Prototype Stage
Advancing next-generation capillary blood collection and processing devices for diagnostics at the point of need — home, field, and resource-limited settings.
February 2027*
Announcement
Entrants will submit a letter of intent to participate as well as supply a clinical protocol and support IRB documentation in November (exact date TBD).
Vanguard will notify entrants of their eligibility to formally join the competition: Fall 2026
April 30, 2028
Submission due April 30, 2028
Rolling submissions with completion reports and project data due to Vanguard
Summer 2028*
Prizes announced
Winner announced
No more than 3 winners will be announced for a $1,500,000 prize each
February 2027*
Announcement
Entrants will submit a letter of intent to participate as well as supply a clinical protocol and support IRB documentation in November (exact date TBD).
Vanguard will notify entrants of their eligibility to formally join the competition: Fall 2026
April 30, 2028
Submission due April 30, 2028
Rolling submissions with completion reports and project data due to Vanguard
Summer 2028*
Prizes announced
Winner announced
No more than 3 winners will be announced for a $1,500,000 prize each
November 2026
Prototype Stage Launched
The application window opens in November 2026.
TBD
Virtual Webinar Option 1
Learn more about the opportunity and have your questions answered.
TBD
Virtual Webinar Option 2
Learn more about the opportunity and have your questions answered.
February 2027
Prototype Stage Letter of Intent & Supporting Documentation Due
Letters of intent, clinical collection protocols, and IRB documentation are due.
Summer 2028
Prototype Stage Winners Announced
Up to 3 winners receive $1,500,000 each.
April 30, 2028
Prototype Stage Completion Reports Due
Completion reports and de-identified data packages are due by April 30, 2028 to be eligible for the prize.
March 2027 - April 2028
Progress Checks on Study Progress
Eligible applicants will submit a brief form every other month about their study progress.
November 2026 - March 2027 (Rolling)
Letters of Eligibility Sent to Applicants
As submitted documents are reviewed, applicants will receive letters of eligibility to formally enter the Prototype Stage. A letter of eligibility is required to be eligible for the prize.
November 2026
Prototype Stage Launched
The application window opens in November 2026.
TBD
Virtual Webinar Option 1
Learn more about the opportunity and have your questions answered.
TBD
Virtual Webinar Option 2
Learn more about the opportunity and have your questions answered.
February 2027
Prototype Stage Letter of Intent & Supporting Documentation Due
Letters of intent, clinical collection protocols, and IRB documentation are due.
November 2026 - March 2027 (Rolling)
Letters of Eligibility Sent to Applicants
As submitted documents are reviewed, applicants will receive letters of eligibility to formally enter the Prototype Stage. A letter of eligibility is required to be eligible for the prize.
March 2027 - April 2028
Progress Checks on Study Progress
Eligible applicants will submit a brief form every other month about their study progress.
April 30, 2028
Prototype Stage Completion Reports Due
Completion reports and de-identified data packages are due by April 30, 2028 to be eligible for the prize.
Summer 2028
Prototype Stage Winners Announced
Up to 3 winners receive $1,500,000 each.
*Specific dates will be announced when the Stage is launched.
Blood Sampling Competition: Prototype Stage Overview
Entrants are not required to compete in the Concept Stage to be eligible to enter the Prototype Stage of the Blood Sampling Competition.
To be eligible for a Prototype Stage Blood Sampling Prize, entrants must furnish up to a 25-page report in Summer 2028 (exact date TBD) and provide experimental evidence of the following success metrics, supported by a complete set of deidentified experimental data as an attachment (not included in page count):
- Entrants must provide experimental data demonstrating functional compatibility of the sample collection device with a relevant antigen and/or molecular diagnostic test (preferably FDA cleared/approved), while ensuring integrity of the sample (both the whole blood sample and any extracted plasma and/or serum).
- Entrants must provide photographic and/or video evidence of a prototype in use, with both adult and pediatric individuals, and of the prototype being functionally compatible with a previously identified test (a relevant antigen or molecular test). The prototype device must be demonstrably simple to use and collect a sufficient sample volume to effectively run the paired diagnostic test.
- Entrants must provide a detailed Cost of Goods (COGs) calculation based on a hypothetical manufacturing scale-up of 100,000 sample collection devices. Numbers should be supported by recent (no older than 30-days from submission) purchase quotes as a report attachment.
Completion Report Requirements
To be eligible for a Prototype Stage prize, entrants must submit a final report (maximum 25 pages; appendices excluded from page count) and supporting materials demonstrating the following:
Prototype Stage Evaluation Factors
The extent to which the device performs functionally, including no or nominal loss of sample, minimal sample collection/processing steps, and minimized risk of exposure; is demonstrated on a sufficient number of human participants (N≥75 samples with appropriate age distribution); and the reliable collections of minimum required sample volume is based on a large enough, representative set of experiments
The extent to which the device is detachable from the selected partner diagnostic test after use without (physical) damage to the test
The extent to which the goal Cost of Goods can be met based on new technology rather than scale-up
Evidence that the prototype meets as many of the desired product attributes as possible
An expert judging panel will evaluate submissions according to Prototype Stage evaluation factors. The panel will recommend the submissions that achieve the highest scores based on the evaluation factors for Prototype Stage awards. Up to three Prototype Stage winners will be selected for the Blood Sampling Prize and will each receive $1.5M at the end of the Prototype Stage of the competition.
Prototype Stage details are subject to change. Any changes will be announced prior to the launch of Prototype Stage.
Have questions about ReadyDetect? View our FAQs, contact ReadyDetect@biotoolsinnovator.org, or schedule a 15-minute call with a member of the ReadyDetect team to discuss the competition, application requirements, and whether the opportunity may be a good fit for your technology.