The MedTech Innovation & Entrepreneurship program is proud to celebrate the success of our 2026 cohort at the North Carolina State University Venture Pack Challenge. All three MS-MedTech startups received monetary awards this year! This annual student competition, hosted by the NC State Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, provides guidance, mentorship, resources, and funding to student entrepreneurs developing innovative startup ideas.
Specivex – Grand Prize & Audience Choice ($8,500)
Team members: Sopha Villani, Jeremy Picado, Shyam Patel, and Michael Squillacioti
Specivex is developing a novel articulating endoscopic biopsy forceps designed to improve precision, efficiency, and tissue sample quality during minimally invasive procedures in space-constrained bodily lumens such as the esophagus.
Colvida – Winner & Audience Choice Winner ($5,000)
Team members: Jon Badillo, Max Miller, Adam Jilla, and Casey Byrne
Colvida is developing a next-generation fecal management system aimed at reducing leakage, skin injury, and infection risk while easing workload for bedside clinicians and improving patient outcomes.
Aegis Medical – Winner & Audience Choice Winner ($4,500)
Team members: Katie McCormack, Ryan Teague, John Araujo, and Yashica Paramkusham
Aegis Medical developed a mesh-integrated specimen retrieval bag designed to reduce incision size and extraction force during minimally invasive surgery, enabling safer and more efficient specimen removal.
We are incredibly proud of our students for translating clinical needs into impactful innovations. Their success highlights the strength of the MS-MedTech program and its focus on developing and launching solutions for real-world healthcare challenges.