About MedTech Innovator

MedTech Innovator is the largest and highest performing accelerator of medical technology in the world and the medtech industry’s premiere showcase and competition for innovative medical device, digital health and diagnostic companies.

• Our alumni have brought 90 products to the market, had 21 acquisitions and gone on to collectively raise over $4.1B in follow-on funding
• Fun fact – MedTech Innovator alumni closed $1.5B in funding across 99 companies in 2021 alone
• Our accelerator is remote-friendly, having operated as a virtual program since 2015
• We are a founder-friendly nonprofit and do not require equity or fees for participation
• Companies that have raised up to a Series C are eligible to apply

You might find it helpful to watch the replay of our informational session about the 2022 MedTech Innovator program below. It gives tips, answers some common questions and walks through filling in the application.

U.S. Program Mid-stage Showcase Cohort Application Deadline - March 31, 2022. Early stage cohort applications now closed.

MedTech Innovator 2022 Overview

Each year, MedTech Innovator recognizes the 50 best-in-class startups and scaleups across the medtech industry. Companies selected for this honor receive a slot in the MedTech Innovator Showcase. The MedTech Innovator Showcase provides high profile visibility at leading conferences and media, access to healthcare investors, stakeholders, decision makers; a network of mentors and peers; and participation in a customized virtual curriculum. Applications are closed for our Accelerator track. Applications are open through March 31 for companies that have raised a series B, series C or are on the market for the mid-stage Showcase cohort.

A subset of the MedTech Innovator Showcase startups will be selected to participate in the MedTech Innovator Accelerator track, which provides in-depth mentorship through one-on-one matching with one or more mentors from our corporate partners. Acceptance into the Accelerator track is based on the stage of the startup, with preference for companies that have not yet raised a Series B or established a significant strategic partnership. 

Program Benefits

MedTech Innovator Road Tour – Based on input from our corporate partners and other online application reviewers, 200 companies are invited to participate in one of a series of pitch events, awarding a coveted opportunity to meet with industry-leading judges and key opinion leaders. Pitch event judges include investors, providers, and senior executives from world-class medtech companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Becton Dickinson, Edwards Lifesciences, Dexcom, Olympus, Nipro, W.L. Gore and others. Historically, participation has resulted in financial investment, recruitment of board advisors, and establishment of research partnerships for startups, among other outcomes. All companies invited to pitch will be provided with PDF feedback summaries from our judges.

MedTech Innovator Showcase – 50 companies will be selected to participate in the MedTech Innovator Showcase. These companies will have access to corporate executives, investors, providers, payers, FDA, NIH, DoD, and other stakeholders. They will join an exclusive peer alumni network of 420 of the highest performing medtech startups around the world. Showcase companies receive one complimentary registration to the WSGR Medical Device Conference in San Francisco, as well as one full-access registration to The MedTech Conference, powered by AdvaMed. At both conferences, companies will participate in the MedTech Innovator Showcase, an on-stage interactive program. The showcase highlights the most innovative companies in sector-based sessions, moderated by leading corporate executives and investors. Additionally, MedTech Innovator Showcase companies will be profiled in a booklet distributed at The MedTech Conference in Toronto, Canada.

MedTech Innovator Accelerator – A subset of companies from the Showcase will receive a place in the MedTech Innovator Accelerator, a four-month virtual mentorship-focused program. The Accelerator commences with the MedTech Innovator Summit in San Francisco in June and concludes October 24-26, 2022 at The MedTech Conference in Boston. Opportunities include networking, workshops, and pitching to investors, manufacturers, providers. In addition to receiving the above Showcase benefits, Accelerator companies will be assigned mentors from one or more of MedTech Innovator’s corporate partners, receive complimentary AdvaMed Accel membership for 2022, and compete for up to $500,000 in non-dilutive cash prizes and awards including incubator space from Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS.

Eligibility & Requirements

All early- to mid-stage medical device, diagnostic or digital health companies are encouraged to apply. To see a list of interest areas that our partners are specifically interested in, visit MedTech Industry Strategic Interest Areas. Companies who have raised (or are soon to close) a series B through series C will be considered for only the Showcase track. Companies that have not yet closed a Series B will be considered for the Accelerator.

Preferably, applicants will have prototypes and minimally some proof of concept evidence, as well as the funds available / runway remaining to execute during the program.

Companies that are accepted to the program must commit a co-founder, CEO, or appropriate senior member of their leadership team to attend the June 2022 MedTech Innovator Summit and the October 24-26, 2022 Showcase and Finals at The MedTech Conference in Boston. Remote participation for these conferences will be provided, given any travel restrictions or the need to protect public health.

MedTech Innovator now offers a parallel competition and program providing content regarding accessing and operating in the Asia Pacific region and a Showcase to industry executives. Companies may apply to both US-based and Asia programs. Click here for more information on our Asia Pacific program

Apply Now

APPLICATIONS FOR THE ASIA PACIFIC PROGRAM AND THE US MID-STAGE SHOWCASE COHORT ARE OPEN. Early stage applications will only be accepted if we have reached out to you directly.

1. Register an account

If you haven’t already done so, you’ll need to set up an account. Click the Register button below to go to the registration page. Enter a username and email and click the Register button. That will send you an email with a link where you can set your password. Then, proceed to the next steps below.

Login Register

2. Complete your application 

Submit a new application on your MedTech Innovator Member Page. You’ll be able to save your application in-progress and come back later to make changes and additions as needed.

3. Be ready to pitch!

The highest scoring companies will be invited for the opportunity to pitch MedTech Innovator and our panel of reviewers at one of our regional pitch events. Fifty companies are selected to participate in the MedTech Innovator Showcase and a subset of companies are chosen to participate in the four-month MedTech Innovator Accelerator. Final company selections will be announced in late May 2022.

See our FAQ’s for answers to common questions.