MedTech Innovator Kicks Off Inaugural HealthTechLA
The nonprofit is partnering with UCLA, the City of LA, and others on four days of events
LOS ANGELES, MARCH 3, 2017 – MedTech Innovator, the industry’s nonprofit global competition and accelerator, announced today the inaugural HealthTechLA. From March 4 to 7, leading executives from across the globe will gather in Los Angeles for a series of three events highlighting the leading edge of medical technology innovation in Los Angeles. All HealthTechLA events will be held within the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).
The three events include Inventathon – a 48-hour hackathon focused on timely applications for automation and artificial intelligence in healthcare – on Saturday, March 4, and Sunday, March 5; the MedTech Innovator Los Angeles Pitch Event – the Southern California opportunity for innovative medical startups to pitch for a chance to advance in the medtech industry’s annual $500,000 competition series on Monday, March 6; and the 5th Annual UCLA Medical Device Partnering Conference on Tuesday, March 7.
“A big part of the reason MedTech Innovator is based in Los Angeles is the vibrant medical technology and life sciences community,” MedTech Innovator CEO Paul Grand said. “Our office is steps from UCLA, and we benefit greatly from the brilliant minds and research at this outstanding university and others in our region, as we guide the industry’s most promising device, diagnostic, and digital health startups through the process of product development and ultimately to investment, commercialization or acquisition.”
The programming is designed to sequentially feature technologies as they advance over the four-day period. Ground-up concepts will be created in Inventathon on days one and two with a $5,000 prize for first place. The winner will advance to be featured alongside more established MedTech Innovator startup pitches on day three, and the winner of day three will be featured in the partnering event for industry leaders on day four. The partnering conference will include local and national leaders in medical technology from organizations such as J&J Innovation, BD, Kaiser Permanente Ventures, EY, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Galvani Bioelectronics, Edwards Lifesciences, and many more.
“Advances in medical technology help us live longer, healthier, more fulfilled lives — and Los Angeles is home to the incredible talent and a spirit of innovation that makes historic breakthroughs possible,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “HealthTechLA is bringing together top minds from around the world to exchange ideas on how we can create a future where all people can share in the progress being made every day in the biomedical sciences.”
To execute the multi-day event, MedTech Innovator is partnering with UCLA’s Business of Science Center, which is facilitating the hackathon, as well as UCLA’s Technology Development Group, which is producing the industry partnering event on the final day, and Catalaize, a Pasadena, Calif.-based multifaceted consultant for healthcare organizations and technology companies. The pitch event will feature presentations from best-in-class medical device, diagnostic, and digital health startup companies in the Southern California region and provides opportunities to network with MedTech Innovator’s national and regional partners, including investors, healthcare providers, and senior industry executives.
Additional supporters of HealthTechLA include BIOCOM, the leading advocate for California’s life science sector, the City of Los Angeles, and Riverside Law, which specializes in scientific areas such as biotechnology, diagnostics, information technology and medical devices, among others.
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About MedTech Innovator
MedTech Innovator is the industry’s nonprofit global competition and accelerator for medical device, digital health and diagnostic companies. Our mission is to improve the lives of patients by accelerating the growth of companies that are transforming the healthcare system. MedTech Innovator 2017 features 100 companies that address one or more of the transformative themes identified in an annual survey of leading manufacturers and providers.
To learn more about MedTech Innovator, visit https://medtechinnovator.org/ and follow @MedTechAwards on Twitter.
Media Contact:
Ashley McMaster
(770) 262-0729
ashley@medtechinnovator.org
