2020 M2D2 $200K Challenge Pitch-Off & Awards Celebration
Event Information
About this Event
Calling all Investors, Medical Device Innovators, Biotech Entrepreneurs, Academics, Students, and Life Sciences Industry Professionals:
Join the worldwide life sciences community online as the $200K Challenge finalists selected through a competitive process last spring pitch their innovations virtually to our panel of judges. At stake: a share of a $200,000 purse of sponsor-provided, in-kind resources that can help take an innovation to the next level -- or even to market!
(Examples of in-kind resources include lab space, equipment, and legal/regulatory guidance)
We've seen past winners advance to larger funding rounds, commence clinical studies, and enter strategic partnerships with global life sciences companies. The $200K Challenge is the place to see what's up-and-coming in life sciences innovation.
TICKETS ARE FREE—CHOOSE ONE OR BOTH EVENTS:
Finalist Pitch-Off — Thursday, September 17 @ 5pm ET
Our 15 Finalists will each have four minutes to make their cases to our panel.
Awards Celebration — Thursday, October 1st @ 5pm ET
Join us for the announcement of the $200K Challenge winners!
Mary Ann Picard, M2D2 Director of Operations, commented on the Finalist selection process: “Every year, the Challenge gives us a peek at amazing early-stage ideas in medical devices, medtech, biotech, and therapeutics. It’s an all-consuming task to sort through dozens and dozens of entrants. But it’s also exciting and energizing because the entries are always novel and innovative."
Meet 2020's $200K Challenge Finalists
15 finalists have been selected from more than 250 applicants for the 9th Annual M2D2 $200K Challenge. This year’s participation sets a new record for the competition:
Aidar Health – MouthLab is a non-invasive, at-home, rapid health assessment device for early detection and management of exacerbation in COPD patients.
AiM Medical Robotics – Novel robotics platform with AI and machine learning.
Arrow Dx – A sensitive, inexpensive, user-friendly test to screen early for NAFLD & NASH.
CranioSense – IPASS device that helps save lives by rapidly assessing a patient’s intracranial pressure non-invasively following traumatic brain injury.
Cx Therapeutics – A novel device to reduce preterm birth and improve outcomes for pregnant women with cervical insufficiency.
ExonanoRNA – Platform biotechnology company developing a new class of RNA nanotechnology-based therapeutics for cancer treatment.
Hyalex Orthopaedics – Transformational synthetic cartilage technology and implant systems for diseased and damaged joints.
Lowell Therapeutics – Small molecule short-acting anticoagulant and will be the only approved anticoagulant for ICU patients in need of an artificial kidney.
MicroBioMed – Patented vaginal biomechanics analyzer is an operator-independent measurement device to quantitatively study vaginal wall skin properties.
Navigation Sciences – An image-guided surgical navigation system for real-time GPS guidance to precisely locate and excise tumors with optimal margins.
Oriel Research Therapeutics – A platform for early detection of diseases using AI-Learning and Deep Neural Network methods.
Prolifagen – Developing a medicine for regeneration of cardiac muscle in patients with large myocardial infarcts, with the objective to prevent development of heart failure.
RBI Medical – Selective nerve stimulation platform offers patients better therapy options for life-altering conditions.
Savran Technologies – A unique and patented “lab-on-a-chip” technology to capture rare (~1 in a billion) cells from a tube of ordinary blood.
Amachumu Bio – A supplement to cure intestinal worms that disproportionately affect individuals in developing countries.
Keynote Speaker:
Jennifer Griffin, Ph.D.
Vice President, Industry Strategy and Investments , Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
Jennifer has over 10 years of experience working to develop life science technologies in the public, private and academic sectors. She has advised investors, universities, and management teams around the globe and is currently responsible for developing the State’s investment strategy to strengthen the life sciences industry in Massachusetts.
Jennifer joined the MLSC in September of 2017 as the Vice President, Industry Strategy and Investments. In her role, she develops and manages the investment strategy for a variety of initiatives and partnerships for the life sciences industry, including with private, public, and nonprofit stakeholders. These include investments targeted at seeding early-stage companies, supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs, accelerating industry –academia partnerships, as well as attracting and retaining life science companies in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.