SPARC Health and BioUtah to Co-Host Shark Tank-Style Pitch Competition at 2026 Wilson Sonsini Entrepreneur & Investor Life Sciences Summit

SALT LAKE CITY, UT — January 20, 2026 4 min read

Key Takeaways

  • Participants gain a rare platform to pitch to a specialized panel of judges who possess the deep industry expertise required to fund and scale complex medical technologies, pharmaceuticals, and digital health solutions.
  • Following in March, after the global JPMorgan Healthcare Conference, participating companies can take the "JPM momentum" and apply it to a focused regional stage, presenting their refined business cases to an audience specifically looking to invest in the Intermountain West’s ecosystem.
  • The competition is uniquely structured with category-specific tracks (Medical Devices, Pharma, and Biotech), ensuring founders are evaluated against their true peers. Beyond the cash prize pool, companies benefit from high-level exposure, complimentary summit registrations, and a year of BioUtah membership to sustain their growth long after the event ends.

SPARC Health (Startup Platform for Advice, Resources, and Community) and BioUtah today announced they will co-host the signature Shark Tank-style pitch competition at the 2026 Wilson Sonsini Entrepreneur & Investor Life Sciences Summit (E&I Summit). Taking place on March 12, 2026, at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center, the competition provides early-stage healthcare companies with a premier platform to showcase innovations to experienced investors and industry leaders.

Presented by BioUtah and Brigham Young University Tech Transfer Office & The College of Life Sciences, the E&I Summit brings together entrepreneurs and investors to advance healthcare innovation.

The summit is strategically timed to capitalize on the momentum of the global JP Morgan Healthcare Conference. Entrepreneurs with a Utah connection can submit their applications here through the extended deadline of February 1, 2026. Industry professionals and stakeholders interested in attending can register for the summit here.

The competition features cash prizes for category winners. Companies will compete in three distinct tracks: Medical Devices & Diagnostics, Pharmaceuticals & Therapeutics, and Biotechnology & Digital Health.

"Our goal at SPARC Health is to bridge the gap between breakthrough innovation and the resources needed to scale," said Alex Wallberg of SPARC Health. "Co-hosting this competition allows us to provide technical founders with the high-stakes environment and expert feedback necessary to refine their business cases for the next level of growth."

Ted McAleer, Founder and Executive in Residence at SPARC Health, added, "The BioUtah Wilson Sonsini E&I Summit represents a perfect next step for companies emerging from JPMorgan week. This event gives companies real visibility with experienced investors who understand the unique life sciences landscape in the Intermountain West."

Kelvyn Cullimore, President and CEO of BioUtah, noted the importance of this collaboration, stating that, "Utah is one of the fastest-growing innovation hubs in the nation, and we continue to be a hotbed for life sciences startups, supported by a uniquely driven and collaborative ecosystem. The pitch competition allows us to showcase the culture of entrepreneurship and the breakthrough ideas—meeting potential funding and strategic partnerships—that define our state."

BioUtah is an independent 501(c)(6) trade association serving Utah’s life sciences industry. Its member companies reflect a broad spectrum of the industry with strengths in medical device manufacturing and services, research and testing, biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, and diagnostics, amongst others, and are a key driver of Utah’s economy and advancing healthcare.

SPARC Health, the “Startup Platform for Advice, Resources, and Community,” accelerates healthcare startup growth through targeted programming, mentorship, and capital access. The organization supports entrepreneurs building scalable businesses that improve healthcare affordability, accessibility, provider work-life, and population health. SPARC Health is a collaborative initiative between Park City Angels (PCA), BioUtah, BioHive, and the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO).

Presented by BioUtah and Brigham Young University Tech Transfer Office & The College of Life Sciences, the summit brings together entrepreneurs and investors to advance healthcare innovation. Now in its 12th year, the event features keynote presentations, panel discussions, and the signature pitch competition.



Key Takeaways

  • Participants gain a rare platform to pitch to a specialized panel of judges who possess the deep industry expertise required to fund and scale complex medical technologies, pharmaceuticals, and digital health solutions.
  • Following in March, after the global JPMorgan Healthcare Conference, participating companies can take the "JPM momentum" and apply it to a focused regional stage, presenting their refined business cases to an audience specifically looking to invest in the Intermountain West’s ecosystem.
  • The competition is uniquely structured with category-specific tracks (Medical Devices, Pharma, and Biotech), ensuring founders are evaluated against their true peers. Beyond the cash prize pool, companies benefit from high-level exposure, complimentary summit registrations, and a year of BioUtah membership to sustain their growth long after the event ends.
Register HERE
Download

Media Gallery

Files

Register to Pitch!
Download

Video Gallery

Register Now!
View on Vimeo
Register Now!

Quotes

“
Our goal at SPARC Health is to bridge the gap between breakthrough innovation and the resources needed to scale. Co-hosting this competition allows...
Alex Wallberg — Program Manager
“
The BioUtah Wilson Sonsini E&I Summit represents a perfect next step for companies emerging from JPMorgan week. This event gives companies real vis...
Ted McAleer — Founder & Executive in Residence
“
Utah is one of the fastest-growing innovation hubs in the nation, and we continue to be a hotbed for life sciences startups, supported by a uniquel...
Kelvyn Cullimore — President and CEO of BioUtah

Related Bios

Ted McAleer
Founder & Executive in Residence
Ted McAleer has been working with Utah’s Startup community since 1999 and has supported commercialization of innovation as the COO of VBGS and co-Founder and Board Chairman of Park City Angels. In January 2025, he became the Regional Engagement Principal for Utah at the Defense Innovation Unit, a DoD program. Ted has held operational and leadership roles at a variety of startup companies including Braveheart Wireless, and as the first Managing Director of PandoLabs, a business incubator and accelerator based in Park City, Utah. Ted’s innovation ecosystem work was kicked off as the 1st Executive Director of USTAR (Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative), the State of Utah’s signature technology-based economic development initiative from 2006-2014.

In his first 15 working years, he worked for Campus Pipeline, SunGard SCT, Procter and Gamble, PepsiCo. and the US Army. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Master of Engineering from the University of Virginia, and a BS in Engineering Management from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
View Full Bio>>
Alex Wallberg
Program Manager
Alex Wallberg is actively engaged in the healthtech innovation and investment sector. He has over 16 years leadership and operations experience as an Air Force officer, defense contractor and entrepreneur. As program manager for the Utah Healthcare Innovation Network (UHIN) Alex is leveraging his experience and biomedical engineering education to accelerate healthtech innovation for the state of Utah. Additionally, he is the Investment Operations Manager at Park City Angels, overseeing the deal flow for 100+ accredited investors and a member of Salt Lake City Angels.
View Full Bio>>

Contacts

Chelli Miller
chelli@contentcarnivores.com
219-921-6823
Media