Baltimore’s CoapTech was picked for this California-based medtech accelerator

A Baltimore medical device company is among startups participating in an accelerator focused on medical technology who will present in San Francisco this week.

CoapTech, which makes a device to allow for feeding tube placement outside of operating room settings, is one of 50 companies that will participate in MedTech Innovator’s accelerator. The Los Angeles-based program is designed to provide access to resources that can help move the comp received over 800 applications.

We're thrilled to announce our #MedTechInnovator 2019 cohort of Accelerator and Showcase companies! https://t.co/c1tGkHMD6c Come check out these fantastic companies at our Showcase at the WSGR Medical Device Conference on Friday (6/21). https://t.co/IeWGdGQpHa pic.twitter.com/WDr2C4mVKB

— MedTech Innovator (@MedTechAwards) June 17, 2019

One of a group of medical device companies growing alongside the city’s healthcare institutions, CoapTech was founded by Dr. Steven Tropello, an emergency medical physician at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and Howard Carolan, who is the company’s CEO. Seeing patients wait for days to have a feeding tube placed, Tropello invented a system which allows ultrasound to be used for procedures in hollow organs of the body.

In May, Technical.ly Baltimore reported that it received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market its device. The cofounders also said the startup moved into space for medical device startups in Port Covington at the Launchport in City Garage.

According to a news release, MedTech Innovator’s programming includes a summit that starts June 19 in San Francisco. The event brings the startups together with corporate partners, investors and representatives from government agencies. At that event, 50 companies then present at a showcase on June 21. Throughout the program, companies take part in three competitions, including a September event in Boston that marks the conclusion.

Over the four months, twenty-five of the companies take part in a virtual accelerator program, in which they’re matched with senior industry leaders to receive mentorship and support.

“We take great pride in bringing the world’s best medtech ecosystem together with standout entrepreneurs to provide them with the resources and connections needed to bring their transformative technologies to patients,” Paul Grand, CEO of MedTech Innovator, said in a statement.