- The MedTech Color 2022 Pitch Competition awards early-stage medtech companies founded or led by persons of color
- Awards include $100K – $250K in capital, classes/workshops and in-kind services
- The hybrid event on March 8 will feature live pitches, Q&A and deliberation from medtech industry judges
LOS ANGELES – Jan. 28, 2022 – MedTech Color, a non-profit organization with a mission to advance the representation of persons of color in the medtech industry, today announced the top ten finalists for the MedTech Color 2022 Pitch Competition.
Finalists include:
- NeuGen Dx INC – an AI assistive medical device for vaginitis diagnosis.
- AllergenIQ – a virtual allergy solution that addresses allergic conditions with a holistic perspective in order to democratize access and improve healthcare outcomes.
- TAB Diagnostic – a portable, non-invasive diagnostic salivary device for diabetics improving access to care, quality, and cost.
- Dialysis-X LLC – an easy-to-use, needle-free access device for over 482,000 hemodialysis patients in the US.
- Candlelit Therapy Inc. – a digital therapeutic for new and expectant BIPOC parents at risk of postpartum depression or anxiety.
- Free From Marketplace Inc. – a digital health platform offering a curated food selection service and integrated educational support, while measuring individualized health outcomes.
- Menstrual Mates Inc. – a re-invented, reusable menstrual cup that inserts like a tampon.
- Medtech Solution LLC – disruptive wound care technology that prevents lower extremity amputations from chronic non-healing wounds.
- SealCath LLC – an innovative double balloon catheter that saves time during colorectal procedures and increases hospital revenue.
- Diatech Diabetes, Inc. – monitoring software that improves the efficacy, safety, and automation of insulin delivery for people with diabetes.
The MedTech Color 2022 Pitch Competition is a foundational start for medical technology early-stage startups creating innovative technologies. The competition focuses on cutting-edge startups led by Black & Brown founders and allows them to take the stage for a virtual competition, showcase their products or services that will directly benefit patients, and tell their stories.
The competition, which is in its second year, received 75 submissions from Black and Brown medtech innovators. The finalists will be awarded $100,000 – $250,000 in non-dilutive funding and in-kind services, including:
- Curated masterclasses and workshops
- Membership to MedTech Color
- Special prizes sponsored by Johnson and Johnson Medical Devices* Companies, MedTech Innovator, California Life Sciences FAST Advisory Program, Texas Medical Center Innovation, and Harvard Catalyst Post Graduate Education TRANSCEND program
“To address the disproportionate gap in venture funding, the MedTech Color Pitch Competition provides direct support to startups led by Black and Brown founders through capital funding and mentorship from industry leaders,” said Kwame Ulmer, Founder of MedTech Color. “Black entrepreneurs receive less than one percent of total venture funding. By providing resources to these innovative companies, we are leveling the playing field and ultimately changing the medtech industry to be more representative of the population served.”
The hybrid event on March 8 will feature live pitches from the competing companies and a live Q&A and deliberation from industry judges. The in-person portion of the event will be held at BioscienceLA and includes lunch, refreshments, and networking opportunities, while virtual attendees can livestream the top ten pitch presentations. Registration for both portions of the event can be found here.
Judges include seasoned leaders from Johnson and Johnson Medical Devices Companies*, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Olympus.
*Sponsorship provided by the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies via Medical Device Business Services, Inc.
About MedTech Color
MedTech Color is dedicated to increasing and promoting diversity and inclusion across the medtech ecosystem. Native American, Asian, Hispanic and Black professionals and students are encouraged to participate. Through community building, thought leadership, and driving clinical trial enrollment of patients from under-represented groups, MedTech Color is working to increase the number of people of color who enter the medtech community and add tangible value to the medtech network. MedTech Color operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, incorporated in California.