The Challenge Voice
Welcome to the official blog of the Alexa Diabetes Challenge. Read the latest news and announcements and go behind-the-scenes with the Challenge team.

Blog Post

June 16, 2017
A Challenge update, plus hear from one of our judges 
We received an impressive 96 submissions

Open submissions closed last month and we’re now counting down to the finalist announcement! We received an impressive 96 submissions, which illuminate the many different ways voice technology can support those with type 2 diabetes. From data tracking and analysis to adherence games, we’re inspired by the breadth of ideas.

Since we closed submissions, our review panel has scored the full set of concepts against the Challenge criteria to determine which to advance to the judges. Made up of experts from across technology and healthcare, the review panel included representation from organizations such as bitly, Columbia University, Georgetown’s Innovation Center for Biomedical Informatics and Amazon.

Currently, our judges are reviewing submissions. With experience ranging from advocacy to AI, these leaders will apply their deep subject matter expertise to identify the most transformative ideas in voice technology. We’re honored to have them support the Challenge.

While we wait for the final decision, hear from judge Nicole Bell, Founder of the Seattle-based healthcare innovation hub Cambia Grove, in a recent podcast. She delves into why the healthcare innovation community should care about voice technology and how the Alexa Diabetes Challenge can help shape the future of healthcare.

“Most of the innovators that I’ve met in the last couple of years tend to be mission focused…they want to do good and they want to do well. The terminology we use in the healthcare industry to express that really well is healthcare’s triple aim; that is, to pursue better health and better experiences for people at a lower cost. I am here to say that is possible, an investment in a technology is a way to pull net healthcare costs out of the system and give consumers a really easy way to take care of themselves.”

Nicole Bell, Founder and Executive Director, Cambia Grove

Listen to the full podcast here. Stay tuned for the finalist announcement in July!