Medical Device, Biotech Startups Secure Support Through 6th Annual Contest
07/11/2017
Media contacts: Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu and Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944 or Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu
LOWELL, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) recently named the winners of its sixth annual M2D2 $100K Challenge.
Nine companies received prizes in the nationwide competition, which showcases the innovative ideas of early-stage medical device, diagnostic and biotech companies while connecting them with resources needed to help them make it through the early stages of product development.
M2D2 assists entrepreneurs in the medical-device and biotech sector in moving new products from concept to commercialization. The program – which has worked with more than 100 companies since 2007 – is a joint venture of UMass Worcester, which provides medical expertise and assistance with clinical trials, and UMass Lowell, which offers expertise in business and engineering and is home to M2D2’s incubator for emerging companies.
The sponsors of this year’s M2D2 $100K Challenge donated $100,000 in services for the winning companies. That includes use of facilities, including lab and meeting space, and engineering, product development, legal, regulatory, clinical and business services.
The 2017 sponsors are Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, MPR Product Development, Mintz Levin, Omni Components and R&Q (Regulatory & Quality Solutions).
This year’s top winners are:
- First place – LivOnyx, $16,000 in services from M2D2 and R&Q;
- Second place – Advanced Silicon Group, $15,000 in services from Boston Scientific, Mintz Levin and M2D2;
- Third place – Articulate Biosciences, $15,000 in kind from Johnson & Johnson companies, Mintz Levin and M2D2;
- Fourth place – Covina Biomedical, $15,000 in kind from Johnson & Johnson, Mintz Levin and M2D2.
Other winners include:
- MKS Corp., $7,500 from Boston Scientific and M2D2;
- Multisensor Diagnostics, $7,500 from Boston Scientific and M2D2;
- MobioSense, $8,000 from M2D2 and R&Q;
- Alleviant, $10,000 in kind from Johnson & Johnson companies and Mintz Levin;
- MJN Neuroserveis, $10,000 from MPR.
The awards event was hosted by Mintz Levin in Boston.
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. www.uml.edu/m2d2.