Startup Prize: Focus on Health announced the companies who will be competing at this year’s Final Final, Startup Prize’s final event happening on August 24. Presented by Prize Foundation and Louisiana Economic Development, Startup Prize is an entrepreneurial program and competition based in Shreveport, LA, that is open to innovative early stage health and medical startups from around the country. This year, this unique competition attracted the largest and most diverse group of startups the competition has ever seen.
For 2024, Startup Prize hosted over 60 startups, achieving record-breaking numbers and attracting innovators from twenty-three states across the country. With a FDA Track and a Non-FDA Track competing for the coveted Startup Prize, this year’s eligible businesses included medical and surgical devices, therapeutics, healthtech, health services, as well as pharmaceutical research.
“The Startup Prize has become one of the required stops for health-focused entrepreneurs which makes us incredibly proud to be able to bring this to our city” said Gregory Kallenberg, Executive Director of the Prize Foundation and Founder of the Startup Prize. “We are excited to host these incredibly bright women and men, and we look forward to helping them on their journey to success.”
During the Startup Prize Finals, the five finalists will present their concepts to the Startup Prize Investor-Judge panel and undergo rigorous questioning on the merits and feasibility of their businesses. The most exciting aspect of the finals is that not only do members of the Investor-Judge panel select the winners, they also have the ability to offer investment to any of these final startups. A grand prize of $10,000 cash will be awarded to the winner of the FDA Track and the winner of the NonFDA Track. The winners for each track will be announced at a private awards brunch on August 25 that will be broadcasted live.
To learn more about Startup Prize: Focus on Health, visit lastartupprize.com.Startup Prize: Focus on Health 2024 Finalists:
FDA Track Finalists
Emboa Medical Inc (West Lafayette, IN)
Using nature-inspired design, Emboa Medical has developed a novel blood clot extraction device to address the prevalent issue of stroke, the second leading cause of death in the world.
Taurus Vascular (Houston, TX)
Taurus Vascular is a medical device company focused on improving long-term outcomes for patients with aortic aneurysms. They are developing a safe, effective, and minimally-invasive catheter-based technology that places a self-deploying stent to reduce the risk and impact of endoleaks after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR).
NonFDA Track Finalists
AGED Diagnostics (Bethesda, MD)
AGED Diagnostics is using genomic innovation to develop the most accurate blood test for liver disease. These tests will help physicians keep patients in the monitoring program, reduce the financial burden for health insurers and improve patient outcomes through early detection and intervention.
OrbDoc (Atlanta, GA)
OrbDoc has created OrbVoice, an AI-powered dictation application for clinicians, which automatically generates comprehensive discharge summaries from doctors’ conversations and EHR data, enabling more quality time with patients and reducing costly readmissions.
Veza Innovations (Clarksburg, MD)
Veza Innovations focuses on parent and child wellness and early childhood development, providing options and versatility not yet available in today’s market. Their first product is a sit-to-stand convertible high chair, developed with and endorsed by pediatric specialists.
