Award nominations are open for entrepreneurs working on an innovative solution or technology that improves the lives of older adults. This year, the John Hopper Impact Award, sponsored by Ziegler Link-age Funds, focuses on cognitive and behavioral health. The award will bring attention to entrepreneurs whose work enhances the quality of life, care, and overall experience for individuals living with dementia, cognitive decline, and behavioral health challenges associated with aging.

During our What’s Next Longevity Deal Talk podcast, we interviewed Katie Schmitz, managing partner at Ziegler Link-age Funds, who told us the Hopper Award nominations are opening now.

“People can self-nominate or call attention to entrepreneurs who are innovating support for individuals or family members experiencing dementia or cognitive decline,” Katie says. “We’ll select three finalists. We are looking for entrepreneurs who have developed an innovative solution that has a measurable impact on improving the lives of older adults and their families.”

The deadline for nominations is April 18.

Three finalists for the award will attend and present their projects at MFA’s What’s Next Longevity Venture Summit, June 11-12 in Berkeley, Calif. From Zeigler, the award recipient will receive a one-year business advisor partnership. They may select their advisor from a roster of highly experienced individuals, including senior living provider leaders, serial entrepreneurs, and venture specialists. Also, the award recipient will attend and present their project at the Ziegler Link-age Funds Symposium in Chicago in July. The investor-exclusive symposium is an invitation-only event bringing together more than one hundred industry leaders and innovators to discuss the future of technology and its potential to revolutionize the aging and post-acute fields.

Jimmy Zolo, co-founder of the adaptive clothing manufacturer Joe & Bella, was last year’s Hooper Impact Award recipient.

For more, listen to our What’s Next Longevity Deal Talk podcast.