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Last years winning Startup teams

1st Place: Rubitection logo

Focusing on an insight around the inability to detect pressure ulcers on the skin of color in a timely manner, Rubitection developed a low cost, easy to use system that can objectively assess the health status of skin regardless of skin color. This unique, multi-sensor measurement method transitions the diagnosis of pressure ulcers from a subjective visual measurement to a more objective, data-driven solution including a digital health system for diagnosis.


2nd Place: Liqid Medical logo

Liquid Medical has developed a new device to improve outcomes for glaucoma patients by leveraging the body’s natural ability to regulate and lower pressure in the eye. The solution diverts fluid to an existing reservoir in the eye to harness the body’s natural ability to self-regulate pressure, optimizing control, and avoiding typical complications with glaucoma.

3rd Place: Wave Therapeutics logo

Patients utilizing wheelchairs have specific needs around the prevention of pressure given the time spent in the chair. Wave Therapeutics has developed a solution that delivers real-time monitoring of pressure levels to modify and re-distribute as needed to promote adequate blood flow. This combined with other unique device sensor input has the ability to be used as both a preventative solution as well as an intelligent monitoring system.

People’s Choice:

Blue Eye has developed a clinical decision support tool that uses proprietary artificial intelligence algorithms to assist radiologists and other healthcare professionals in significantly faster and more accurate detection and diagnosis of pneumonia, pneumothorax, tuberculosis, cancer, stroke, and COVID-19.

Nemera Innovation Labs Startup Competition


Program Overview

In response to highly successful events over the past eight years, Nemera Innovation Labs , Matter and mHub are co-hosting the ninth annual Startup Competition on the week of November 15th, 2021. This event will be virtual, with the top ten leading early stage drug delivery device, medtech, and digital health startup finalists competing for $20,000 in cash and prizes.

First-round startup competitors will be selected by a judging panel of leaders from academia, global corporations, investors, and community health organizations. They will narrow the list of eligible competitors down to the top 20 teams. The second round of vetting and review will identify the finalists that will present live in November at the HealthTECH Competition. Startups will provide a five-minute pitch followed by a five-minute Q&A during a private stream with the judges. On the merit of their live pitches, jurors will select the top three startups for cash and prize awards at the event.

On November 18th, all ten startups will give their final one-minute presentations to the larger audience of event attendees and judges. This is an opportunity to gain the attention of the attendees and take home the people’s choice award, voted by tweeting with the hashtag #NemeraLabs21. We hope you can attend this great event and look forward to hearing your voice in the People’s Choice.

2021 Program Schedule


Startup Competition week of November 15th, 2021

Nov. 15 12:00 PM US CSTOrientation for Startups
Nov. 16 12:00 PM US CSTFIRST ROUND STARTUP FINALIST PRESENTATIONS
5 five-minute startup live-pitches and Q&A
Nov. 17 12:00 PM US CSTPITCHES – SECOND ROUND STARTUP FINALIST PRESENTATIONS
5 five-minute startup live-pitches Q&A
Nov. 18 11:00 AM US CSTJUDGES DELIBERATION
Judges will discuss presentations
Nov. 18 5:00 PM US CSTQUICK PITCH LIVE EVENT
10 one-minute startup live pitches and winners announcement

This years top ten: to be announced on November 18th 2021


Program Goals


– Improve lives by bringing innovative health solutions to patients

– Encourage entrepreneurship in the healthcare industry

– Grow the drug delivery and medical device innovation ecosystem

– Connect corporations with early stage companies

This Year’s Sponsors


Gold & Silver Partners

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner Logo

Media Partners

For 2021 sponsorship opportunities, please contact Steve McPhilliamy.

Steve.mcphilliamy@nemera.net

 773.907.9500

2021 Judges


Barbara Goodman

Barbara Goodman leads Cures Within Reach and its mission of driving more treatments to more patients more quickly through medical repurposing research. She joined in 2017 as President & COO to help expand the reach and influence of CWR in both the philanthropic and commercial spaces, as well as to foster organizational growth and financial sustainability, and became CEO in 2020 


Vikram Karnani

Currently, EVP & President, International operations at Horizon Therapeutics, and served most recently as EVP & chief commercial officer at Horizon. He has extensive executive and commercial leadership experience with a focus on sales, marketing, market access, and patient services, in the healthcare industry, spanning areas including biotech, pharmaceuticals, cell therapy and medical devices. Prior experience in management consulting, semiconductors and telecommunications. 


Simon Baconnier

Currently Scientific Director of Nemera, Simon has a scientific background (PhD in Biophysics,). He has occupied leadership roles in several medical technologies’ innovation projects (nanomedicine and implantable devices) and in drug development (ADC, immuno-radiotherapy). He has experienced different industrial environment, including the CEO of a startup (Antineo) and as the CSO of the biotech company (OncoTherapy) as well as academic institutions. With a strong clinical sensitivity Simon has worked and is still working at the bridging of these different communities to serve the patients need. 

Katie Arnold

President & Founder, SPRIG Consulting LLCElite team located in medical hubs around the world providing strategic marketing services that bring medical innovation and solutions to market so that patients can live longer, happier lives. 

Heather Walsh

Heather Walsh is the Executive Director of the MedTech cohort of mHUB’s Accelerator and is responsible for sourcing and evaluation, as well as program execution. Prior to joining mHUB, Heather played various roles at Baxter, including building and leading Baxter’s External Innovation function that focused on increasing open innovation partnerships across universities, incubators/accelerators, medical centers, and other partners. She joined Baxter from the University of Chicago, where she was the Assistant Director and Head of Business Development in the Technology Commercialization and Licensing group, at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. 

Benefits to startups


Visibility of their innovations before hundreds of key industry leaders

The opportunity for valuable direct feedback from jury professionals with proven track records of successfully bringing emerging technologies to market

A chance to be privately mentored by one of the most experienced development teams in the world

A chance to win $20,000 in cash and prizes – including six month free membership to MATTER and other in-kind services, to directly advance their innovations toward commercialization

Startups


2021 HealthTECH Startup Competition Key Dates

Sept 27Website opens for startup applications
Nov 7Deadline for final startup applications (Midnight)
Nov 8Top 10 candidates selected and notified by panel
Nov 16First round startup finalist presentations
Nov 17Second round startup finalist presentations
Nov 18Quick pitch live event

Judging Criteria

Our team of notable jurors will review all applications and narrow them to ten finalists to participate in the live pitching competition. Entries will be judged based on the following criteria:

  • Showcasing technologies that provide clinically effective solutions to real healthcare problems that improve patient outcomes
  • Clearly communicated solutions that fulfill user needs and are captured in a detailed and compelling business case/business plan 
  • A collaborative team that demonstrates diversity of thought, cohesion, and the capability to execute proposed innovations
  • Presenting unique, viable business opportunities that appeal to potential investors

Check out our recap to learn more about our past event and winners!