American Heart Association Launches 2026 Health Tech Competition to Accelerate Cardiovascular and Brain Health Innovations

The American Heart Association (AHA) has opened applications for its 2026 Health Tech Competition, a global initiative designed to accelerate the adoption of market-ready technologies that improve cardiovascular and brain health. With cardiovascular disease remaining the leading cause of death worldwide, the competition seeks to address the critical gap between innovative digital health solutions and their real-world implementation in patient care.

Hosted by the AHA's Center for Technology & Innovation, the competition identifies and accelerates technologies that can transform the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions such as high blood pressure, stroke, and heart failure. Unlike traditional startup competitions, this program emphasizes clinical validation and alignment with evidence-based care, ensuring that selected solutions are positioned for practical use in diverse healthcare settings.

Five finalists will be selected to present their innovations at Scientific Sessions 2026, the AHA's flagship global event for cardiovascular science, scheduled for November 6–9 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The live pitches will take place on November 7–8, with the winner announced on November 9. The competition is a cornerstone of the Health Innovation Pavilion at the event, reflecting the AHA's commitment to fostering collaboration and accelerating innovation in healthcare.

“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 AHA. “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 AHA is specifically seeking technologies that actively engage patients, support clinicians, and demonstrate measurable potential to improve patient outcomes across a wide range of care settings. This focus on clinical evidence is intended to bridge the gap between promising innovations and their integration into routine medical practice.

The announcement comes at a time when health systems face growing demand, workforce shortages, and rising costs, making scalable, data-driven solutions more critical than ever. According to a recent study in the European Journal of Medical Research, artificial intelligence and digital health technologies hold significant promise but often fail to reach patients due to barriers in adoption and scalability. The Health Tech Competition aims to overcome these barriers by connecting innovators with clinicians, researchers, and investors who can facilitate real-world integration.

Key dates for the competition include an application deadline of September 18, 2026, with finalists announced on October 10, 2026. Interested companies can find more information and the terms and conditions at ahahealthtech.org/aha-health-tech-competition-2026.

The AHA has a long history of driving innovation in health, supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally. Through initiatives like the Health Tech Competition, the organization continues to fund groundbreaking research, advocate for public health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By focusing on evidence-based, market-ready solutions, the competition aims to ensure that the next generation of health technologies actually reaches the patients who need them most.