08/18/2026
Startup Prize: Health Announces 2026 Winners:
💡OmniNano Pharmaceuticals (Houston, TX), winner of the FDA track
💡KŌM Analytics (Tulsa, OK), winner of the Non-FDA track
Startup Prize: Health, a nationally recognized competition for early stage health and medical startups, announced its grand prize winners during a live, global broadcast awards ceremony. Hosted by the Prize Foundation with generous support from Louisiana Economic Development and Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO), the 2026 program and competition drew a record-breaking 89 companies, attracting innovators from 27 states across the country as well as from Canada, South Africa, Australia and Algeria.
Beyond geographic diversity, 47% of the participating companies were founded by women (significantly surpassing the national average of 35%) and 52% were companies founded by entrepreneurs of color.
“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.”
We can't make this announcement without a HUGE thank you to our incredible sponsors--Thank you for fueling the future of healthcare with us!
💡Thank you to our presenting sponsors:
Prize Foundation
Louisiana Economic Development
Louisiana Innovation
Phillips Kallenberg Investments
💡With generous support from:
The Anderson Family
Louisiana Blue
b1BANK
Boot64 Ventures
Caddo Management
Parish of Caddo Commission
Cancer Focus Fund
Chaffe & Associates
City of Shreveport Government
Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation (GBEDF)
Heard, McElroy & Vestal, LLC CPA
Heidi & Gregory Kallenberg
LSU Health Shreveport
Foundation
North Louisiana Economic Partnership
Simon Peragine Smith & Redfearn
