MyHealthMath, a Portland startup working to innovate within the health insurance industry, is attempting to mobilize Maine’s tech community to come up with innovative ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Maine.

The company, which was a Maine Startups Insider Startup to Watch in 2019, has organized the Flatten the Curve: COVID-19 Hack-a-thon. The virtual hack-a-thon takes place Fri., March 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There are already more than 50 people signed up, according to Dr. Elizabeth Cote, MyHealthMath’s chief medical officer and medical director.

The goal of the virtual hack-a-thon is to rapidly design web and mobile application prototypes that will assist with communications and logistics to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Maine. Those interested can register here.

“The response has been overwhelming. Participants range from a freshman college computer student to a veteran tech startup executive,” Dr. Cote told Maine Startups Insider. “We have garnered the attention of organizations interested in sustaining the effort. We will cultivate Maine innovations to slow the spread of COVID-19, flatten the curve and save Maine lives.”

As of the morning of Thurs., March 19, there were 52 presumed or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Maine, according to the Maine CDC. The disease is highly transmissible and leads to signs and symptoms that resemble the common cold, but can ultimately be deadly. Maine’s population is at particular risk given that it has the nation’s oldest population, said Dr. Cote, who is also one of 20 national Aspen Institute Health Innovator Fellows.

“What happens next is largely up to individual Mainers. It is a defining moment for our state. Every Mainer must take action, most importantly strict social distancing to protect our families and neighbors,” Dr. Cote said.

Some ideas for applications that could be built during the hack-a-thon include:

  • an evidence based self-triage system;
  • real-time actionable Maine-specific situation report texts;
  • interactive features to help self-enforce social distancing;
  • a virus tracking map;
  • a mechanism to help redistribute materials and resources in shortage;
  • a mobile transport scheduler;
  • and a welfare check request system.

“Mainers intuitively make the most of their resources in the face of challenges,” MyHealthMath Chief Technology Officer Dave Widener said. “Maine has a big resource in its growing tech community on top of innovative thinkers of all kinds in the state. We are going to virtually convene and mobilize that talent to flatten the curve of COVID19 cases in Maine.”

The company expects to hold another hack-a-thon next Friday, as well, according to Cote.

Other sponsors of the event include The VIA Agency, SaviLinx, Cross Employee Benefits, and Startup Maine.

Katie Shorey, president of Startup Maine, said startups and entrepreneurial-minded developers are well suited to tackle sudden and complex problems like those posed by the spread of COVID-19.

“Startups look at and solve problems differently—they are typically prepared to pivot or adapt,” Shorey told Maine Startups Insider. “We can utilize their creative and innovative minds to help protect our Maine community through technology.”

People, especially developers of all varieties, are encouraged to register. Sign up here.