Introducing POPS! Australian winner of the Zurich Innovation Championship
SYDNEY, Australia - Zurich Australian Insurance Limited (Zurich) today announced that POPS! has won the Australian round of its global Innovation Championship for their virtual care platform which aims to simplify the management of chronic health conditions such as diabetes.
In its second year, the Championship offers start-ups the opportunity to work with the global insurer to grow their business. Established start-ups around the world entered various local rounds to pitch commercially viable technologies and innovative business models that tackle challenges around climate, health, automation and other issues expected to put a strain on the next generation.
Australian winner POPS! uses an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven virtual diabetes coach called ‘Mina’ that aims to reduce chronic healthcare costs and complexity. It was created in response to complicated and time-consuming tools currently required to manage chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. People who use POPS! have access to 24/7 management of their chronic condition by using sensors to measure health indicators such as glucose levels.
POPS! will be invited to present their pitch at the next competition round in Hong Kong. The regional APAC winner will then enter the final global round and will present their pitch in Switzerland later this year competing against winners from each region around the world.
The global winner will have the opportunity to develop a pilot program that will make their products and services available to Zurich customers in selected countries and regions.
Volker Mayr, Zurich Chief Information Officer, Australia & New Zealand said: “Innovation is at the heart of our strategy at Zurich. This competition allows us to connect with leading start-up innovators and offer them a great opportunity, whilst enhancing our contribution to the industry and our customers.”
The Australian round of the Zurich Innovation Championship attracted more than 40 start-up entries from around the globe, more than double that of the competition’s first year in 2019.
ENDS
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Adam Siddique
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Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) is a leading global multi-line insurer founded more than 150 years ago, which has grown into a business serving more than 82 million customers in more than 200 countries and territories, while delivering industry-leading total shareholder returns. Reflecting its purpose to ‘create a brighter future together,’ Zurich offers protection services that go beyond traditional insurance, to support its customers in building resilience. Since 2020, the Zurich Forest project supports reforestation and biodiversity restoration in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. The Group has more than 65,000 employees and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd (ZURN) is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and has a level I American Depositary Receipt (ZURVY) program, which is traded over-the-counter on OTCQX. Further information is available at www.zurich.com.