Challenge Goal

The Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) is seeking startups and entrepreneurs who are developing and validating digital health-based solutions that strengthen and sustain primary care in Massachusetts to compete in the fourth Massachusetts Digital Health Sandbox Challenge. This Challenge focuses on digital health innovations that address urgent issues in primary care, specifically in the areas of administrative burden, workforce burnout and patient access. Finalists will compete for $300,000 in grant funding to support validation projects with MeHI’s Digital Health Sandboxes. This Challenge aligns with the goals of the Massachusetts Primary Care Access, Delivery and Payment Task Force established in 2025, co-chaired by the Health Policy Commission and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS).  View Challenge Infographic

Program Overview

Applicants from across the country could apply to this Challenge. MeHI staff selected 24 companies as semi-finalists based on their uniqueness in the market, potential commercial viability and ability to support the goals of the Primary Care Innovation Challenge.

Semi-finalist companies completed a Sandbox Matchmaking Survey and were matched with the cutting-edge research and development organizations from the Massachusetts Digital Health Sandbox Network. MeHI facilitated 59 matchmaking meetings between the semi-finalists and organizations in the Sandbox Network. Sandboxes and semi-finalists will meet throughout February 2026 to discuss potential projects and identify research partners. The semi-finalist companies are:

In March, MeHI will select eight to 10 companies to participate in the program. Each selected company company will be matched with one sandbox. Selected companies will participate in Mass Digital Health Connects, a two-month series of informative and interactive virtual workshops featuring prominent voices from across the ecosystem.

During this program, participants will also work with their sandbox matches to scope projects to test and validate their solutions to help bring them to market faster. MeHI will support participants in preparing detailed project plans outlining how the award funding would be used to complete the scoped sandbox project.

The program will culminate in an in-person, judged competition on June 3, 2026 where participants will pitch both their product and their proposed sandbox project. Expert judges will recommend four winners to MeHI. Each winner’s sandbox project will be completed by their sandbox partner with input and participation from the company. The projects are valued at $75,000 each, and the funding for each project will be paid directly to the Sandbox and must be used to cover the Sandbox partner’s fees. 

Challenge Areas and Solutions Sought

The following are examples of challenges in primary care that we believe can be addressed by digital health solutions. This is not an exhaustive list, and any applicants with ideas that address urgent areas in primary care are encouraged to apply.

All applicants should consider how their solution is targeting and supporting the unique needs of underserved populations, including supporting rural communities and addressing racial inequities, accessibility concerns, broadband access, and digital literacy, among others. Applications that effectively address these considerations will be prioritized.