—eGlint Proteomics wins $250,000 Grand Prize to advance a proteomics platform that delivers quantitative, multiplexed protein results in ten minutes on lab instruments already in use, accelerating diagnosis, reducing testing costs, and expanding access to protein data beyond centralized labs—
—EXIT071 wins Best Video Award—
BioTools Innovator, the only accelerator focused on life science tools, today announced the 2026 BioTools Innovator Grand Prize Winner in San Diego, Calif., during its annual Capstone Event. eGlint was awarded the $250,000 Grand Prize, selected in real-time by a live audience of industry leaders following pitches from the five finalists. The other finalists, Caravel Bio, QuantumCyte, and Pando Bioscience, each received $10,000.
eGlint’s ProteoMix™ delivers rapid, multiplex protein testing on existing qPCR instruments—no new hardware required. Initially targeting cytokine monitoring for cell and gene therapy development and manufacturing, ProteoMix accelerates critical decisions. Powered by our ProteoNex™ platform, it enables an expanding assay menu and future point-of-care and at-home diagnostics.
“We are incredibly honored to be named the 2026 BioTools Innovator Grand Prize Winner, especially given the exceptional caliber of the other finalists and the remarkable companies across this year’s cohort,” said Robert Georgantas, CEO of eGLINT. “The BioTools Innovator program has been an extraordinary experience for eGlint. The mentorship, collaboration with our peers, and access to BTI’s extensive network and resources have been transformative, helping us accelerate our first product launch and sharpen our commercialization strategy. We are deeply grateful for the support, guidance, and opportunities this program has provided, and we are proud to be part of the BioTools Innovator family.”
“Congratulations to eGlint Proteomics on winning this year’s Grand Prize,” said Ayelet Marom,PhD, Managing Director of BioTools Innovator. “eGlint is addressing a critical opportunity in life science tools: making sophisticated protein analysis faster, more accessible, and easier to integrate into existing research workflows. Its platform delivers quantitative, multiplexed protein measurements in just 10 minutes using standard qPCR instruments. We are proud to support eGlint and the entire 2026 BioTools Innovator cohort: exceptional founders developing practical, scalable innovations that address real industry needs. Through tailored mentorship, industry connections, and commercialization support, we help bring promising life science tools closer to market and advance their potential to improve human health.”
The 2026 Best Video Award, recognizing cohort companies’ excellence in effectively and creatively communicating their value proposition in a short video format, was also presented during the Capstone Event. As voted by live audience vote, EXIT071 won the title of Best Company Video and earned the $10,000 cash prize.
“As scientists, we’re used to spending our days in the lab, not in front of a camera!” said Yuliya Shakalisava, PhD, Founder and CEO, EXIT071. “Creating this video was a wonderful opportunity to show the people and passion behind EXIT071, and to have some fun along the way. We’re thrilled to receive this award and grateful to BioTools Innovator for encouraging us to think creatively about how we communicate our science.”
BioTools Innovator evaluated the pitches of 84 candidates out of more than 540 applicants from 50 countries and 36 U.S. states. 30 companies were then selected to participate in the 2026 BioTools Innovator Accelerator, which highlights best-in-class life science startups worldwide. The complete list of the BioTools Innovator 2026 cohort companies can be found here.
The annual Capstone Event was attended by senior executives, investors, and top decision-makers in the life science tools industry. The event was supported by Tosoh USA, Medmarc, First Citizens Innovation Banking, and Greenberg Traurig. The event featured keynote presentations and panel discussions on the Startup Stage, highlighting the 2026 cohort and culminating in the Best Video and Grand Prize competitions. During the Grand Prize Finals competition, each finalist presented their company’s value proposition and answered questions from a panel of industry experts. After the pitches, the audience voted in real-time to select the winner.
The event also highlighted BioTools Innovator’s partnership with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) through the Vanguard Accelerator.* Ten companies from the 2026 cohort that were selected to participate in the Vanguard program were featured in the Startup Stage pitches. In addition, five companies that had participated in the Vanguard Non-Dilutive Funding Program were featured in a dedicated panel discussion.
Funding for BioTools Innovator is provided by the Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation of Research Corporation Technologies (RCT). Additional support is provided by BroadOak Capital Partners, Ecolab, Nissan Chemical America Corporation, and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
*This project has been supported in whole or in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under agreement number 75A50124C00034.
About BioTools Innovator
Based in Los Angeles, BioTools Innovator was established to advance cutting-edge research and improve human health by accelerating the growth of a broad spectrum of life science tools and diagnostics. BioTools Innovator matches industry leaders with innovative early-stage and emerging growth biotechnology-focused companies for mentorship and support.
BioTools Innovator is powered by MedTech Innovator (MTI), the world’s largest accelerator of medical technology companies and the premier nonprofit startup accelerator in the medical technology industry. To date, MTI alumni have collectively brought over 500 products to market and raised $12+ billion in follow-on funding. For more information about BioTools Innovator, visit the website and follow the organization on LinkedIn.
Media Contact
Samantha Black
MedTech Innovator
sam.black@medtechinnovator.org