Submissions are limited to one submission per applicant. Applicants should provide in video format (5-10 minutes) the following items:

1. Product and procedure concept.
2. Unmet need & market opportunity.
3. Improvement in the standard of care.
4. Ease of implementation or integration into practice
5. Evidence- Existing and validated clinical evidence (preclinical and/or clinical)
6. Evidence- Planned clinical evidence (preclinical and/or clinical)
7. Regulatory plan- Likelihood of success and/or quality of regulatory team and strategy
8. Reimbursement plan- Likelihood of success and payment
9. USA distribution & Commercialization plan

Video submissions for the initial application process can be informal (for example, it can be a voiceover to a pitch deck). Applicants must also provide supporting documentation in PDF format. The top three chosen finalists must attend the live OrthoPitch event during the AAOS 2026 Annual Meeting and develop a professional video (1 minute) in advance of the event to be shared in front of the live audience.

Application Review Periods will be as follows:

• Application window will open on approx. May 1, 2025
• Application window will close on approx. Aug. 4, 2025
• First round review will close in early Sept., 2025
• Second round review will close in early Nov. 2025
• Participants in the final round live at AAOS 2026 will be notified by approx. Nov. 15, 2025
• Final round participants will provide a 1-minute professional video by Jan. 9, 2026

Evaluations will be conducted in two virtual rounds, with AAOS’ Devices, Biologics, and Technology (DBT) Committee reviewing all applications for the first round to narrow the field to be reviewed by the second round. The second round of reviewers will narrow the applications to the top choices. All review fields are graded on a 10-point scale (10 = best), and these scores are averaged for a single overall rating score. The applicants with the highest overall scores will move on to the final round.

In the pre-screening phase, the presentations will only be to the key personnel, panelists, and contest judges, however, finalists will present their submissions publicly at the AAOS 2026 Annual Meeting.

Surgeons from AAOS’ DBT Committee will review each technology with a focus on its impact on the practice of medicine and impact on patient care.

1. Product concept
2. Unmet need & market opportunity
3. Improvement in the standard of care & ease of implementation or integration into practice.

A panel of regulatory, reimbursement, and commercialization experts, physicians, and investors will judge each technology with a focus on all attributes.

1. Product and procedure concept
2. Unmet need & market opportunity
3. Improvement in the standard of care
4. Ease of implementation or integration into practice
5. Evidence- Existing and validated clinical evidence (preclinical and/or clinical)
6. Evidence- Planned clinical evidence (preclinical and/or clinical)
7. Regulatory plan- Likelihood of success and/or quality of regulatory team and strategy
8. Reimbursement plan- Likelihood of success and payment
9. USA distribution & Commercialization plan

In New Orleans at AAOS 2026 Annual Meeting, the finalists will take the stage to pitch their product in hopes of winning grand prizes. Finalists will be asked to produce a short 1 minute video to introduce their product, and will further give a brief live presentation, in front of a panel of judges. Finalists should expect to field hard-hitting questions from these judges prior to the final winner selection. The grand prize may include, but is not limited to:

• Recognition as the winner of OrthoPitch for 2026.
• Exposure to top seed & early-stage investors physicians, strategists, and fellow industry members.
• 1:1 coordinated meetings with a minimum of 9 leading MedTech investors.
• Complimentary webinar with AAOS.
• Complimentary booth at AAOS Annual Meeting in 2027.
• Complimentary regulatory or reimbursement assessment by MCRA consultant.
• One 20-minute Innovation Theater time slot at the 2026 AAOS Annual Meeting.
• One 20-minute Innovation Theater time slot at the 2027 AAOS Annual Meeting.