Hacking Pain is a global hack-a-thon that invites innovators from all walks of life to collaborate and create groundbreaking solutions to real-world challenges in pain management. Whether you’re a student or a seasoned professional, this event provides a unique platform to showcase your creativity and make a lasting impact.

Participants will have the opportunity to submit their innovative ideas, form diverse teams, and work together to develop practical and effective solutions. With the support of PainConnect, in partnership with Healthcare Innovation Fellows at UT Austin, teams will have access to mentorship, resources, and industry connections to help them bring their ideas to life.

The culmination of the event will be a pitch competition where teams will present their solutions to a panel of judges, patients, providers, and industry leaders. The winning team will not only gain valuable exposure and networking opportunities, but also the opportunity to showcase their solution at PainConnect’s Innovation Challenge.

If you’re passionate about pain management and ready to be a part of something truly groundbreaking, join us for Hacking Pain. The deadline to submit your application is TBD

How Do We Meet Patients Where They Are?

This year’s theme will focus on health equity and access to care for patients with chronic pain. We aim to explore how we can meet patients where they are, addressing barriers in access to care for underserved populations, including Medicare/Medicaid recipients and differently-abled individuals. We challenge participants to develop solutions that improve access and reduce disparities in pain management.

If you’re passionate about innovation and want to make a positive impact on the lives of those living with pain, Hacking Pain is the perfect opportunity for you. We encourage applications from individuals across a wide range of backgrounds, including students, healthcare professionals, researchers, engineers, designers, developers, business leaders, and patients.

Whether you have a groundbreaking idea or simply a desire to collaborate with like-minded individuals, Hacking Pain offers a unique platform to contribute to the future of pain management. If you’re interested in solving real-world problems, driving innovation, collaborating with experts, and gaining valuable experience, then we invite you to apply.

Wednesday, April 2nd

• Hack-a-thon Team Form
• Concept Introduction

Thursday, April 3rd

• Individual Team Ideation
• Consultation House with Mentors and Field Experts

Friday, April 4th

• Final Presentations
• PainConnect Venture Networking Reception

Saturday, April 5th

• Winning Team Presentation at PainConnect Innovation Challenge

In order to create real-world solutions to access and equity in pain management, we are bringing together stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem.

• Patient Advocates – Individuals who can share insights into patient needs and priorities.
• Social Workers – Experts in the social determinants of health and addressing health disparities as it relates to chronic pain, rehabilitation, and its related medication costs.
• Rehabilitation Specialists – Including physical therapists (PT), occupational therapists (OT), massage therapists, and acupuncture practitioners, to discuss the comprehensive components of chronic pain care.
• Medical Doctors – Physicians specializing in pain management to provide clinical perspectives and guidance.
• Healthcare Executives – Start-up entrepreneurs innovating in pain management technologies or services.
• Investors – Professionals in venture capital, angel investing, or other forms of healthcare investment.
• Usability Experts – Specialists in technology solutions for pain care, including accessibility for abled and differently-abled individuals.
• Payers/Insurers – Representatives from insurance companies or payers focused on healthcare coverage and reimbursement for chronic pain treatments.