#masschallenge

A company that is doing something to save lives is Alleviant. Alleviant is an early stage medical device company focused on developing a novel transcatheter treatment for congestive heart failure. This company has created a device that creates a shunt between two atria by removing tissue from the interatrial septum, this allows for an instant decompression within the left atrium. According to founder, Dr. Jacob Kriegel, they are beating the competition by conducting their procedure stent-free. Having no stent means that there is less room for blood clots and other often-fatal mishaps.

The next startup helps solve a very large issue that you probably don’t think of an a day-to-day basis. They are trying to help people avoid taking fake medications. Veripad is a health IT company that has created an affordable option for identifying drug authenticity. In developing nations counterfeit drugs are often a problem but with Veripad technology all the person has to do is place the crushed medication onto a test paper and then use their phone application to take a photo of it in order for the drug to be identified.

Our next startup highlight is Versatope. This startup has an amazing technology that delivers immunity with nanometer-size versicles using a synthetic biology technology. Surprisingly enough, the nanovesicles are derived from the outer membrane of a genetically engineered and detoxified E. Coli strain. Since the vaccines are not cultured in allergens, they are a great alternative for people that suffer from allergies, but that’s not all they’re even useful for cancer immuno-therapies!

The next two companies mentioned are fresh off the boat from the Life Sciences Global Pitch Fest. Z-Imaging is a company born out of the Harvard Innovation Lab by a group of undergraduate, yes, undergraduate students at Harvard. They are using augmented reality to let surgeons see inside of their patients, making image-guided surgeries safer and faster.

The other veteran of the Pitch Fest is Nonspec, a start-up company determined to design, develop, and deliver, low-cost, durable prosthetics to developing nations. Our goal is to mass-produce easily customizable prosthetics that can fit any amputation site. They are surely changing the lives of many people in developing nations.

A consumer goods company that seems very promising called Sleepbox. Let’s get a show of hands - Who likes to take naps? Sleepbox is a solution for quick relaxation. They provide a comfortable and private space for employees to nap or work while in the office. About According to Sleepbox, 40% of people chronically under-sleep and businesses lose $411 billion due to a lack of sleep. Resting for just 40 minutes makes an individual 40% more productive during the day and increases awareness by 100%. If the statistics don’t convince you then maybe their sleek design will.  

The MassChallenge finalists have proven that their products and technologies have the potential to disrupt entire industries. We can’t wait to follow them on their journeys and we also wish all of the Mass Challenge finalists the best of luck with their ventures!

PULSE Finale gathered the digital health community at the Wilbur Theater to hear from MassChallenge executive team, leading healthcare organizations and policymakers. PULSE @MassChallenge jury selected 31 startups out of 430 applications from 30 states and 20 countries. They have spent the past six months working thoroughly with healthcare Champions to address some of the biggest issues patients face.

Participants had the opportunity to meet the entrepreneurs during the startup showcase before the celebration show presented by Nick Dougherty, Program Director, PULSE @MassChallenge. To begin, the premier behind-the-scenes documentary of the startups' journey was revealed. Then, Governor Charlie Baker,  who was a  keynote speaker at the event and shared his thoughts about the Digital Health Initiative and their investment to ensure that Massachusetts can continue to be a leader in advancing technological innovation, and provide better health care opportunities for patients around the globe. Dr. Jeffrey Leiden, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman, President and CEO of Vertex said "There is no better place for entrepreneurs to launch a digital health venture than in Massachusetts, where the world's top biotech’s research centers, universities, venture capital and startups are right next to each other."

Top startups were selected based on their ability to demonstrate impact and meet milestones previously agreed on with Champions. This year's first-ever winners of $100K is SyncThink, which is the first tool to objectively screen for ocular-motor synchronization, a key impairment in concussion. The 2nd Prize of $60K was earned by Twiage, an advanced cloud-based platform that uses best-in-class security technology to put telemedicine at the fingertips of emergency first responders and physicians to accelerate live-saving patient care. The $40K prize was granted to Rendever, which creates a research-driven virtual reality platform for elderly care to improve the quality of life of older adults.

In addition to the program winners, 3Derm, a teledermatology triage system that allows any user to take clinical-quality 2D & 3D images of concerning skin lesions and upload them for remote review by dermatologists, was awarded with the Sunovion Startup’s Choice Award. Finally, The MACP People’s Choice Award has been given to Act.md, which aims to help clinicians, patients, families, and communities address complex health and social needs all in one cloud-based platform. The closing after party allowed attendees to mingle with the digital health community and network with MassChallenge’s stakeholders.

First, 128 startups engaged with the audience of executives, investors, politicians, and philanthropists, to showcase their venture ideas. Following, the top 26 startups gave captivating, fascinating, and sometimes even fun business pitches to the crowd. 

Two noteworthy presenting startups were Analytical Space, an in-orbit data relay that enables lower-cost data throughput without any hardware changes, and TapLink, a company providing a new solution to secure passwords and customer data. The full list of winners can be found here.

swissnex Boston used this opportunity to have extensive talks with existing and future partners, while enjoying a very lively and unique evening.