Startup Prize: Focus on Health 2024 Announces Winners

SHREVEPORT, LA – Startup Prize: Focus on Health, a nationally recognized competition for health and medical startups, announced the grand prize winners for this year’s competition during a live broadcasted awards brunch. Hosted by the Prize Foundation with generous support from Louisiana Economic Development, Startup Prize attracted a record-breaking 70 innovative health startups from 23 states across the country. Not only geographically diverse, this year’s participating startup founders were also demographically diverse, with 45% of participating companies being female founded and 58% of participating companies having founders who identified as non-white.

The FDA Track grand prize winner was Emboa Medical. Founded by Angel Enriquez in West Lafayette, IN, Emboa Medical is using nature-inspired design to develop a novel blood clot extraction device to address the prevalent issue of stroke, the second leading cause of death in the world.

The Non-FDA Track grand prize winner was Bethesda, MD-based AGED Diagnostics. Founded by Rachel Zaya, AGED Diagnostics is applying genomic innovation to develop the most accurate blood test for liver disease. These tests will help physicians keep patients in the monitoring program, reduce the financial burden for health insurers and improve patient outcomes through early detection and intervention.

Each winning startup walked away with a $10,000 cash prize, mentorship and connections to potential investment.

“While we are definitely proud of Emboa and AGED, we are most proud that we were able to host one of the most diverse entrepreneurial competitions in the country,” said Gregory Kallenberg, Executive Director of the Prize Foundation and creator of the Startup Prize. “Startup Prize is continuing an upward trajectory that is quickly making northwest Louisiana a necessary stop for any health-focused entrepreneur looking for mentorship, potential investment dollars and the opportunity to change the world.”

 

To participate in Startup Prize, entrepreneurs must have an early stage health-focused business, such as a medical or surgical device, therapeutic, health-based technology or app, health service, or drug research. To be considered for the finals, companies are required to attend at least one qualifying event during the competition year in which startup founders are able to attend roundtables, panels and keynotes featuring Startup Prize mentors from around the country. During these events, competitors gain valuable tools and insights as well as mentorship to take their concepts to the next level. They are able to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, experts in a wide array of disciplines, and investors. Entrepreneurs are also required to submit a detailed survey and business plan which a panel of judges uses along with mentor feedback from the qualifying events to determine the startups that move forward to present their businesses to a panel of Investor-Judges.

In addition to Emboa Medical and AGED Diagnostics, three other companies were selected from entrepreneurs across the country who participated in this year’s competition:

Taurus Vascular is a medical device company focused on improving long-term outcomes for patients with aortic aneurysms. They are developing a safe, effective, and minimally-invasive catheter-based technology that places a self-deploying stent to reduce the risk and impact of endoleaks after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR).

OrbDoc has created OrbVoice, an AI-powered dictation application for clinicians, which automatically generates comprehensive discharge summaries from doctors’ conversations and EHR data, enabling more quality time with patients and reducing costly readmissions.

Veza Innovations focuses on parent and child wellness and early childhood development, providing options and versatility not yet available in today’s market. Their first product is a sit-to-stand convertible high chair, developed with and endorsed by pediatric specialists.

Established in 2014, Startup Prize is a nationally recognized entrepreneurial competition where innovative minds from Northwest Louisiana and across the country compete for $10,000 cash prize plus opportunities for investment. This unique and intimate competition is nationally recognized as a testing ground for entrepreneurs, and an opportunity for startups to find business advice, mentor expertise and investment dollars. In 2021, the competition honed its focus to health and medical startups. With over 450 companies and 800 entrepreneurs since its inaugural year, Startup Prize is the largest entrepreneurial gathering in Northwest Louisiana.

The Prize Foundation is an award-winning nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and festival based in Shreveport, LA. Founded in 2012, the Prize Foundation’s mission is to promote economic growth, workforce development, youth job training, creative class entrepreneurial buildout and increased tourism through education, entrepreneurship, conferences, contests and festivals in Shreveport and Northwest Louisiana. The Prize Foundation operates six major initiatives year-round: Film Prize, Film Prize Junior, Startup Prize, Food Prize, Music Prize, and Fashion Prize. Each Prize has a qualification process, engagement with economic and cultural resources, and an educational component.