LOWELL, Mass. (PRWEB) March 09, 2018 -- The University of Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) today announced the finalists in its 7th annual $200K Challenge.
The twenty finalists, all early-stage medical device, diagnostic, and biotech companies, will be eligible for a share of $200,000 in sponsor-provided, in-kind services. These services include use of facilities including lab and office space; and engineering, product development, legal, regulatory, clinical, and business services.
M2D2 Founder and Director Stephen McCarthy, PhD, noted that this year's Challenge drew a record number of applications. "Thanks to the generosity of our sponsoring companies and organizations, we were able to double our total award offering to $200,000. As a result, more than 100 startups from around the world entered the Challenge—a marked increase from last year. The Challenge is an outstanding opportunity for them to give their innovations more exposure and connect with resources that can help them get to the next level, toward commercialization."
M2D2 assists entrepreneurs in the medical-device and biotech sector in moving new products from concept to commercialization. It is a joint venture of the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, which provides medical expertise and assistance with clinical trials, and the University of Massachusetts Lowell, which offers expertise in business and engineering. The M2D2 has three locations, two in Lowell and one on the campus of the UMass Medical School.
The 2018 $200K Challenge sponsors are Johnson & Johnson Innovation, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Amgen, Boston Scientific, Mintz Levin, MPR Product Development, and R&Q (Regulatory & Quality Solutions).
This year's Challenge finalists are:
149 Medical
3D Tumor Targeting
Accelera
Advanced Silicon Group
AM Protection
Bitome
CamMed
Cocoon Biotech
DFTx
Fairbanks Pharmaceuticals
IMS
Leuko
Magoptics
MedKairos
NE Breath Technologies
NERv
Nolen Ortho
Prapela
Sleep Systems
Versatope
All twenty finalists will display and demonstrate their ideas at the M2D2 Challenge Finalist Pitch-Off on Wednesday, March 28 at 5:00 pm at UMass Lowell's University Crossing. The Challenge winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 10 at 5:00 pm at an Awards & Networking event hosted by Mintz Levin in Boston. Tickets can be purchased for either or both events at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/m2d2-200k-challenge-finalist-pitch-off-awards-ceremony-tickets-43307428685.
About M2D2
M2D2, the Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center, is a joint initiative of the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the UMass system. Its aim is to help new biotech and medical device entrepreneurs develop products every step of the way, from proof-of-concept to commercialization. Affiliated faculty and staff have assisted more than 100 start-up companies and entrepreneurs since the program kicked off in the spring of 2007. http://www.uml.edu/m2d2.
Mary Ann Picard, UML M2D2, https://www.uml.edu/Research/M2D2/, +1 603-320-1164, [email protected]
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