The American Heart Association has selected five finalists for its 2026 Health Tech Competition, a global initiative designed to accelerate innovations that improve cardiovascular and brain health care. The competition, hosted by the Association's Center for Technology & Innovation, received a record number of submissions from health technology companies worldwide. Following a rigorous multi-stage review by volunteer experts across healthcare, science and industry, the five finalists were chosen for their potential to transform how cardiovascular and brain health conditions are prevented, diagnosed and treated.
The finalists will present their solutions in the Health Innovation Pavilion during Scientific Sessions 2026, the Association's flagship global event for the latest research and clinical advancements in cardiovascular science. Scientific Sessions will take place Nov. 6-9 at McCormick Place in Chicago, with competition pitches scheduled Nov. 7-8 and winners announced Nov. 8.
The 2026 finalists are:
HEARTio, Pittsburgh, Pa. - 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, Chicago, Ill. - MEGI is an AI-powered digital health platform focused on women's heart health, maternal care and hypertension (high blood pressure) management.
MedRhythms, Portland, Maine - MedRhythms is a digital health and neurotherapeutics company that combines sensors, software and music to help people improve their walking and mobility after a neurological injury or disease.
Seerlinq, Bratislava, Slovakia - Seerlinq estimates cardiac filling pressure non-invasively from a short fingertip PPG measurement at home, catching deterioration in heart failure patients weeks before hospitalization and giving clinicians time to adjust therapy.
Vascudyne, St. Paul, Minn. - Vascudyne bioengineered blood vessels that regenerate into the patient's own tissue, giving coronary bypass patients a graft without leg-vein harvest and children with congenital defects an implant that grows with them.
The competition is designed for emerging companies with clinically informed and validated technologies, early evidence of impact and a viable path to scale. Finalists are selected for solutions that may engage patients, support clinicians and demonstrate the potential to improve cardiovascular and brain health outcomes across diverse care settings. Final presentations will be evaluated based on several criteria, including 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."
A panel of expert volunteer judges will review the finalists' business and science presentations. The event's importance is underscored by the American Heart Association's ongoing efforts to drive innovation in heart and brain health, as detailed in its news release Global health tech competition aims to accelerate innovation improving cardiovascular and brain health. Past competitions have yielded successes, such as the Houston-based medical technology company wins overall global health tech competition at Scientific Sessions 2025, and the identification of Finalists named in global health technology competition to advance heart and brain health.
For more information about the competition, finalists and event details, visit heart.org. Additional resources are available at heart.org and stroke.org. The original release can be viewed on www.newmediawire.com.
