Announcing MedTech Actuator Showcase 2021 Award Winners
At the recent MedTech Actuator Showcase we joined ecosystem leaders to celebrate Asia Pacific’s next wave of early-stage MedTech, HealthTech and BioTech entrepreneurs – with four taking out prestigious awards.
About MedTech Actuator Entrepreneurs
Our changemakers are taking their innovations further, faster with MedTech Actuator programs – and took to the stage in Melbourne to pitch to industry leaders including the largest names in medical technology and investors.
Stepping into the spotlight were entrepreneurs from programs including MedTech Actuator Origin – an early-stage health innovation pitch competition and MedTech Actuator – Asia Pacific’s MedTech accelerator. These programs are made possible with the support of the REDI Initiative, powered by MTPConnect.
Two MedTech Actuator Menzies Fellows 2022 were also announced. With the support of the MedTech Actuator and Menzies Foundation our new Fellows are set to unlock the potential of their research on cardiovascular disease and schizophrenia.
Want To See All the Action?
Watch all the action in our MedTech Actuator Showcase video. You’ll see our startups pitching their innovations for a chance to win prestigious awards, the big reveal of MedTech Actuator Menzies Fellows for 2022, and insights from industry leaders.
Award Winners
J&J MedTech Actuator Origin Award 2021: Vysum
Senior Director of New Ventures, Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) for Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Kathy Connell joined us to announce the J&J MedTech Actuator Origin Award.
Congratulations to Lorace (Tianshu) Zhang from Vysum on taking out this prestigious award after a highly competitive process, intensive immersion sprints and industry-led mentoring. Vysum emerged as the winner out of ~20 early-stage entrepreneurs.
Vysum is developing a handheld device to make eye drop administration more convenient for glaucoma patients to improve treatment compliance and prevent blindness.
As the J&J MedTech Actuator Origin Award 2021 winner, Vysum receives $15K prize money, fast-tracked application to MedTech Actuator, and in-kind support.
Are you a future MedTech Actuator Origin contestant? Learn more and sign up below for news and updates on future intakes.
MedTech Actuator Prize for the Best Demo Day Pitch: Moon Technologies
The MedTech Actuator is Asia Pacific’s MedTech accelerator and supports founders in taking their innovation from seed to Series A. In just 15-months, founders can achieve what typically takes three years or more.
In a specialised acceleration model MedTech Actuator brings together over 100 speakers, experts, and panellists to cover everything from regulations and reimbursements to QMS and supply chain.
Our high calibre founders have been on a steep learning curve in their first six-months. At MedTech Actuator Demo Day, they took to the Showcase stage to share their impressive progress and pitch their innovations.
These changemakers are working to improve and save lives with innovations spanning IVF, genome sequencing, heart attack, paramedics, orthopaedics, nicotine replacement, family health, prosthetics, surgery, and rehab – harnessing technologies including virtual reality and wearables.
Congratulations to every founder on their relentless execution towards market success over these past six-months – and to Jian Ming Tan from Moon Technologies who took out the top MedTech Actuator Prize for their pitch.
Moon Technologies is working to provide emergency patients’ health data to paramedics in real-time and has been awarded $10K to support their endeavours.
Are you a future MedTech Actuator startup? Applications for our next intake open in January 2022! Learn more and sign up below for updates on how to apply.
MedTech Actuator People’s Choice Award: The Think Project
Congratulations to MedTech Actuator Origin contestant Dr Anushi Rajapaksa from The Think Project on taking out the MedTech Actuator People’s Choice Award.
MedTech Actuator Showcase guests from the innovation ecosystem – spanning investor groups and VCs, multinational corporations, hospitals, product development firms, universities, and research institutes – voted for their favourite pitch.
This coveted vote of confidence went to The Think Project for their work to discover and develop new technologies that will enable liquid medications to be inhaled, rather than injected. The Think Project wins $1K prize money, with the support of the Australian Government – Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.
MedTech Actuator Superhero Founder Award
The MedTech Actuator Superhero Founder Award went to Dylan Andrews from Yabi Medical in recognition of his dedication to the MedTech Actuator – Asia Pacific’s MedTech accelerator.
Dylan came through our last MedTech Actuator Origin before embarking on his journey with the accelerator program.
Dylan has shown tremendous commitment and passion for the program and excelled under challenging circumstances, caring for four children in lockdown and working night shifts while doing the program.
Yabi Medical is developing an innovative, accurate and automated method for monitoring and escalating surgical drain output.
Read more on Dylan’s experience with the MedTech Actuator. Congratulations Dylan, you inspire us all!
MedTech Actuator Menzies Fellowship 2022
Two Australian researchers were announced as MedTech Actuator Menzies Fellows 2022. Congratulations to Dr Warwick Nesbitt and Dr Gregory Stewart who are set to transform their research impact.
The Fellowship will provide Warwick and Gregory with a strong grounding in entrepreneurship, commercialisation, and the startup ecosystem. This will help to unlock the potential of their respective research on cardiovascular disease and schizophrenia. Learn more about the Fellowship and their research.
Are you a future MedTech Actuator Menzies Fellow? If you’re a career researcher sign up below for updates on future intakes.
It Takes A Village to Raise a MedTech Startup
The MedTech Actuator Showcase and the specialised acceleration model underpinning all of our programs would not be possible without the support of the innovation ecosystem.
Special guests
Thank you to our distinguished Showcase guests for your support of our MedTech superheroes and the ecosystem:
- The Hon. Minister Jaala Pulford – Minister for Employment; Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy; Minister for Small Business; Minister for Resources
- Dr Mukesh Haikerwal AC – Chair, MedTech Actuator
- Dr Ashley Bates – Director, Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals at AusIndustry
- Kathy Connell – Senior Director of New Ventures, Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) for Johnson & Johnson Innovation, California
- Dr Kate Cornick – CEO, LaunchVic
- Rebecca Davies AO – MedTech Actuator Board Member; Director, Heart Foundation
- Michelle Gallaher – MedTech Actuator Board member; CEO – Opyl
- Liz Gillies – CEO, Menzies Foundation
- Dr Dan Grant – Managing Director & CEO, MTPConnect
- Peter Jopling AM QC – Governor, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
- Prof Graeme Samuel AC – Professorial Fellow in Monash University’s Business School and School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine
Premier Sponsors
We would like to acknowledge our Premier Sponsors for the MedTech Actuator Showcase – thank you to:
Partners
We would also like to thank our Foundation and Product Development partners for their constant and continued support to both the MedTech Actuator and the ecosystem.
Friends and supporters
A very special shoutout to all our ecosystem friends and supporters. Without you, we would not be able to surround founders with the support they need to bring innovations to the patients and clinicians who need it most.
MedTech Actuator Accelerator applications are now open for 2022!
Do you have a medical innovation that you’re ready to bring to market? MedTech Actuator’s Accelerator is here to help and applications are open now. Over 12 months, the program will equip your team with the skills, the network and the resources needed to successfully navigate the commercialisation pathway, moving your startup from pre-seed to series A in 12 months.
Apply today to be a part of MedTech Actuator’s next Accelerator cohort!
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