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Overview

Subject of the Challenge

The National Institute on Aging’s (NIA) (OSEP) announces the 2025 NIA Start-Up Challenge and Accelerator, in partnership with the NIA (OSP). The goal of this Challenge, the third of its kind offered by NIA, is to stimulate innovation in aging research and development by awarding cash prizes and non-cash prizes, such as coaching, mentorship, and strategic resources and opportunities provided through an accelerator program, that will help participants overcome barriers to participating in life science entrepreneurship.

This Challenge invites submissions from researchers and entrepreneurs who have innovative ideas for science-driven technologies and products that have the potential to increase the impact and reach of NIA-funded small business research and development, and who would substantially benefit from intensive entrepreneurial training and resources.

Proposals may demonstrate a potential to increase the impact and reach of NIA-funded small business research and development by addressing an underfunded area of research and development relevant to the or by being led by an individual or team of individuals who possess a background or unique life experience that can bring a unique perspective to aging-related research and development. Please note that the race, ethnicity, or sex of the submitter(s) will not be considered in the submission review process, judging process, or when making funding decisions.

Proposals may demonstrate the potential to substantially benefit from intensive entrepreneurial training and resources by describing the submitters’ scientific, technical, or professional background as it relates to the proposed idea, and how personal/professional adversity or a lack of experience, resources, and/or technical skills impede or limit the submitter’s opportunities to accelerate the idea.

For the full Challenge announcement, visit .

Prizes

Total cash prizes
$665,000

Non-monetary prizes
Entrepreneur Accelerator Program

Prize description
Stage 1

Up to twenty one (21) Stage 1 finalists will be selected from the initial pool of submissions. Each Stage 1 finalist will be awarded a $10,000 cash prize, the opportunity to participate in a five-month accelerator program, coaching on the NIH SBIR application process, and access to business, regulatory, and reimbursement consults from at no cost to the finalist. The goal of the Stage 1 cash prize is to support critical early-stage business and product development activities that may be identified during the program. Stage 1 finalists will be paid the $10,000 cash prize within three months of the start of the accelerator program.

Stage 2
Up to seven (7) winners will be selected from the Stage 1 finalist pool to receive up to $65,000 each.

Note: While Stage 1 participants are provided coaching on the NIH SBIR application process, it is important to note that NIA has a variety of resources to help entrepreneurs apply for NIA grants, whether they participate in the Challenge or not. Grant application technical assistance is not solely available to Stage 1 Challenge participants. For more information on resources, visit the NIA Small Business Programs website, . Additionally, while NIA hopes that the Challenge will encourage the development of a successful SBIR/STTR grant application, Challenge participation or selection as a winner has no impact on decisions made by NIA or any other NIH component to award grant funding. All grant applications, including those that are developed as a result of this Challenge, are subject to competition, peer review, and all other grant application and award requirements.

Payment of the Prize:
Prizes awarded under this competition will be paid by electronic funds transfer and may be subject to Federal income taxes. HHS/NIH will comply with the Internal Revenue Service withholding and reporting requirements, where applicable. Entities participating in this Challenge are encouraged, but not required, to request and obtain a free Unique Entity ID (UEI), if they have not already done so, via SAM.gov as this will expedite prize payment. Additional information can be found at .

Award Approving Official:
The Award Approving Official will be Richard J. Hodes, M.D., Director of the National Institute on Aging.

The NIH/NIA reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to (a) cancel, suspend, and/or modify this prize competition, or any part of it, for any reason, and/or (b) not award any prizes if no submissions are deemed worthy.

For the full Challenge prize description, visit .

