University of Minnesota Opens Medtech Pitch Competition

Innovators and startups can now submit medical technology designs for a chance to win cash prizes at the upcoming event.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Biotech

University of Minnesota Opens Medtech Pitch Competition

Live Poll

Do you believe startup pitch competitions effectively encourage the development of new medical technologies?

The University of Minnesota Design of Medical Devices Conference has officially opened submissions for its Great Medtech Pitch Competition. The contest seeks innovations with commercial potential from students, faculty, startups, and established corporations.

Why it matters

The competition serves as a critical platform for inventors to receive direct feedback from leaders in medical technology research and development. It aims to foster the growth of new medical solutions by connecting developers with experienced industry professionals.

The competition offers a Grand Prize of $5,000, with 2nd and 3rd place awards of $2,500 and $1,000 respectively. Entrants must submit innovations that demonstrate viable commercial potential to be considered for these honors.

The players

University of Minnesota

This public research university located in Minneapolis serves as the host institution for the annual Design of Medical Devices Conference.

The details

Applicants from academic and corporate backgrounds are invited to present their medical technologies for consideration. Finalists will move forward to an in-person pitch event held at the McNamara Alumni Center in Minneapolis.

Dec. 29, 2026: Submission deadline
Feb. 6, 2027: Finalists notified
March 29-31, 2027: Design of Medical Devices Conference
March 31, 2027: Great Medtech Pitch Competition

The Tech Race

This pitch competition functions within the broader framework of the Design of Medical Devices Conference, which serves as a nexus for academic and commercial innovation. It highlights the industry-wide transition toward rapid prototyping and the commercialization of specialized medical hardware.

For participating inventors and startups, this event provides a tangible path to securing seed funding and high-level industry mentorship. Successful designs may eventually lead to new medical devices entering the commercial healthcare market.

The takeaway

Aspiring medical inventors should focus their submissions on designs with clearly demonstrated commercial scalability to capture judge interest. Early preparation is essential for those looking to secure the necessary documentation for the late December deadline.

What happens next

The submission deadline for the competition is December 29, 2026, followed by the notification of finalists on February 6, 2027. The final event will take place in person on March 31, 2027.