Published 1/30/2026
The energy will be palpable as the third annual OrthoPitch competition returns to the AAOS Annual Meeting in March, shining a spotlight on the future of musculoskeletal care. This year, four trailblazing companies will pitch their products and solutions live in New Orleans, each representing the bold spirit of disruption and innovation that AAOS is proud to foster.
AAOS: The platform for orthopaedic innovation at every stage
At the heart of OrthoPitch is AAOS’ unwavering commitment to nurturing innovation across the entire orthopaedic ecosystem. Whether a company is just emerging from stealth mode, scaling up, or preparing for market leadership, AAOS is dedicated to providing the resources, visibility, and connections needed to thrive. The organization’s focus is clear: to empower early, mid, and late-stage companies with platforms that accelerate their journey from concept to clinical impact.
OrthoPitch is a prime example of this commitment. By offering a high-profile stage at the world’s premier orthopaedic meeting, AAOS ensures that disruptors, regardless of their size or stage, can showcase their solutions to a global audience of surgeons, researchers, investors, and industry leaders. This event, which has drawn standing-room-only crowds since its debut in 2024, is where ideas become movements and where the next generation of orthopaedic breakthroughs accelerate.
Meet the 2026 OrthoPitch finalists
The 2026 OrthoPitch finalists were chosen from a highly competitive and outstanding pool of applications, all of which exemplified the innovation, representation, and ingenuity that AAOS seeks to champion. Each submission was carefully evaluated by the AAOS Committee on Devices, Biologics and Technology on its product or procedure concept; the clarity of the unmet need and market opportunity; potential to improve the standard of care, ease of integration into clinical practice, strength of existing and planned clinical evidence; viability of regulatory and reimbursement strategies; and the robustness of its U.S. distribution and commercialization plan. This process ensures that companies at every stage, from early concept to late-stage commercialization, have a fair shot at the spotlight. The four companies selected as finalists represent a cross-section of this exceptional group and the promising technologies driving the future of musculoskeletal care.
- CLARO Surgical (formerly Drill Surgeries Ltd.) – ORTHO-MR: CLARO Surgical is the company behind ORTHO-MR, the world’s first FDA-registered, AI-powered mixed reality platform for orthopaedic surgery. ORTHO-MR makes trauma procedures safer and faster by eliminating the need for intraoperative radiographs during critical locking steps in intramedullary nailing, percutaneous plating, and related procedures, using real-time 3D holographic guidance.
- MY01 – Continuous Perfusion Sensing Technology: Founded in 2019 and based in Montreal, MY01 envisions a world where every disease is quantifiable, enabling precise and personalized care for all patients. The company’s goal is to enhance the quality and outcomes of trauma care by using advanced technology to minimize variations in treatment. Specializing in the management of compartment syndrome, MY01’s Continuous Perfusion Sensing Technology (CPST) platform aims to transform trauma programs by converting complex biological signs into dynamic, actionable, real-time data to facilitate better decision making, reducing variation in care, and delivering better outcomes, thereby allowing hospitals to allocate resources as efficiently as possible.
- Sonogen Medical, Inc. – Ultrasonic Fracture Assessment: Sonogen is developing a portable, inexpensive, and radiation-free ultrasound device that can diagnose bone fractures and monitor the fracture healing process — safely, in real time, and without specialized imaging expertise.
- StabilityIQ – Re-Kinesis: This device brings reliable gait and balance testing to the clinic, providing longitudinal, full-leg kinematic data to patients with gait-impacting pathologies without requiring a dedicated gait lab.
“OrthoPitch is always a highlight of the Annual Meeting,” noted Jason Dragoo, MD, FAAOS, chair of the AAOS Committee on Devices, Biologics, and Technology. “It’s a dynamic showcase where groundbreaking technologies come to life. It’s exciting, fast-paced, and offers a firsthand look at the innovations that will shape the future of orthopaedics. I encourage everyone to make time to experience it in person this year.”
Why AAOS is the home for disruptors
AAOS’ support for emerging companies and ideas does not end with OrthoPitch. Throughout the AAOS Annual Meeting and beyond, the organization offers a suite of programs, forums, and networking opportunities designed to help companies scale. From educational sessions to investment focused forums, AAOS helps to continually break down barriers through programming that connects innovators with the partners and resources they need.
Don’t miss a brand-new session at AAOS 2026: The Investment Forum
Before the OrthoPitch excitement begins, the Investment Forum, presented by AAOS and HealthpointCapital, offers a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs, investors, and clinicians to connect. This session is the first of its kind for the AAOS Annual Meeting and will dive into the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the orthopaedic innovation landscape, making it an essential stop for anyone looking to understand or influence the business of MedTech.
The Investment Forum will start with mid- and late-stage MedTech companies presenting their breakthrough products, sharing their journeys, lessons learned, and key successes. Attendees will gain a real-world view of how early-stage ventures navigate challenges and grow into well-backed, successful companies.
Following these presentations, the Forum will move into sessions focused on investing in private orthopaedic companies, offering insight into what drives funding, what makes investors walk away, and how clinical validation, commercial traction, and strategic storytelling impact success. The discussions will continue with an open dialogue with venture capital and private equity leaders, providing candid perspectives on risk, scale, and where orthopaedic investment is headed.
The afternoon culminates in a can’t-miss executive roundtable featuring top leaders from the MedTech industry, which promises to be a conversation that brings together experience, insight, and strategy, giving attendees a front-row view of the decisions shaping the future of orthopaedics.
The esteemed roundtable panelists are:
- Kevin Lobo, Chair and CEO, Stryker
- Deepak Nath, CEO, Smith+Nephew
- Namal Nawana, Worldwide President, DePuy Synthes
- Ivan Tornos, Chairman, President, and CEO, Zimmer Biomet
This exciting discussion will be moderated by Mike Mogul, Managing Partner, HealthpointCapital.
“HealthpointCapital is proud to affiliate with the Academy on the Investment Forum because it is the leading organization of its kind,” said Gary Stevenson, managing director of HealthpointCapital. “We expect nothing but the best because that is what AAOS stands for. Attendees should attend this session so they can get a glimpse of what’s happening in early to mid to late-stage companies, as well as hear from the experts including investors and C-suite executives.”
Join the Movement
The AAOS Annual Meeting is more than a conference — it’s an accelerator for the ideas and companies that will define the future of orthopaedics. OrthoPitch and the Investment Insights Forum offer a chance to witness innovation in action, support the innovators shaping tomorrow, and be part of a community that believes in the power of progress.
Whether a surgeon, researcher, entrepreneur, or investor, AAOS invites attendees to join the excitement. Mark calendars for OrthoPitch, attend the Investment Forum, and experience firsthand how AAOS is helping companies at every stage thrive.
OrthoPitch will take place in the Great Hall B on Tuesday, March 3 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. Learn more.
Thank you for the generous support of OrthoPitch: Foundational Sponsor, MCRA, an IQVIA Business; Premier PLUS Sponsor, Smith+Nephew; Select Sponsors, HealthpointCapital and SmartTRAK.
Investments Forum precedes OrthoPitch in the Great Hall B from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Beverages will be served from 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Thank you for the generous support of the inaugural Investment Forum: Foundational Partner, HealthpointCapital; Premier Sponsor, MCRA, an IQVIA Business; Select Sponsor, SmartTRAK; Standard Sponsor, Piper Sandler.
Please note: Schedules and content are subject to change.