Rosalind Dx wins MedTech World Asia 2026 Startup Pitch competition

Rosalind Dx has won the MedTech World Asia 2026 Startup Pitch Competition, with Co-Founder and CEO Ella Fung, PhD, presenting a digital PCR-based approach designed to make prenatal screening more accessible.

The competition was powered by Ascend Clinical, Blue Goat Cyber and Malta Enterprise, with MedTech World and Startup World Cup serving as co-hosts. Ten early-stage MedTech companies took the stage before a jury of investors and industry leaders, with the competition assessing startups on their technology, market potential and ability to address healthcare challenges.

Rosalind Dx targets the cost barrier in prenatal screening

Fung began her pitch by pointing to the growing need for prenatal screening as more parents start families later in life, which can increase the risk of conditions such as Down syndrome. Rosalind Dx is developing a blood-based prenatal test that can be used from around 10 weeks, without the miscarriage risk associated with invasive testing.

The company’s pitch centred on accessibility. Fung said that up to 90% of women want prenatal screening, while only 3% of women worldwide currently take the test, with cost limiting access to existing technologies. Rosalind Dx is taking a different approach to detecting chromosomal abnormalities. Instead of extensively sequencing the genome, its technology uses advanced PCR to count chromosomes directly.

Fung said the approach is five times faster and can be performed in everyday diagnostic laboratories.  The company’s presentation also highlighted a cost advantage of up to 10 times cheaper for laboratories, positioning the technology around both speed and affordability.

Fung also cited projections that the non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) market will grow to $13 billion by 2031.

From technology to commercialisation

Rosalind Dx is initially targeting the US market, where Fung highlighted the company’s experience and market pathway as key advantages. Its business model is to work with existing diagnostic laboratories, including hospitals, reference laboratories and integrated healthcare systems.

The company is currently at the pre-commercial stage. Fung said it has key data and intellectual property in place and is targeting commercial launch in 2028, while raising US$1 million to complete its development work.

The judges questioned how Rosalind Dx would fit into existing prenatal testing workflows, including whether its technology would replace NGS-based non-invasive prenatal screening.

Fung explained that the sample extraction process could remain the same, while the sample would be processed on a digital PCR instrument rather than a sequencer, allowing laboratories to generate a report faster.

Cost was another focus of the discussion. Asked about adoption among OB-GYNs, Fung said that existing guidelines support screening throughout pregnancy, while the cost of sequencing-based testing remains a barrier to broader payer coverage.

A protected technology platform

The panel also challenged Fung on the competitive landscape and the technology’s protectability. Fung described Rosalind Dx’s technology as highly protectable, highlighting its digital PCR-based approach compared with sequencing- and microarray-based technologies.

Rosalind Dx’s intellectual property portfolio includes three published patents and a granted foundational patent, US Patent No. 12,668,842 B2. Its core SCR patent family has also been nationalised in key markets including the US, China and the EU, with a follow-on filing nationalised in the US.

What investors look for in an early-stage pitch

The judging panel also shared advice for founders seeking early-stage investment.

Ken Nelson, Investor & Board Member at Nelson Jennings Ventures, stressed the importance of explaining a company’s personal motivation, arguing that it demonstrates passion and the ability to persevere through the ups and downs of building a startup.

Nelson later returned to the importance of storytelling. “We’re betting on the person,” he said, emphasising that founders need to communicate what their company does clearly enough for both investors and customers to understand.

Varun Turalapati, Managing Director at Chaanakya Capital, focused on the founding team’s ability to navigate challenges. At the early stage, he said, investors should not necessarily expect full commercial traction, but should assess how well the team can approach and manage uncertainty.

Sahir Ali, Founder & General Partner at Modi Ventures, highlighted the importance of understanding the financial side of building a company. Founders should know who they are pitching to, why that investor is relevant, and what non-dilutive funding opportunities may be available.

Looking ahead to 2027

As Rosalind Dx takes its next steps towards commercialisation, the Startup Pitch Competition underscored the role of visibility, investment and industry connections in helping early-stage MedTech companies move forward. MedTech World Asia will return in 2027, with pre-registration now open for those who want to be first to hear when tickets and further event details are announced.

Book your seat for MedTech World Europe 2026 | Malta before tickets are gone.