Rules

Eligibility Rules:

To be eligible to win a prize under this Challenge, an individual, team, or entity—

• Shall have registered to participate in the Challenge under the rules promulgated by the NIH as published in this Announcement;
• Shall have complied with all the requirements set forth in this Announcement;
• May not be the principal investigator on an NIH SBIR/STTR award that is active at the time of the challenge submission period end date.
• May not have been a finalist in previous versions of the NIA Start-Up Challenge.
• In the case of a private entity, shall be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States, and in the case of an individual, whether participating singly or in a group shall be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. However, non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents can participate as a member of a team that otherwise satisfies the eligibility criteria. Non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents are not eligible to win a monetary prize (in whole or in part). Their participation as part of a winning team, if applicable, may be recognized when the results are announced.
• May not be a Federal entity or Federal employee acting within the scope of their employment;
• May not be an employee of HHS (or any component of HHS) acting in their personal capacity;
• Those who are employed by a federal agency or entity other than HHS (or any component of HHS), should consult with their agency Ethics Official to determine whether the federal ethics rules will limit or prohibit their participation in the Challenge or acceptance of the Challenge;
• May not be a judge of the Challenge, or any other party involved with the design, production, execution, or distribution of the Challenge or the immediate family of such a party (i.e., spouse, parent, step-parent, child, or step-child).

For the full Challenge eligibility requirements, visit .

Participation Rules

• By participating in this Challenge, each individual (whether competing singly or in a group) or entity certifies they have either already formed a U.S. owned and operated small business or intend to form a U.S. owned and operated small business that meets the eligibility requirements to apply for SBIR/STTR funding () by October 1, 2025.
• An individual (whether participating singly or in a group) or entity shall not be deemed ineligible because the individual or entity used Federal facilities or consulted with Federal employees during the Challenge if the facilities and employees are made available to all individuals and entities participating in the Challenge on an equitable basis.
• An individual (whether participating singly or in a group) or entity may not use Federal funds from a grant award or cooperative agreement to develop their Challenge submissions or to fund efforts in support of their Challenge submissions unless use of such funds is consistent with the purpose, terms, and conditions of the grant award or cooperative agreement. Participants intending to use Federal grant or cooperative agreement funds must register for and participate in the Challenge as an Entity on behalf of the awardee institution, organization, or entity. If a Participant uses Federal grant or cooperative agreement funds and wins the Challenge, the prize must be treated as program income for purposes of the original grant or cooperative agreement in accordance with applicable Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR § 200).
• Federal contractors may not use Federal funds from a contract to develop their Submissions or to fund efforts in support of their Submission.
• Multiple entries from each individual (whether participating singly or in a group) or entity are permitted. Each solution must be sufficiently novel and unique and not be a minor modification of a prior submission.
• By participating in this Challenge, each individual (whether competing singly or in a group) and entity agrees to assume any and all risks and waive claims against the Federal government and its related entities, except in the case of willful misconduct, for any injury, death, damage, or loss of property, revenue, or profits, whether direct, indirect, or consequential, arising from participation in this Challenge, whether the injury, death, damage, or loss arises through negligence or otherwise.
• Based on the subject matter of the Challenge, the type of work that it will possibly require, as well as an analysis of the likelihood of any claims for death, bodily injury, property damage, or loss potentially resulting from Challenge participation, no individual (whether competing singly or in a group) or entity participating in the Challenge is required to obtain liability insurance, or demonstrate financial responsibility, or agree to indemnify the Federal government against third party claims for damages arising from or related to Challenge activities in order to participate in this Challenge.
• By participating in this Challenge, each individual (whether participating singly or in a group) or entity warrants that they are the sole author or owner of, or has the right to use, any copyrightable works that the submission comprises, that the works are wholly original with the participant (or is an improved version of an existing work that the participant has sufficient rights to use and improve), and that the submission does not infringe any copyright or any other rights of any third party of which participant is aware.
• By participating in this Challenge, each individual (whether participating singly or in a group) and each entity grants to the NIH an irrevocable, paid-up, royalty-free nonexclusive worldwide license to reproduce, publish, post, link to, share, and display publicly (e.g., on websites) the submission and abstracts on the web or elsewhere, and a nonexclusive, nontransferable, irrevocable, paid-up license to practice, or have practiced for or on its behalf, the solution throughout the world. Each participant will retain all other intellectual property rights in their submissions, as applicable. To participate in the Challenge, each individual (whether participating singly or in a group) or entity must warrant that there are no legal obstacles to providing the above-referenced nonexclusive licenses of their rights to the Federal government. To receive a prize award, individuals (whether participating singly or in a group) or entities will not be required to transfer their intellectual property rights to NIH, but they must grant to the federal government the nonexclusive licenses recited herein.
• Each individual (whether participating singly or in a group) or entity agrees to follow all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies.
• Each individual (whether participating singly or in a group) or entity ensures that no confidential or proprietary material is submitted.
• Each individual (whether participating singly or in a group) or entity participating in this Challenge must comply with all terms and conditions of these rules, and participation in this Challenge constitutes each such participant’s full and unconditional agreement to abide by these rules. Winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements herein. 

