Pitch Contest

Healthcare Innovation Pitch Competition 2024

November 24, 2024 | Anna Lardinois, Startup Storyteller

The sixth annual Healthcare Innovation Pitch Competition was presented by Bridge to Cures, the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) and Accelerating Medical Product Development (AMPDNR) and hosted by Gateway Capital Partners at the Eagleknit Innovation Hub on Thursday night.

Prizes for this event included: $35,000 in non-dilutive seed funding, pro-bono services and resources and $15,000 of in-kind support from fractional C-level advisors.

Eight emerging healthcare-related companies pitched at the event.

In the Healthcare Track, Inrova Technologies, Synpha Biosciences, CoMotion, and Estrigenix Therapeutics presented for judges Curt Gielow of Gielow Ventures, Karen Plunkett of Milwaukee Venture Partners, David Poetker of Milwaukee Venture Partners, Carrie Thome of NVNG, and Paul Weiss of Venture Investors Health Fund.

In the HealthTech Track, Maternity Metrix/FreyjaCares, UB-Vital, Streamline Flow, and Advanced Trauma Analytics presented for judges Amit Aysola of Create Health Ventures, Lamarr Banks of Gateway Capital Partners, Jenni Le of Venture Investors, Richelle Martin of Winnow Fund, and Nans Rivat of PACE Healthcare Capital Management.

HealthTech Pitches

Maternity Metrix/FreyjaCares

Founder Dr. AkkeNeel Talsma, PhD, RN, FAAN, presented her company’s digital tools created to support the health of pregnant women and increase healthy birthrates. Founded in 2020, the company was part of the Milwaukee I-Corps program. Maternity Metrix received a $345,000 grant from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and is seeking additional funding to expand the company’s reach.

UB-Vital

Marquette University Computer and Information Science program graduate student Karen Wurzel represented the team that is developing a mobile app that allows patients to take their own vital signs using the front-facing camera on a smartphone. Currently, the app can accurately measure heart rate, oxygen saturation level, blood pressure, and respiration rate. The patent-pending technology was developed with the support of a $200,000 grant. The company is seeking additional funding to expand product testing.

Streamline Flow

Founder Dr. Kelly Ayala, DNP, APNP, BSN, presented the suite of digital tools created to manage patient care plans in a clinical setting. Co-founded by Shannon Hattenhauer, RN, BSN, and led by CEO Amanda Schleede, the bootstrapped company is seeking new customers for its product that is already being embraced by practitioners.

Advanced Trauma Analytics

Founder and trauma surgeon Dr. Rachel Morris developed a protocol to predict the appropriate level of care when a trauma patient arrives at the hospital. Pairing her years of experience with an AI predictive model, the company developed customized algorithms to create treatment protocols. These patented models will best serve hospitals with Level III trauma centers.