SHREVEPORT, La. — OmniNano Pharmaceuticals and KOM Analytics won the top awards in the 2026 Startup Prize: Health competition, each receiving $10,000 and additional mentorship and investor introductions.
The Shreveport-based competition for early-stage health and medical companies drew a record 89 companies this year, according to organizer Prize Foundation. Participants came from 27 states as well as Canada, South Africa, Australia and Algeria.
Houston-based OmniNano Pharmaceuticals won the competition’s FDA track, while Tulsa, Oklahoma-based KOM Analytics won the non-FDA track.
OmniNano Pharmaceuticals, which grew out of research at MD Anderson, is developing a nanoparticle therapy intended to deliver treatment directly to pancreatic tumors. The company is targeting pancreatic cancer’s resistance to existing treatments.
KOM Analytics has developed a data platform for small and midsize health care organizations. The technology pulls information from systems including patient records, human resources and financial platforms and consolidates it into reports without requiring organizations to replace their existing systems.
“We were so proud to host this amazing group of founders, definitely the strongest group we’ve ever experienced at Startup Prize: Health,” said Gregory Kallenberg, founder of Startup Prize. “Congrats to OmniNano Pharmaceuticals and KOM Analytics for their big win. That said, in our book and the investor’s book, everyone who made it to this level is a winner.”
Six companies advanced to the finals from the 89-company field. FDA track finalists also included Transformative Biotech of Boulder, Colorado, and Métopi of Alexandria, Virginia. Other non-FDA finalists were ClearSight Therapeutics of Dallas and NurseBrain of Palo Alto, California.
Transformative Biotech is developing extraction-free PCR technology and a handheld testing device intended to move infection testing outside traditional laboratories. Métopi is developing a portable inhaler for delivering medication during asthma and migraine emergencies.
ClearSight Therapeutics is working to develop an over-the-counter antimicrobial eye drop for pink eye, along with other eye-care products using the company’s barrier-forming technology. NurseBrain has developed a workflow platform that organizes patient information, tasks and handoffs for nurses during their shifts.
Finalists presented their businesses to an investor-judge panel and answered questions about their companies’ feasibility and business prospects. Although the two track winners each received $10,000, investors participating in the competition can consider investments in any of the finalists.
Companies seeking to compete in Startup Prize: Health register an early-stage health-focused business and attend at least one qualifying event. The program includes mentor-led roundtables, panels and presentations intended to help founders test business feasibility and go-to-market strategies. Competitors seeking to advance to the finals also submit a business plan and detailed survey for review.
The competition included companies working in medical and surgical devices, drug delivery, therapeutics, diagnostics, health technology, care delivery and administrative services.
Prize Foundation said 47% of participating companies this year were founded by women and 52% were founded by entrepreneurs of color.
Startup Prize: Health is supported by Louisiana Economic Development and Louisiana Innovation, or LA.IO.
“Louisiana’s innovation strategy has to extend beyond the industries we’re best known for,” said Josh Fleig, chief innovation officer at Louisiana Economic Development. “Startup Prize: Health gives us an opportunity to bring promising health innovators to Louisiana and show them what our state has to offer. Through LA.IO, we’re investing in partnerships that broaden Louisiana’s health innovation economy, position our state to lead in the field and, ultimately, improve the lives of the people who call our state home.”
Startup Prize was founded in 2014 and is operated by the Prize Foundation, a Shreveport-based nonprofit. The program connects early-stage companies with mentors, investors and other business resources as they prepare for commercialization.