OrthoPitch Competition Fosters Innovation, Helps Launch New Orthopaedic Solutions

As many startup founders in the medical field know, building a company can feel like navigating a sea of meetings, networking, and research, leaving little time for anything else. Bradley Estes, PhD, CEO and cofounder of CytexOrtho, a clinical-stage medical device company working to advance orthopaedic treatment options for cartilage repair, understands this all too well.

When AAOS announced its first-ever OrthoPitch in 2023, Dr. Estes almost passed on the opportunity because his company was far too busy. Thankfully, CytexOrtho entered and went on to win the 2024 OrthoPitch, a technology competition that showcases novel and innovative orthopaedic products. The event was held for the first time during the AAOS 2024 Annual Meeting.

“We are funded mainly through grant awards and were buried in that process with a huge grant opportunity, so it was terrible timing for our company when the OrthoPitch applications were due,” Estes said. “However, one of our consultants encouraged us to enter OrthoPitch, and we applied. Winning has provided key validation, underscoring the high potential of our work to advance patient care. OrthoPitch was conceived to highlight innovation in the orthopaedics field and really delivered on that. It was just an outstanding experience for CytexOrtho.”

At the 2024 OrthoPitch, a standing-room-only crowd experienced the interactive event, which saw CytexOrtho crowned the winner for ReNewTM Hip, a novel implant designed to naturally restore hip joints. CytexOrtho faced stiff competition from the inaugural program’s three other finalists, Biomedical Bonding AB, nView medical, and Solenic Medical. Each of the finalists presented a brief summary of their product before taking questions from a panel of regulatory, reimbursement, and commercialization experts, physicians, and investors. The audience contributed to naming the winner by participating in a live online vote.

Jason L. Dragoo, MD, FAAOS, chair of the AAOS Devices, Biologics, and Technology Committee, hosted the 2024 OrthoPitch and will host the 2025 event. “For young companies, there are limited venues for exposure to the medical community,” Dr. Dragoo said. “OrthoPitch is a springboard that paves the way for the next generation of products. There are a lot of surgeons and large companies in attendance that these startups normally would not have the opportunity to get in front of. There are very few other venues like this.”

2025 OrthoPitch: An experience not to be missed
Presented by AAOS and foundational sponsor MCRA, an IQVIA business, the 2025 OrthoPitch competition will be held Tuesday, March 11, at the AAOS 2025 Annual Meeting in San Diego. Finalists will again face off in front of a panel of judges and the audience, presenting their products and fielding questions from the judges.

“I didn’t know what to expect at last year’s OrthoPitch but was blown away by the whole experience,” said Dr. Estes. “I went 45 minutes early to scope out the room, and it was already standing-room only. There was a lot of buzz, energy, and excitement from the start. During the competition, the accomplished panel of judges asked tough, thought-provoking questions that really challenged the participants. You might say they tried hard to knock us off our game, but in the end, that also made it really fun!”

This year’s OrthoPitch starts at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail hour, and the event will begin at 6 p.m. Finalists will show a short 1-minute video to introduce their products before their presentations and the Q&A.

Grand prizes and other benefits include:

• Complimentary regulatory or reimbursement assessment by an MCRA consultant
• Exposure to top-seed and early-stage investors, physicians, strategists, and fellow industry members
• 1:1 coordinated meetings with a minimum of nine leading medical technology investors
• Complimentary webinar with AAOS featuring the 2025 winner of OrthoPitch
• Recognition as the winner of OrthoPitch for 2025
• Complimentary booth at the AAOS 2026 Annual Meeting
• One 20-minute Innovation Theater time slot at the AAOS 2025 Annual Meeting
• One 20-minute Innovation Theater time slot at the AAOS 2026 Annual Meeting

“OrthoPitch is a high-energy, fun event mixed with competition and education that you need to experience in person,” Dr. Dragoo said. “I highly recommend attendees come early, as it is an incredible experience you don’t want to miss.”
More information on OrthoPitch can be found at aaos.org/orthopitch.

Molly Todd Rudy is a freelance writer for AAOS Now.

Webinar: Hip Preservation and the ReNewTM Hip Implant System from CytexOrtho

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024
7:15 to 8:15 p.m. CST
Click here to register.