The American Heart Association has named five finalists for its 2026 Health Tech Competition, a global initiative designed to accelerate innovations that improve cardiovascular and brain health care. The announcement, made by the Association’s Center for Technology & Innovation, comes after a record number of submissions from health technology companies worldwide. The competition addresses a critical gap: many promising health technologies never reach the patients and clinicians who could benefit from them most. By identifying and spotlighting emerging companies with clinically informed and validated technologies, early evidence of impact and a viable path to scale, the Association aims to speed the translation of scientific breakthroughs into real-world care.
The five finalists—HEARTio, MEGI, MedRhythms, Seerlinq and Vascudyne—offer solutions that span artificial intelligence, digital therapeutics and bioengineered implants. HEARTio is developing investigational AI software that analyzes a standard ECG to estimate obstructive coronary artery disease, the leading cause of heart attacks, without dyes, radiation, incisions or catheters. MEGI focuses on women’s heart health, maternal care and hypertension management through an AI-powered digital health platform. MedRhythms combines sensors, software and music to help people improve walking and mobility after neurological injury or disease. Seerlinq estimates cardiac filling pressure non-invasively from a short fingertip PPG measurement at home, potentially catching heart failure deterioration weeks before hospitalization. Vascudyne bioengineers blood vessels that regenerate into a patient’s own tissue, offering coronary bypass patients a graft without leg-vein harvest and children with congenital defects an implant that grows with them.
The implications of this selection extend beyond the individual companies. The finalists will present their solutions in the Health Innovation Pavilion during Scientific Sessions 2026, the Association’s flagship global event for cardiovascular science, taking place Nov. 6-9 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Competition pitches are scheduled Nov. 7-8, with winners announced Nov. 8. Final presentations will be evaluated on clinical evidence, scientific innovation and market need. “Too many promising health technologies never reach the people who could benefit from them most,” said Lee A. Shapiro, J.D., volunteer chair of the American Heart Association and managing partner and co-founder at 7wireVentures. “The American Heart Association’s Health Tech Competition highlights solutions that are grounded in science, informed by real-world needs and designed to improve care for people at risk for or living with cardiovascular and brain health conditions.”
The competition’s emphasis on clinical validation and scalability signals a broader shift in health technology investment toward solutions that can demonstrate measurable outcomes. For clinicians, this means potential new tools to diagnose and monitor conditions more effectively. For patients, it offers hope for less invasive procedures, earlier detection and more personalized care. The Association’s global reach—supported by more than 35 million volunteers—provides a platform to amplify these innovations. Previous competitions have already yielded success stories, such as the Houston-based medical technology company wins overall global health tech competition at Scientific Sessions 2025 and the Finalists named in global health technology competition to advance heart and brain health. These milestones underscore the Association’s commitment to fostering innovation that can transform cardiovascular and brain health.
As the finalists prepare for their pitches, the stakes are high. The competition not only offers visibility but also connects entrepreneurs with expert judges, investors and potential partners. For a world facing rising rates of heart disease and stroke, accelerating the adoption of effective technologies is not just an opportunity—it is a necessity. More information about the competition, finalists and event details is available at www.newmediawire.com, and the Association’s broader resources can be found at heart.org and stroke.org.
