Class I

Humanetics Corporation is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, focused on developing and commercializing products to enhance human health and wellbeing. Founded in 1988, the company specializes in radiation modulators, adjunctive oncology therapies, and pulmonary protective therapies, particularly for COVID-19. Humanetics is known for its lead drug candidate, BIO 300, which is being developed as a radioprotectant for military and civilian use, as well as a treatment to improve outcomes in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. The company is actively engaged in research programs for non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, and head and neck cancers.

Altra Inc. is at the forefront of revolutionizing infusion therapy with its innovative Altra Infusion System. The company is dedicated to addressing the critical challenges in the infusion industry, such as mechanical failures, flow issues, and false alarms, which contribute to a significant portion of medication errors and adverse drug events. Altra's mission is to ensure patient safety and improve healthcare delivery through advanced technology solutions.

Action Medical Technologies is a pharmaceutical and medical device company focused on developing innovative solutions that integrate medications with advanced devices and injector systems to improve patient outcomes, particularly in austere prehospital environments.

Bessel's mission is to deliver breakthroughs that scale by empowering medtech startups and teams. Bessel provides comprehensive strategy, execution, and fundraising support from initial concept to commercial release. The company is committed to fostering innovation and high-performance teams through its various programs, including the Powered by Bessel accelerator, Bessel Origin learning laboratory, and Bessel Rapid Innovation consulting services.

Ease Healthcare, a registered DBA of MPS Medical, Inc., is a leading distributor and commercialization partner for clinically validated diagnostic tools, monitoring devices, and health and wellness technologies. The company is dedicated to enabling proactive healthcare decisions and equipping providers, organizations, and individuals with advanced solutions for early detection, timely intervention, and improved patient outcomes. With a mission to make advanced science and technology accessible to all, Ease Healthcare focuses on expanding access to effective solutions for major health challenges, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and infectious conditions. Their vision centers on breaking barriers in healthcare by making innovative medical solutions affordable, accessible, and easy to use for individuals, providers, and communities, regardless of economic or geographic barriers. Ease Healthcare also offers turnkey services for medical device manufacturing and distribution, supporting partners from product development through regulatory compliance and market entry.

Purgo Scientific is a medical device company dedicated to developing effective solutions for the biofilm infections crisis in orthopedic surgery. Their mission is to provide a locally targeted sustained delivery device that ensures the right therapy is delivered to the right place for the right duration, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing the impact of surgical site infections.

PPD, a clinical research business of Thermo Fisher Scientific, is a leading provider of global contract research organization (CRO) solutions. The company is dedicated to helping clients accelerate the development of life-changing therapies through comprehensive drug development, laboratory, and lifecycle services. With a commitment to operational excellence and innovative technology, PPD empowers its customers to bring therapies to market faster and improve patient health. PPD has been recognized as an industry leader in clinical development digital transformation services and patient engagement digital transformation. With over 30 years of clinical leadership and a workforce of more than 30,000 employees globally, PPD has conducted over 2,100 trials in the past five years.

Profusa, Inc. is a pioneering digital health company based in the San Francisco Bay Area, dedicated to making the body’s chemistry easily accessible to improve health and wellness. Profusa develops tissue-integrating biosensors for continuous, real-time monitoring of body chemistries, empowering individuals and clinicians with actionable, medical-grade data to transform personal health management and disease prevention. Their unique bioengineering approach overcomes the foreign body response, enabling long-term, in-body monitoring through tiny, flexible biosensors that become one with the body. Profusa’s technology platform supports both consumer and medical applications, with a vision to revolutionize personalized medicine and digital health. The company is supported by significant grant funding from agencies such as DARPA and NIH, and collaborates with leading academic, hospital, and industry partners worldwide.

Solventum is a healthcare company dedicated to enabling better, smarter, and safer healthcare solutions. With a legacy of innovation, Solventum focuses on improving patient outcomes through advanced medical technologies, oral care solutions, health information technology, and purification and filtration systems.

Smith+Nephew is a portfolio medical technology company focused on the repair, regeneration, and replacement of soft and hard tissue. The company aims to restore people's bodies and their self-belief by using technology to take the limits off living. With a commitment to medical education and improving patient outcomes, Smith+Nephew operates in over 100 countries and is dedicated to sustainability and community health. Their purpose is to promote health and wellbeing, not just through their products but also by ensuring a positive impact on society and the environment. Smith+Nephew is also committed to increasing diversity within the medical device industry through initiatives like the Orthopaedics for All global advisory board.

Alira Health is a global consulting and clinical services company that aims to humanize healthcare and life sciences through innovative technologies and expert guidance. They focus on improving patient outcomes by integrating patient voices into the development of treatments and enhancing care quality across the healthcare ecosystem.

Aerstone is a cybersecurity firm dedicated to elevating businesses beyond the security status quo. With a focus on personalized cybersecurity solutions, Aerstone prioritizes understanding the unique needs and challenges of each client. The company is NSA-certified and boasts over 20 years of experience in the field, offering a boutique approach to cybersecurity that emphasizes quality over quantity. Aerstone's mission is to secure the digital world, one client at a time, by providing tailored strategies that deliver maximum impact. Aerstone's security architecture services are designed to fortify digital landscapes, safeguard assets, and keep organizations ahead of evolving threats, ensuring compliance and business continuity.

The University City Science Center (the Science Center) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Philadelphia, PA. The Science Center catalyzes innovation to maintain the technological superiority of the American military and the strength of the American economy. The Science Center’s core activities include programming to support and train entrepreneurs, commercialize dual use technologies, expand available capital for high growth firms, and cultivate the domestic STEM talent pipeline. We empower early-stage companies to secure and manage federal funding through specialized assistance. By leveraging our government relationships, providing comprehensive proposal development, and deploying sophisticated award management, the Science Center streamlines the process for startups in accessing federal funding. By ensuring that American scientific and technological innovations are rapidly advanced and integrated into defense and dual-use applications, the Science Center strengthens the US industrial base, enhances military readiness, and safeguards national security interests. This lab-to-market pipeline is critical to maintaining technological overmatch, securing supply chain resilience, and reinforcing biosecurity infrastructure. The Science Center’s innovation acceleration initiatives can directly contribute to the Department of Defense’s modernization priorities by reducing reliance on foreign technologies, fostering high-growth industries in critical technology areas, and ensuring that STEM advancements serve as strategic assets to protect and advance US interests. Since its founding, the Science Center’s commercialization and small business programming efforts have supported more than 700 companies, leading to 29,100 jobs with an average salary of $105,000 and $7.6 billion in annual economic impact in Greater Philadelphia. Through its commercialization programs, the Science Center has supported a range of mission-critical innovations that align with DoD priorities, including warfighter readiness, medical technology advancement, and operational resilience.

Articulate Labs aims to expand physical therapy standards and improve patient outcomes through wearable medical devices. The company uses innovative, agile technology to develop devices that make physical rehabilitation more mobile, convenient, and effective. By integrating technology with everyday activity, Articulate Labs believes patients can conquer functional limitations and better restore physical mobility.

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is a nonprofit research and development organization that provides independent, premier services to government and industry clients. Founded in 1947, SwRI is committed to advancing science and technology to benefit humanity, focusing on innovative solutions that improve human health and safety. With a diverse range of technical divisions, SwRI addresses complex challenges in various fields including mechanical engineering, materials, aerospace, automotive, biomedical, and more.