September 8, 2023
The Startup Prize: Focus on Health is a nationally recognized competition that connects early‑stage health and medical startups with mentors, investors and judges. The competition is headquartered in Shreveport, Louisiana and draws entrepreneurs from across the United States. In 2024 the program attracted 70 startups from 23 states and emphasized diversity—45 percent of participating companies were female‑founded and 58 percent had founders who identified as non‑white. Participants attend round‑tables, panels and keynotes where they receive feedback from mentors, then submit detailed business plans to qualify for the finals.
Each track winner receives a $10,000 cash prize along with connections to potential investment. In 2023, Vivifi competed in the FDA track and emerged as the grand‑prize winner. The win provided the validation and runway our team needed at that point: non‑dilutive funding to continue maturing our device and seasoned guidance on regulatory and reimbursement strategy. More importantly, the program privileged substance over show, pairing us with mentors who had shipped regulated products before and giving us insight into investors who truly understand medical devices.
Startup Prize was established in 2014 as a nationally recognized entrepreneurial competition where health startups from Northwest Louisiana and across the country compete for a cash prize and investment opportunities. The competition requires entrepreneurs to attend qualifying events, participate in mentor‑led round‑tables and submit detailed business plans that judges use to select finalistsshreveportchamber.org. The program’s goal is to provide not just capital but also mentorship and connections to investorsshreveportchamber.org.
The Prize Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Shreveport, runs the Startup Prize and other initiatives to promote economic growth and creative entrepreneurship. Its mission is to drive workforce development, youth job training and increased tourism through education, conferences and contests across Northwest Louisianashreveportchamber.org.
Vivifi Medical develops a minimally invasive solution to reverse benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Our approach leverages vascular and urologic insights to restore prostate function without removing tissue. Winning the FDA track of the Startup Prize underscored the potential of our technology and connected us with mentors who continue to help us navigate regulatory and reimbursement pathways.
2450 Holcombe Blvd, Ste 1420, Houston, TX 77021* NOTE: This treatment is for investigational use only and is not approved by the FDA for commercial distribution. It is currently under clinical investigation to evaluate its safety and effectiveness.
