The Great Medtech Pitch Competition offers a unique opportunity for researchers, inventors, and entrepreneurs to present their innovations to industry veterans and leaders in the fields of medical technology R&D, marketing, and commercialization to compete for cash prizes.
Who should apply?
- Students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs, and startups (domestic and international) developing medical device innovations with commercial potential.
- This competition is not exclusive to the University of Minnesota.
How does it work?
- Entries will be evaluated by a panel of judges to select up to 12 finalists.
- Finalists will deliver a five-minute live pitch.
- The winner will be selected and announced live at the conference.
- The winner will have the opportunity to enroll in the Bakken Medical Devices Center's Entrepreneurs Needing Development with University Resources and Experts Program (ENDURE).
- Grand Prize = $5,000 (Sponsored by Bakken Medical Devices Center)
- 2nd Place = $2,500 (Sponsored by Avio Medical Consulting)
How do I apply?
- Submit a PowerPoint deck of no more than 10 slides summarizing your innovation. Cover slides, resources, or acknowledgements count towards the 10 slides.
Judging
Criteria
- Quality of clinical need statement (problem)
- Technical soundness of research (solution)
- Commercial potential
- Fundability
- Presentation quality
Meet the Judges
Judges are comprised of medtech leaders for industry, academia, and venture capital:
Morgan Evans, MBA: Morgan is a serial med tech entrepreneur and investor, which means her passion is launching new businesses. Over the past ten years, she has founded or co-founded six companies — two medical device companies, two med tech accelerators, and two venture investing vehicles.
Tanner Fuchs, MBA: Tanner Fuchs’s role as Senior Manager of New Business Development at Boston Scientific gives him strong expertise in identifying and advancing high-potential medical technologies. His experience cofounding Roundtable Rx and serving on its board, along with prior roles at Medtronic and Solventum, provides him with a broad entrepreneurial and industry perspective on product development and commercialization.
Paul Gam, MBA, NACD.DC: Paul’s experience as Co-founder and CEO of Zurich Medical and Vice President, International Development of St. Jude Medical gives him deep leadership experience in scaling medical device businesses and navigating complex global markets. As a current partner at GS Grace Associates, he continues to advise and shape medtech strategy and commercialization for emerging companies. His role on the Board of Trustees for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota adds a valuable perspective on healthcare delivery and payer priorities.
Dan Gilbertson, MBA: Dan is a Sr Corporate Development Director at Medtronic, working on their central M&A team. With over 13 years of experience in M&A roles at Medtronic, Dan has led and advised on numerous transactions that span the breadth of the Medtronic portfolio, investments and transaction structures, and global regions. Dan’s current focus is on “Corporate Functions”, which includes areas like global operations and supply chain, data/AI, R&D, enterprise prioritization, and regional/governmental initiatives – but his main passion is still on evaluating and developing investment and business strategies to bring medical innovations to patients around the world.
Thom Gunderson: Thom’s career as a Senior MedTech Analyst at Piper Sandler gives him deep expertise in evaluating medical technology companies, market trends, and investment potential. Being the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation and a board member of two other medtech companies, gives him the leadership and practical insight into what drives successful ventures.
Beth Lindborg, MBA: Beth, as CEO of her own startup Sarcio, has hands-on knowledge of the process of building and growing successful med-tech startups. Her experience and understanding of product development, market fit, and business execution gives her insight in the challenges early-stage teams face.