For the full Challenge participation rules, visit .

Judging

Basis Upon Which Stage 1 Winners Will be Selected:

All submissions received within the submission period will be reviewed by NIA for eligibility and programmatic relevance and given a preliminary evaluation and score by NIA staff. Submissions receiving an acceptable preliminary evaluation and score will move forward for technical review. Technical reviewers with expertise in aging research, life science entrepreneurship and investment, business development, and product development will individually evaluate and score submission materials based on the criteria outlined below. Technical reviewers will be comprised of experts from the federal government, academia, industry, and other sectors as deemed relevant. Taking into consideration the technical evaluation, a panel of federal employees serving as judges will provide a final evaluation and score of the submission materials and will recommend top-scoring teams for a screening call with NIA Challenge Staff. Following the screening calls, the NIA Challenge Staff will recommend up to 21 finalists for approval by the Award Approving Official. All submissions that reach the technical review stage will receive a short summary of feedback on their submission within three months of the submission period end date. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, or sex. HHS does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, or sex.

Stage 1
The criteria of evaluation to select the Stage 1 finalists are as follows [100 points total]:

• Significance (0-15 points): How strong is the potential of the technology or product to address a significant unmet need in the older adult population? To what extent does the scientific premise support the merits of the idea?
• Innovation (0-15 points): How novel is the idea for the technology or product? What is the potential competitive advantage or the potential for refinement of the technology or product to improve the competitive advantage? 
• Commercialization (0-10 points): How well is the commercial potential described? Is there a strong value proposition? Is there a clearly defined market for the proposed product? Is the company’s business strategy one that has a high potential for success?
• Submitter(s) (0-10 points): To what degree does the individual or team of individuals demonstrate a high level of commitment and collaboration? What level of relevant expertise does each person bring to the team? 
• Challenge Impact on the Submitter(s) (0-25 points): Does the submitter(s) describe a scientific, technical, professional, and/or personal background (e.g., lack of access to resources and networks) that demonstrates a need for training and resources provided by this Challenge? Does the submitter(s) describe how they will significantly benefit from the training and resources provided by this Challenge at their stage of technology development?
• Challenge Impact on NIA-funded small business research and development (0-25 points): Will the submitter(s) participation in this Challenge have the potential to increase the impact and expand the reach of NIA-funded small business research and development in at least two of the following ways:
  • The technology or product addresses an underfunded area of research and development relevant to the NIA small business research priorities. (Active NIA SBIR/STTR awards can be found in .)
  • The technology or product addresses a unique need of older adults.
  • The submitting individual or team of individuals possess a background and/or unique life experience that would bring a diverse perspective to aging-related research and development. Note that the race, ethnicity, or sex of the submitter(s) may not be considered as part of any evaluation criteria. Some examples of permissible considerations for this criteria include but are not limited to:
    • Experience being a caregiver for older adults, including those with Alzheimer’s disease or AD-related dementia. 
    • Research experience or training (aging or non-aging-related) which brings a complementary and/or diverse perspective to enhance aging-related research and development.
    • Individuals who have experienced and/or overcome challenges or barriers which gives them a unique perspective on aging-related research and development.

