Four medtech startups to compete for USD 175,000 Grand Prize in Singapore

Four medical technology companies from Asia-Pacific have been named finalists in the 2026 MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific programme and will compete for a USD 175,000 Grand Prize at the Grand Finals in Singapore on 26 October.

The finalists are Ardens Lifescience of South Korea, BaiYi Healthcare of China, Eyes of AI of Australia, and Physiologas Technologies of Japan. They will present their innovations at the MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific Showcase and Grand Finals at Geneo in Singapore Science Park, with the overall winner determined through a live audience vote.

The voting format gives attendees a direct role in selecting the Grand Winner, making the audience an active participant in the final competition.

The four companies emerged from a selection process involving more than 680 applications for the 2026 accelerator programme. A total of 67 companies participated in the programme’s Pitch Event RoadTour before the final cohort was selected.

The competition is part of MedTech Innovator’s wider effort to help emerging healthcare technology companies move towards commercialisation. The global accelerator has supported 838 graduate companies, whose alumni have collectively raised US$12 billion in follow-on funding, recorded 65 acquisitions and brought more than 500 products to market.

Beyond the afternoon showcase, the programme will feature morning sessions bringing together MedTech founders, investors, industry leaders and specialists to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the sector.

An Industry Roundtable moderated by L.E.K. Consulting will examine emerging trends in Asia-Pacific MedTech innovation, including stabilising start-up funding following a two-year reset, changing clinical priorities in oncology, central nervous system (CNS) conditions and women’s health, and the growing adoption of artificial intelligence.

Participants will also discuss China’s evolving role in regional innovation and the implications for funding strategies, clinical priorities and cross-border expansion over the next 24 months.

A separate Investor Roundtable moderated by KPMG will focus on the investment landscape, fundraising considerations and opportunities to support the growth and commercialisation of emerging healthcare technologies.

Two specialist masterclasses will address practical challenges facing start-ups as they prepare to bring products to market and expand internationally. Dovetail will lead a regulatory masterclass on planning successful submissions and developing strategies for entering Europe.

Blue Goat Cyber will deliver a cybersecurity masterclass examining common gaps that can emerge as MedTech companies move from prototype development towards commercial products.

Together, the sessions will provide opportunities for industry knowledge-sharing, investor engagement and practical guidance on the regulatory, commercial and technical challenges of bringing medical technologies to market.

The Grand Finals are scheduled for 4.15pm to 5.15pm on 26 October, followed by an award ceremony and networking reception. The wider afternoon showcase will feature 20 medical technology companies across four areas: artificial intelligence, medical imaging and surgical innovations; oncology; neurological, ophthalmological and renal care; and remote monitoring, respiratory care and gastrointestinal health.

The programme is supported by corporate and ecosystem partners, with Johnson & Johnson MedTech serving as acceleration partner. B. Braun, Siemens Healthineers, Blue Goat Cyber, Enterprise Singapore and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute are among its innovation partners.

For the four finalists, the Grand Finals offer an opportunity to showcase their technologies to industry leaders, investors and potential strategic partners, as they compete for the USD 175,000 prize.

The public afternoon programme begins at 1pm on 26 October at Geneo, 1A Science Park Drive, Singapore. Attendees will be able to watch the finalists pitch and vote live to determine the overall winner.