine their ideas and translate them into compelling narratives.
During the afternoon storytelling and pitch session, led by Clinical Professor Jeffrey Younger, teams learned to craft data-driven, persuasive presentations, incorporating visual communication, evidence-based insights, and effective delivery techniques. This preparation set the stage for the 5-minute team pitches, where students presented their innovative solutions to a panel of judges including Dr. Carla Jackie Sampson, Eric Horvath, Jean Kim, Raphael Carty, Brian Hecht, and Emily Wazlak.
In Track A, the judges faced a tie, ultimately recognizing two teams for their innovative approaches to rural healthcare access. Winning teams across all three tracks received mentorship, resources, and support to help launch their ideas and take their projects to the next level. Track B and Track C winners impressed judges with solutions that balanced creativity, feasibility, and measurable impact, demonstrating the potential for scalable, community-centered change.
The event ended with an energetic wrap-up celebrating the creativity and teamwork of NYU students. Participants left inspired by the chance to turn their ideas into real solutions, while guests and judges noted the practical approaches and collaborative spirit shown across all three tracks. Winning teams received guidance, resources, and support to help bring their ideas to life, and everyone walked away motivated by the innovative solutions to healthcare and social challenges showcased throughout the day. The 2026 Healthcare Hackathon Pitch Showcase highlighted how NYU students are shaping a more equitable, human-centered future for healthcare. The 2026 Healthcare Hackathon Pitch Showcase not only highlighted innovative ideas but also underscored the collaborative spirit and problem-solving mindset of the next generation of social entrepreneurs shaping a more equitable future of healthcare.
Congratulations to the winners for each track on their innovative ideas to make a tangible difference!
Track A: Bethel Abraham (GPH), Matthew Nicelli (Stern), Renzhe Zhang (SPS), Steven Xol-Quevedo (CAS)
Track B: Christine Rogers (Stern), Noel Pallekonda (GPH), Icy Li (Wagner), Siddharth Moturi (Stern)
Track C: Cory Zheng (GPH), Prithviraj Mohapatra (Liberal Studies), Shrey Sodhi (CAS), Ari Kang (Stern), Marjiyah Ibshor (Tandon), Nibras Hussain (GPH), Purvansh Arora (Tandon)