Basis Upon Which Stage 2 Winners Will be Selected:

The Stage 2 review will be performed by a judging panel composed of NIA staff. The judging panel will collect and review each finalist’s final materials (one-page document and 7-minute pitch), as well as a mentor assessment, provided by the finalists’ mentors, highlighting their estimation of prize impact based on their technical expertise and their experience advising the finalist.

The evaluation criteria to select the Stage 2 winners consist of the following [100 points total]:

Review criteria for the mentor assessment and one-page document [45 points total]:

• Prize Impact on Innovation Advancement (0-30 points): Does the finalist present a clear and strong plan for how the prize funds will play a critical role in empowering the small business to accelerate the development of their innovation in ways including, but not limited to:
  • Expanding their team
  • Collecting pilot data
  • Securing customers
  • Raising funds
• Prize Impact on NIA-funded small business research and development (0-15 points): If awarded, how does the innovation have the potential to increase the impact and expand the reach of NIA-funded small business research and development? Do the submission materials describe in detail at least one of the following:
  • How the technology or product addresses an underfunded area of research and development relevant to the NIA-funded small business research priorities. (Active NIA SBIR/STTR awards can be found in .)
  • How the technology or product addresses a unique need of aging adults.

Review criteria for the 7-minute pitch video [55 points total]:

• Significance (0-15 points): To what degree does the technology or product address a significant unmet need in the older adult population?
• Innovation (0-15 points): How novel is the technology or product? What is the competitive advantage?
• Commercialization (0-10 points): How well is the commercial potential described? Is there a strong value proposition? Is there a clearly defined market for the proposed product? Is the company’s business strategy one that has a high potential for success?
• Submitter(s) (0-10 points): To what degree does the individual or team of individuals demonstrate a high level of commitment and collaboration? What level of relevant expertise does each person bring to the team? Are there significant gaps in expertise on the team and how strong is the plan to fill those gaps?
• Pitch Delivery (0-5 points): How clearly does the submitter(s) present the information, including verbal delivery and visual slides?

For the full Challenge judging criteria, visit .

How to enter

Phase 1: Stage 1 - Finalists

The registration and submission period for this Challenge will open September 3, 2024. To register and submit, visit to enter a submission by the deadline of 11:59 PM ET on December 9, 2024. Do not include any confidential or proprietary information in your submission materials. By submitting materials in response to this Challenge, you are agreeing to allow the National Institute on Aging to publish all or parts of your submission materials on (see the Rules section for additional information).

For Teams: Each participating Team is required to identify a Team Lead who will register and submit on behalf of the Team members. The Team Lead is responsible for all communications with the Challenge sponsors and, in the event of winning a cash prize, will be paid the prize in full. To be eligible to receive a cash prize, the Team Lead must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. In the event that a dispute regarding the identity of the Team Lead who actually submitted the entry cannot be resolved to NIH’s satisfaction, the affected submission will be deemed ineligible.

For Entities: Each participating Entity is required to identify a Point of Contact who will register and submit on behalf of the Entity. The Point of Contact is responsible for all communications with the Challenge sponsors. In the event of winning a cash prize, the prize will be paid directly to the Entity, not to the Point of Contact. To be eligible to receive a cash prize, the Entity must be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States. As stated in the Participation Rules, submitters intending to use Federal grant or cooperative agreement funds to develop their Challenge submissions or to fund efforts in support of their Challenge submissions must register for and participate in the Challenge as an Entity on behalf of the awardee institution or organization. In the event that a dispute regarding the identity of the Point of Contact who actually submitted the entry cannot be resolved to NIH’s satisfaction, the affected submission will be deemed ineligible.

Submission Requirements
Stage 1 - To be competitive in this Challenge, eligible submitter(s) must include the following in their submission materials:

1. The submitter(s) must propose an innovative idea for a science-driven product that aligns with the NIA small business research priorities and has the potential to increase the impact and reach of NIA-funded small business research and development as described in this announcement.
2. The submitter(s) must demonstrate that they would substantially benefit from intensive entrepreneurial training and resources as provided by participation in the Challenge accelerator program. 

