Join the future of healthcare at the American Heart Association Health Tech Competition, November 6–9, 2026 during Scientific Sessions at McCormick Place in Chicago.  

Five health tech finalists will pitch their solutions in cardiovascular and brain health live before top physicians, investors, industry leaders and VIP judges, competing for the title of AHA Health Tech Competition Winner. 

Hosted inside the Health Innovation Pavilion, the competition sits at the epicenter of innovation inside the Science & Technology Hall.

How Does It Work

Our unique two-pitch format challenges each finalist to prove both the science and the business proposition behind their solution in cardiovascular and brain health. 

• Saturday, November 8: Finalists present the clinical validation behind their innovation to a panel of leading clinicians, researchers, and scientists, demonstrating alignment with AHA guidelines and evidence-based care. 
• Sunday, November 9: Finalists return to pitch their business model, market strategy, and growth potential through a patient impact and health access lens to a panel of venture capital, business, and health technology leaders. 

The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony hosted by AHA CEO Nancy Brown on Sunday, November 9 in the afternoon. 

Throughout the conference, finalists will have the opportunity to engage with Scientific Sessions’ attendees in the Health Innovation Pavilion and beyond.

Who Should Apply?

If you are building the future of health in cardiovascular and brain health, we want to hear from you. 

The American Heart Association’s Center for Health Technology & Innovation is looking for emerging companies with: 

• a market-ready solution  
• a proven business model  
• clinical or pilot data  
• active customers or commercial pilots  

Does Your Solution Align with One or More of the Following Innovation Areas? 

•  AI-enabled and digital health solutions advancing cardiovascular, brain and cardiometabolic care
   
•  Innovations addressing heart failure, stroke, hypertension, prevention, imaging, arrhythmias, cardiometabolic disease, chronic   disease management and more.
  
•  Technologies using AI, wearables, remote monitoring, predictive analytics, agentic AI and remote care to improve patient outcomes   and care delivery.
  
•  Solutions backed by science, clinical evidence and patient impact. 

Competitors Will be Judged on the Following Criteria: 

Each company will pitch twice: 

Pitch 1, Science (Saturday, Nov. 7) 

• How the solution aligns with AHA science and clinical guidelines 
• Supporting data showing efficacy and outcomes  
• Potential for significant impact on cardiovascular and/or brain health 

Pitch 1, Business (Sunday, Nov. 8) 

• Company overview, mission, solution/product and technology 
• Business plan, go-to-market strategy with access & patient impact lens 
• Key differentiators/IP 

Judging Criteria  

• Innovation and ability to improve patient outcomes 
• Use of AHA evidence-based science 
• A working prototype or product with real-world use and customers 
• How likely solution can be implemented 

Why Apply?