Who Took the Top Spot? Highlights from MedTech Startup Pitch Competition

An important part of the MedTech World event is its Startup Pitch Competition, where emerging companies present their innovations aimed at addressing some of the most pressing challenges in healthcare. The competition serves as a platform for startups to showcase their technologies, attract potential investors, and gain industry recognition. Selected from hundreds of applications, eight startups participated in MedTech World Dubai 2025, each presenting innovative technological solutions aimed at addressing critical healthcare challenges. These startups are not only pushing the boundaries of medical advancements but also striving to make healthcare more efficient, accessible, and effective.

MedTech Startup Pitch Competition Judging Panel

The pitch competition brought together a distinguished panel of judges, each bringing extensive experience in venture capital, investment, and healthcare innovation. The panel included Soyoung Park, General Partner at 1004 Venture Partners; Sahir Ali, General Partner at Modi Ventures; Ken Nelson, Partner at MedTech Advantage Fund and Director on several boards; Nela Lukic, Chief Strategy Officer and Angel Investor at Kensho Mindful Communications; Ashraf Kalim Ahmed, Founding Partner at Magnus Ventures; Jackie Grech, Senior FDI Specialist, Life Sciences at Malta Enterprise; Marco Gullà, Investment Associate at Health Technology Holding (HTH); Sofia Kostiunina, Managing Director & Venture Partner at 100VP, IC 1101 & Seed VC; Misa Lukic, Founder & CEO at Brand Sapiens; and Brandon Rowberry, Managing Director at Xenter.

F.MED

At the MedTech World Startup Pitch Competition, Keita Shimomura, Co-Founder and CEO of F.MED, introduced the Robot-Assisted MicroSurgery (RAMS) system, designed to enhance precision and accessibility in microsurgery. Microsurgical procedures—crucial for cancer reconstruction, bypass surgeries, and transplants—are currently limited by the need for highly specialized training, hand tremors, and a shortage of skilled surgeons, leaving millions of patients underserved. F.MED’s robotic system, equipped with a patented cylindrical platform manipulator, high-resolution 4K display, and precision-controlled forceps, allows for stable, delicate handling of vessels as small as 0.3mm, significantly reducing the learning curve from years to just hours. With a $140B global market opportunity and a focus on breast reconstruction, lymphedema, and vascular bypass procedures, F.MED is advancing toward regulatory approvals in the U.S., APAC, and GCC. Having secured $3M funding in Series A and a Grant of $1.5M and progressing toward an IPO by 2029, F.MED is poised to transform microsurgery, making life-changing procedures safer, more efficient, and widely accessible.

Wingwomen Technologies

Adonica Shaw, Founder of Wingwomen Technologies, introduced Nina, an AI-powered Class II medical device designed to revolutionize women’s reproductive health through real-time biodata collection. Traditional vaginal speculums remain outdated, and the lack of real-time diagnostic insights limits advancements in fertility treatments, labor induction, and hormone therapy. Nina’s cloud-based bioinformatics system processes biodata to generate actionable insights, helping pharmaceutical companies refine AMH-related drug therapies, optimize labor induction medications like Cytotec and Cervadil, and personalize hormone monitoring for Lupron users. With data licensing, device leasing, and strategic partnerships driving its revenue model, Nina has the potential to accelerate drug development and precision medicine for women’s health. Backed by regulatory and investment advisors, including Cenit Consulting, Covington & Burling LLP, and 1928 Partners, Nina is advancing toward FDA approval and patents for the Amaara Speculum, paving the way for a smarter, more personalized approach to women’s healthcare.

EVAnatomy

Anas Obeidat, Co-Founder at EVAnatomy, introduced EVA, a next-generation AI-powered surgical navigation system designed to solve long-standing challenges in neurosurgery. Traditional navigation systems are static, outdated, and fail to account for real-time changes like brain deformation, increasing surgical risks and prolonging procedures. EVA’s real-time, radiation-free precision tracking enhances surgical accuracy without disrupting workflow, optimizing craniotomy and pathway planning for greater efficiency. Endorsed by leading neurosurgeons, EVA represents a major breakthrough in surgical technology. With a €1M/device model, including training and maintenance, and a vision to build ‘Google Maps for surgeries,’ EVAnatomy is redefining surgical precision, improving patient safety, and ensuring better clinical outcomes.