Phase 2: Stage 2 - Winners

Submission Requirements
Stage 2 - To be competitive for the Stage 2 cash prizes, Stage 1 finalists must include the following in their final submission materials, to be submitted at the end of Stage 1:

A one-page document outlining the potential prize impact on advancing their business and innovation, and on furthering the NIA’s goal to improve the health status of older adults in diverse populations.[1]
A 7-minute pitch video addressing the potential of their technology and the strength of their team.

Finalists also must complete the following requirements to be eligible to compete for the Stage 2 cash prize:

The finalist must form a company and be eligible to apply for an NIH SBIR/STTR grant.
The finalist must meet with an NIH program officer to discuss the aims and objectives of a potential NIH SBIR/STTR grant proposal.

Reference
[1] National Institute on Aging 2020. The National Institute on Aging: Strategic Directions for Research, 2020-2025.

For full instructions on how to enter, visit .

Contact

For further information, please contact: niastartupchallenge@nih.gov

Winners

Stage 1 Finalists

Congratulations to the Stage 1 Finalists for the 2025 NIA Start Up Challenge and Accelerator! These finalists represent a multidisciplinary group of researchers and entrepreneurs developing science-driven technologies and products that have the potential to advance the field of aging research and innovation. Learn more about the Challenge, the Finalists, and this year's mentors:

Lauren Blake, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Director of Operations; Marcus Soliai, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Director of Research and Development; Phillip Sears, Data Engineering and AI Intern; Franco Villalobos, Data Engineering and AI Intern

• Alstara/DRAGON Drug Discovery Platform: Leveraging AI and big data to identify the right drug combinations for AD/ADRD faster, cheaper, and with greater confidence

Marie Brodsky, B.S., CEO; Katherine-Aria Close, B.A, B.S., Chief Product Officer; Richard McHorgh, B.S., Lead Engineer

• WISE Cities: AI-powered platform connecting older adults with local services, activities, and resources to reduce social isolation and support aging in place of choice

Divya Chander, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and Founder; Paddy Roberts, Chief Operating Officer

• Lucidify: Precision neurotechnology platform revolutionizing cognitive health and longevity

Nipun Chopra, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer

• DexTech Inc.: Augmented reality software solution for reversing freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease

Lauren Donovan, Ph.D., Research Scientist; Vivianne Tawfik, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor

• SenNeuro Therapeutics: Therapeutic company to provide treatment options for pain conditions in aged populations

Kareem Elfoulie, B.S., Co-Founder

• Senior Shield Technologies, Inc.: Dignifying incontinence care with Tenative, a novel incontinence monitoring pad

Jared Fischer, Ph.D., CEO; Florian Goncalves, M.S. Ph.D., Research Engineer 3

• SenC Biologics, LLC: Novel senolytics for the treatment of age-related diseases

Alvin Huang, M.D., Ph.D., Co-Founder; Ryan O’Rouke, Ph.D., CEO and Co-Founder

• Acre Therapeutics: Antisense oligonucleotide therapy designed to restore secretory autophagy for tau pathology in Alzheimer’s and related tauopathies

Nita Jain, B.S., Founder

• Timeless Biosciences: Precision microbiome-targeted therapies for complex chronic conditions

Kwamane Liddell, J.D., M.H.A., B.S.N., Founder and CEO

• ThriveLink: Telephonic conversational AI that uses machine learning to help patients verbally complete and submit applications for health care services and screenings

Amanda Mahoney, Ph.D., CEO; Erin Lucatorto, M.A., Chief Scientific Officer; James L. Coyle, Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer; Ervin Sejdic, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer

• Accelowave Technologies, Inc.: Sensor-based system that leverages accelerometer movement signals as input for predictive AI algorithms to assess swallowing function and detect airway invasion

Jeannette R. Mahoney, Ph.D., Founder and President

• JET Worldwide Enterprises Inc.: Multisensory digital health app that quantitatively assesses risk for falls and preclinical Alzheimer’s disease

