The American Heart Association (AHA) has announced that applications are now open 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. Despite rapid advances in digital health, artificial intelligence, and remote patient monitoring, many promising technologies still fail to reach patients who need them most. The competition, hosted by the AHA’s Center for Technology & Innovation, aims to close this gap by connecting innovators with clinicians, researchers, and investors to scale evidence-based solutions into real-world care settings.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death globally, and health systems are facing growing demand, workforce shortages, and rising costs. Scalable, data-driven solutions are more critical than ever to delivering timely, effective, and equitable care. The Health Tech Competition focuses on technologies that actively engage patients, support clinicians, and demonstrate measurable potential to improve outcomes across a wide range of care settings. Unlike traditional startup competitions, the program emphasizes 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 AHA’s flagship global event for cardiovascular science, scheduled for Nov. 6–9 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The finalists will pitch live on Nov. 7-8, and the winner will be announced on Nov. 9. The competition is open to emerging companies with market-ready solutions supported by clinical or pilot data and a viable business model. Key dates include an application deadline of Sept. 18, 2026, and the finalist announcement on Oct. 10, 2026.
“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 a cornerstone of the Health Innovation Pavilion at Scientific Sessions and reflects the AHA’s ongoing commitment to accelerating innovation and fostering collaboration to improve health outcomes worldwide. To learn more and view the terms and conditions, visit ahahealthtech.org/aha-health-tech-competition-2026.
This initiative comes at a time when artificial intelligence and digital health tools are rapidly evolving, yet their integration into clinical practice often lags. By focusing on clinically validated solutions, the AHA aims to bridge the gap between technological promise and patient impact, ultimately addressing the urgent need for improved prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions like high blood pressure, stroke, and heart failure.