NousQ

Dr. Lynne Lim, ENT surgeon, CEO, and Founder of NousQ, introduced CLiKX®, the world’s first handheld robotic tympanostomy tube applicator. Designed to treat glue ear—a leading cause of hearing loss in children—CLiKX® enables one-second, precise ear tube insertion without general anesthesia or a surgical microscope. With 100 million patients in need but only 18 million surgeries performed annually, existing methods are costly, inefficient, and inaccessible. CLiKX® addresses this gap with a safe, effective, and scalable solution, demonstrating 100% safety and 97% success in pivotal Asia clinical trials, with U.S. trials set for 2025 and FDA clearance targeted for 2026. Backed by patents across multiple regions and poised for global expansion, CLiKX® is positioned to capture a share of the $108 billion ear tube surgery market. With new CPT codes and reimbursement policies supporting in-clinic adoption, NousQ aims to make ear tube surgery safer, faster, and more accessible worldwide.

Berlin Heals

John Brumfield, CEO of Berlin Heals, introduced C-MIC, a groundbreaking Cardiac Micro Current Therapy designed to restore heart function in heart failure (HF) patients. With 64 million people affected globally and healthcare costs projected to rise by 127%, current treatments only manage symptoms without reversing the disease. C-MIC delivers sub-threshold direct current microamps to the heart, showing remarkable clinical improvements, including an 80% reduction in HF symptoms, a 100% increase in walking distance, and a sustained 30% boost in ejection fraction. With CE submission set for 2025 and a total addressable market (TAM) of 20 million patients, Berlin Heals is advancing toward regulatory approvals, commercialization, and an IPO by 2028. Raising €40M in Series B funding, Berlin Heals is set to redefine heart failure treatment—offering the first real chance at disease reversal.

HealthOrbit AI

Rakesh Kaipenchery, CEO & Co-Founder, HealthOrbit AI introduced its intelligent healthcare ecosystem, designed to eliminate administrative burdens and enhance patient care through AI-driven automation. With 42% of physicians experiencing burnout, 28 hours per week lost to paperwork, and $36 billion in annual medical coding errors, the healthcare system is overwhelmed by inefficiencies. HealthOrbit AI’s MedOrbit, RevOrbit, and CareOrbit solutions tackle these challenges by providing real-time AI-powered documentation, automated billing optimization, and AI-assisted patient follow-ups. With a $6 billion total addressable market, projected $22.5 million ARR by 2027, and 130+ partner-led opportunities across the UK, Middle East, and Southeast Asia, HealthOrbit AI is revolutionizing clinical workflows, improving financial outcomes, and empowering healthcare professionals to focus on patient care. Backed by strategic research partnerships with Salford University and NIHR, HealthOrbit AI is shaping the future of AI precision with human compassion.

Medivise

Tobias Leipold, Chief Strategy Officer of Medivise, presented a bold vision for patient-centric healthcare, addressing the supply and demand gap in modern medicine. Traditional healthcare remains inaccessible and inefficient, leaving patients underserved—particularly in post-operative follow-ups, diagnostics, and emergency triaging. Medivise offers a flexible, AI-powered solution that brings preventive, primary, and specialized care directly to patients in homes, retail spaces, and hospitality environments, ensuring healthcare is available anytime, anywhere. By integrating nurse-guided diagnostics, retail health points, and personalized AI-driven touchpoints, Medivise bridges the gap between undetected and diagnosed patients, creating a seamless, efficient, and accessible healthcare ecosystem. With a leadership team of top innovators in digital health and advisory experts in cardiology, pharmacy, and AI-driven healthcare, Medivise is redefining how and where care is delivered—making healthcare as convenient as it is essential.

Dentcense

Dr. Ilkka Kangasniemi, Co-Founder/Board Member/Strategic Operations Advisor, Dentcense, presented a breakthrough in remote robotic dentistry, combining AI-driven automation with high-precision robotics to make dental care more accessible, accurate, and affordable. Traditional dentistry is expensive, anxiety-inducing, and often inaccessible, but Dentcense’s remote-controlled robotic system allows for precise, VR-assisted procedures and automated dental check-ups—anywhere, anytime. With a $453B global dental services market and a rapidly growing $300M robotic-assisted dental sector (CAGR 21.6%), Dentcense is positioned to disrupt the industry. Backed by leading AI, medtech, and academic experts, and with strong industrial and research partnerships, Dentcense aims to raise €52M by 2031 to drive global expansion. By integrating AI, robotics, and telemedicine, Dentcense is pioneering the future of dentistry—bringing precision care beyond clinic walls.

 With such an impressive lineup of innovative startups, the judges faced a tough challenge in selecting a winner. Each company showcased groundbreaking solutions with the potential to transform the medical field. However, after careful deliberation, NousQ took home the award, marking a key milestone in their journey toward advancing healthcare.