Sarah Nouri, M.D., M.P.H., Co-Founder; Megan Gillum, M.D., Co-Founder

• Balsam: Digital platform for older adults and their caregivers that uses generative AI and machine learning to optimize symptom management, reduce caregiver burden, and anticipate care needs

Kristeen A. Pareja-Navarro, Ph.D., CEO

• EngramBio: Small molecule oligopeptide therapeutic for repairing synapse dysfunction and reversing memory loss in patients with Alzheimer’s and other dementias

Anway Pimpalkar, M.S.E., CEO; Junjun Chen, M.S.E., Chief Technology Officer

• Re-Kinesis: Wearable motion analysis lab integrating e-dermis sensing with AI to monitor lower limb function and augment recovery strategies for patients in physical rehabilitation

Neal K. Shah, CEO

• CareYaya Health Technologies: AI phone companion designed to improve the well-being and cognitive health of seniors through meaningful interactions

Stefano Carl Selorio, CEO

• Carevocacy: Empathetic, multilingual AI-powered chatbot that helps older adults and caregivers navigate digital health tools

Jermiah Tate, M.S., Graduate Research Student; J. Amber Jennings, Ph.D., Associate Professor

• ChromatoCare Innovations: Making early detection of infection simple to improve patient care for all

Maria Uloko, M.D., CEO and Founder

• VULVAi: AI-driven health platform providing consumers and clinicians with tools to better understand, diagnose, and manage chronic vulvovaginal conditions

Harsh Vaidya, Ph.D., CEO

• Fidra Therapeutics Inc.: Multifunctional antibody drug platform to treat Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative disorders

Weiguang Wang, Ph.D., Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer; Fei Li, M.B.A., Co-Founder & Business Development Lead

• Agilgen: Integrating AI with regenerative biology to develop targeted therapeutics for age-related musculoskeletal degeneration

Stage 2 - Winners

Announced on January 28, 2026

We are thrilled to announce the 2025 NIA Start-Up Challenge winners, who demonstrated outstanding innovation, scientific rigor, and commercial potential. The Challenge received 275 submissions, selected 21 finalists, and just 7 winners, making this a highly competitive program – a testament to the novelty and potential of the winning solutions and the teams behind the innovation. After completing an entrepreneur accelerator program, these teams submitted exceptional pitch presentations to compete for $65,000 cash prizes. Each team has shown remarkable dedication to addressing critical unmet needs in aging and have made significant strides in refining their business strategies and advancing their products. Their solutions represent the future of aging research and care, and we are proud to support their journey towards commercialization.

Accelowave
Amanda Mahoney, PhD, CCC-SLP; Erin Lucatorto, PhD, CCC-SLP     
A noninvasive, AI-enabled bedside technology that objectively detects aspiration to support clinical decision-making in swallowing care.   

Acre Therapeutics
Yu-Wen Alvin Huang, MD, PhD; Ryan O'Rourke, PhD     
Acre Therapeutics is harnessing antisense oligonucleotide technology to develop tau-targeting precision medicines for Alzheimer's disease. 

CatchU
Jeannette R. Mahoney, PhD     
CatchU®…Before You Fall is a multisensory simple-reaction app that unlike current performance-based falls measures, provides a window to brain functioning.  

DexTech
Nipun Chopra, PhD     
StepAhead is a wearable solution that enhances mobility and autonomy in Parkinson's patients by predicting and reversing Freezing of Gait. 

EngramBio
Kristeen A. Pareja-Navarro, PhD, Tara Tracy, PhD     
EngramBio develops first-in-class synapse-repair therapeutics designed to reverse memory loss in Alzheimer’s and related dementias. 

Lucidify
Divya Chander, MD, PhD; Paddy Roberts     
Lucidify uses AI to convert wearable EEG into a continuous brain vital sign, to detect acute brain state changes like delirium, and predict Alzheimer’s risk. 

VULVAi 
Maria Uloko, MD      
VULVAi is an AI-powered digital healthcare ecosystem reducing vulvovaginal misdiagnosis through clinician training, patient empowerment, and direct clinical care."