$100K challenge to boost biotech and medical device start-ups

Courtesy Photo The University of Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) has kicked off its fifth annual $100,000 challenge.

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By Sam Bonacci

The University of Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) has kicked off its fifth annual $100,000 challenge to showcase the innovative ideas of early-stage medical device, diagnostic and biotech companies.

The program assists entrepreneurs in the medical device and biotech sectors with the entire process of moving new products from the conceptual phase to the marketplace. It is a joint venture of UMass Medical School in Worcester, which provides medical expertise and assistance with clinical trials, and UMass Lowell, which offers expertise in business and plastics engineering. Since it was founded in 2007, M2D2 has worked with more than 100 client companies, which in turn have secured more than $40 million in external funding for their ventures.

Sponsors of this year’s M2D2 Challenge donated a total of $100,000 in services for the winning companies. Companies selected will receive use of facility, lab and meeting space as well as engineering, legal, regulatory, clinical and business services.

Finalists selected in the competition will present before a panel of expert judges at UMass Lowell on March 23.

Companies interested in competing in the M2D2 $100K Challenge 2016 should submit an application by Friday, Jan. 29. Finalists will be announced March 2 and winners on April 6. Full details on the competition are available online.