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MedTech Innovator (MTI), founded in 2013 and headquartered in Los Angeles, is a nonprofit and the world’s largest accelerator for medical device, diagnostic, and digital health companies, led by Founder & CEO Paul Grand. Sister programs include BioTools Innovator (life science tools), MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific — a separate Singapore-based program with its own cohort (20 companies in 2026) and up to US$300,000 in prizes — and MedTech Innovator Vantage, a new BARDA Accelerator Network hub for diagnostics and medical devices. MTI accepts early- to mid-stage medical device, diagnostic, or digital health companies at any fundraising stage, from friends-and-family through Series C. From roughly 1,835 applicants in 2026, about 10% advanced to the Radar Forum pitch event, and 65 companies (the top 4%) were selected into the flagship four-month Accelerator, culminating in the Showcase and Finals at The MedTech Conference, where companies compete for up to $800,000 in aggregate non-dilutive prizes, including a $350,000 Grand Prize. No equity or fees are required. MedTech Innovator ranked No. 31 of 80 in TIME’s 2026 list of America’s Best Incubators & Accelerators. Now in its 14th year, MTI has graduated 838 alumni companies, whose portfolio has raised over $11.4B in follow-on funding and maintained a 92% survival/acquisition rate.
Frequency
1x/year
Duration
4 months
Investment
None — competes for up to $800,000 in aggregate 2026 prizes, including a $350,000 Grand Prize.
Equity
None — no equity taken, prize based.
Program fees
None
Where
USA
Sectors
HealthTech, Medical
Stages
Growth/Late Stage, Idea/Pre-Team, Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
Eligibility
• Open to companies at any fundraising stage, from friends-and-family through Series C
• Preference given to companies with transformative potential well-suited to MTI’s curriculum and corporate mentorship
• Applicants should ideally have a prototype and some proof-of-concept evidence, plus runway to complete the program
• Specialty tracks available within the cohort: Heart & Brain Health (with the American Heart Association) and Plastic Surgery (with ASPS) — 13 companies participated in 2026
• Must commit a co-founder or senior leader to attend the Innovator Summit and the Showcase/Finals at The MedTech Conference
Selection process
• About 10% of applicants advance to the Radar Forum (or a virtual pitch event), judged by up to 250 investors, clinicians, and senior executives
• Top 4% of applicants (65 companies in 2026) selected into the flagship Accelerator
• Accelerator companies compete in the Showcase and Finals at The MedTech Conference for non-dilutive prizes
Benefits
• On-stage MedTech Innovator Showcase visibility across 3 Showcases and 5 Competitions at major industry conferences
• Early-stage companies compete for the Grand Prize, Execution Award, and Best Video/Value in-kind awards; mid-stage companies compete for a separate Grand Prize
• Complimentary AdvaMed Accel membership
• Corporate partner mentorship for early-stage (pre-Series B) companies
• Access to strategics, manufacturers, healthcare providers, investors, and FDA/NIH/DoD stakeholders
• Peer network across MTI’s 838+ alumni companies and broader startup ecosystem
• No equity required and no application fee (companies cover their own travel costs)
Notable alumni
Network
Founding partners Johnson & Johnson and RCT Ventures; platinum partners Asahi Intecc, Becton Dickinson (BD), Dexcom, Edwards Lifesciences, LivaNova, Olympus, Samsung Research America, and Zimmer Biomet; specialty-track partners American Heart Association Ventures/Studio Red (Heart & Brain Health Accelerator Track) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (Plastic Surgery Accelerator Track); ecosystem partners include AdvaMed, The MedTech Conference, DeviceTalks, MedTech Strategist, MedTech Color, MedTechWomen, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.
Portfolio
838 alumni companies graduated since 2013 across 14 cohorts, selected from 10,000+ applications reviewed over time; 92% remain active or have been acquired, 64% raised equity financing after participating, and the portfolio has brought 500+ products to market.
Funds raised
$11.4B+ raised by portfolio companies in follow-on funding since participating in the program.
🕐 Sep 2026
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