EPIcenter is working to connect local businesses to the purchasing power of the Memphis Medical District anchor institutions through a new competition, "Opportunity Operation Challenge."
The nine anchor institutions within the Memphis Medical District (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, ALSAC, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Regional One Health, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Baptist College of Health Sciences, Southern College of Optometry and Memphis Bioworks Foundation) annually procure more than $1.2B in goods and services. Their purchasing power bolsters numerous industries throughout the Memphis region and can range from the most advanced medical imaging equipment to paper products for hospital bathrooms.
As part of a collective effort to support more local businesses, these institutions have partnered with EPIcenter to launch a business plan competition. The competition seeks to encourage Memphis-based innovators, entrepreneurs, and existing businesses to help solve operational pain points within the supply chains of the institutions, and use the experience to launch, scale, or expand their businesses.
Participants will compete in one of four focus areas. Each was designed in collaboration with the purchasing representatives, each focusing on an operational opportunity to which the institutions are seeking solutions. Participants will present a solution as well as a business plan for how to expand or grow their business around these areas. The focus areas include:
The competition will launch on October 26 during a kick-off event from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at High Cotton Brewery. The event will feature more details on the competition process, networking, and an opportunity to hear the purchasing representatives discuss their pain points in greater detail.
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