The American Heart Association has opened applications for its 2026 Health Tech Competition, a global initiative designed to accelerate the adoption of innovative 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 digital health tools and their real-world implementation, particularly in the management of conditions such as high blood pressure, stroke, and heart failure.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, and health systems are grappling with rising demand, workforce shortages, and escalating costs. In this context, scalable, data-driven solutions are increasingly vital to delivering timely and equitable care. The Health Tech Competition seeks to connect healthcare innovators with clinicians, researchers, and investors, accelerating the path from evidence-based technology to patient impact.
“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 backed by clinical or pilot data and a viable business model. The Association is particularly interested in technologies that actively engage patients, support clinicians, and demonstrate measurable potential to improve outcomes across diverse care settings. Unlike typical startup competitions, this program emphasizes clinical validation and alignment with evidence-based care, ensuring that selected solutions are positioned for real-world adoption.
Key dates for the 2026 competition include an application deadline of Sept. 18, 2026, with five finalists announced on Oct. 10. Finalists will present their innovations live at Scientific Sessions 2026, the Association’s flagship global event for cardiovascular science, scheduled for Nov. 6–9 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The winner will be announced on Nov. 9.
The competition is a cornerstone of the Health Innovation Pavilion at Scientific Sessions and reflects the Association’s ongoing commitment to fostering collaboration and advancing science to improve cardiovascular and brain health outcomes worldwide. For more details and to apply, visit ahahealthtech.org/aha-health-tech-competition-2026.
Additional resources from the American Heart Association include coverage of the 2025 competition winner and finalists, available on their newsroom. Follow AHA/ASA news on X at @HeartNews.
