The American Heart Association has opened applications for its 2026 Health Tech Competition, a global initiative designed to accelerate the adoption of market-ready technologies that address cardiovascular and brain health challenges. The competition, hosted by the Association’s Center for Technology & Innovation, aims to bridge the gap between promising health technologies and their real-world implementation in patient care.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death globally, and health systems are grappling with increasing demand, workforce shortages, and rising costs. Scalable, data-driven solutions are essential to delivering timely, effective, and equitable care. The Health Tech Competition connects innovators with clinicians, researchers, and investors to speed up the process of bringing evidence-based technologies to patients.
"For more than a century, the American Heart Association has been at the intersection of science, research, clinical expertise, and innovation to drive improvements in cardiovascular and brain health," said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. "Through the Health Tech Competition, we continue that work by helping advance evidence-based solutions that address today’s most pressing health challenges and reach people where they live, work, and receive care."
The competition is open to emerging companies with market-ready solutions that are backed by clinical or pilot data and have a viable business model. The Association is looking for technologies that actively engage patients, support clinicians, and demonstrate measurable potential to improve patient outcomes across various care settings. Unlike traditional startup competitions, this program places a strong emphasis on clinical validation and alignment with evidence-based care, ensuring that solutions are positioned for real-world adoption.
Five finalists will be selected to present their innovations at Scientific Sessions 2026, the Association’s flagship global event for the latest research and clinical advancements in cardiovascular science, scheduled for November 6–9 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The finalists will pitch live on November 7–8, and the winner will be announced on November 9.
Key dates for the competition are as follows: applications open now through September 18, 2026; five finalists will be announced on October 10, 2026; live pitches will occur at Scientific Sessions on November 7–8; and the winner will be announced on November 9, 2026.
The Health Tech Competition is a cornerstone of the Health Innovation Pavilion at Scientific Sessions and reflects the Association’s ongoing commitment to accelerating innovation, advancing science, and fostering collaboration to improve cardiovascular and brain health outcomes worldwide.
Interested companies can learn more about the competition and review the terms and conditions by visiting ahahealthtech.org/aha-health-tech-competition-2026.
This announcement builds on the success of the 2025 competition, where a Houston-based medical technology company was named the overall winner. The American Heart Association continues to support the development of technologies that can transform the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions such as high blood pressure, stroke, and heart failure.
As health systems worldwide face increasing pressure, the need for innovative, scalable solutions has never been greater. The Health Tech Competition serves as a platform to bring these solutions to the forefront of cardiovascular and brain health care, potentially improving outcomes for millions of patients.
