What MedTech Color - Diversifying Medtech does

MedTech Color is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization founded in fall 2017 in San Jose, California by 15 African-American medical device industry leaders to increase Black and Hispanic representation in the MedTech ecosystem. The organization serves a national community of 4,000+ professionals, founders, service providers, investors, and students through an integrated platform of programs: a tiered membership ($250/year Professional, $500/year Associate, free for government employees), the annual Pitch Competition (over $1.1 million in non-dilutive funding awarded to 30 companies since 2021, with $75K/$50K/$25K/$5K prize tiers), the marquee Networking Breakfast co-located with AdvaMed's MedTech Conference (600+ registrants in 2024), a Job Board for inclusive employers and diverse candidates, a Member Directory and Speaker Database, the MedTech Mosaic Podcast produced with DeviceTalks, on-demand education (including a Harvard Catalyst course), and the INSPIRE initiative partnering with AABPS, ABC, Women as One, NHMA, and NIH on diverse principal investigator representation in clinical research.

The business model combines recurring membership dues, corporate and individual donations (tiered from $500 individual to $5,000+ corporate), event sponsorships structured around Diamond/Presenting, VIP, and in-kind tiers (Abbott, Johnson & Johnson MedTech, LSI-Medmarc, Wilson Sonsini, Stryker, Edwards, BD, GE HealthCare, Olympus), and Job Board employer services. The organization operates with 1-10 staff from Sacramento, CA mailing address and an Upper Marlboro, MD office, with no proprietary technology beyond a ClubExpress-powered website, member portal, and Zoom-delivered programming. The Pitch Competition has produced measurable downstream outcomes: eight funded startups subsequently raised $25.3M from 40+ investors with two acquired, demonstrating capital formation traction.

Governance is led by Founder and Board Chair Kwame Ulmer (former FDA Deputy Director, now Wavemaker Three-Sixty Health venture partner) and Co-Founders Nada Hanafi (Board Treasurer, 12-year FDA CDRH veteran) and Vernessa T. Pollard (Board Secretary, DLA Piper FDA Practice Co-Chair, former FDA Associate Chief Counsel for Enforcement). Teniel Jones was appointed Interim Executive Director effective April 13, 2026 during a period of growth past the 4,000-member milestone. The organization lost its FDA/CDRH Collaborative Community partnership in early 2025 amid Administration policy changes and has continued without that federal anchor.

Name

MedTech Color - Diversifying Medtech

Legal name

MedTech Color

Website

https://medtechcolor.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MedTech Color is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that increases Black and Hispanic representation in the medical device industry through professional community, pitch competition funding, a Networking Breakfast at AdvaMed's conference, and clinical research diversity initiatives serving 4,000+ professionals and founders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medtech Diversity Programs

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Development (CME/CE) (EDAGANAJ)

Keywords

• Medtech diversity initiatives
• Nonprofit membership programs
• Pitch competition funding
• Clinical trial inclusion
• Professional community services

Headquarters

HQ city

Encino

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: MedTech Color generates revenue through annual membership dues at two tiers: Professional Membership at $250/year for medtech professionals and Associate Membership at $500/year for service providers, consultants, and investors. Government employees can join for free.
2. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors fund the annual Networking Breakfast, Pitch Competition, and Collaborative Community programs. Sponsors include Abbott (presenting sponsor), Johnson & Johnson MedTech, LSI-Medmarc, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, and others. Sponsorship tiers include Diamond/Presenting, VIP Reception, and in-kind support.
3. Individual Donations: Individual donations support the nonprofit mission. Donation tiers include $500 (educational resources), $1,000 (mentorship programs), and $2,000 (healthcare disparity initiatives). Corporate donors contribute at $5,000 minimum. MedTech Color is a 501(c)(3) organization.
4. Job Board Services: The job board connects employers committed to diversity with diverse medtech talent. Employers pay to post jobs and access the candidate network while job seekers access opportunities in inclusive workplaces.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MedTech Color is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that delivers a unified set of programs for Black and Hispanic MedTech professionals and founders, including individual memberships, an annual Pitch Competition providing non-dilutive funding, the Annual Networking Breakfast at AdvaMed's The MedTech Conference, Collaborative Community workgroups, a Job Board, on-demand education, and the INSPIRE initiative for diverse principal investigators.

Product overview

MedTech Color is a nonprofit membership organization (501(c)(3)) serving as the premier professional home for diverse MedTech leaders. The organization offers a unified platform of interconnected programs: the Collaborative Community (working groups on clinical diversity), Pitch Competition (non-dilutive funding for founders), Networking Breakfast (annual flagship event), Job Board (talent connection), MedTech Mosaic Podcast (storytelling), On-Demand Education (webinars and courses), Member Directory, Speaker Database, and the INSPIRE initiative for diverse principal investigators. These programs collectively advance the organization's mission of increasing representation of Black and Hispanic professionals in the medical device industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Membership Annual professional membership at $250/year for medtech industry professionals (innovators, healthcare professionals, business leaders, researchers, academics, and regulatory affairs specialists). Includes event discounts, early access to the Annual Networking Breakfast, curated member benefits, and access to the member portal with directory, job board, and speaker database.
• Associate Membership Annual membership at $500/year for non-medtech service providers (lawyers, consultants, investors, and nonprofit professionals) committed to fostering a collaborative MedTech industry. Includes all Professional benefits plus invitations to present at Quarterly Virtual Member Events.
• Pitch Competition Annual pitch competition for Seed and Series A-ready medical device and digital health companies founded by underrepresented entrepreneurs. Winners receive non-dilutive cash prizes (1st Place $75,000, 2nd Place $50,000, 3rd Place $25,000, Community Impact Prize $5,000), in-kind services, masterclasses, workshops, accelerator welcomes (Y Combinator, MedTech Innovator), and investor introductions.
• Annual Networking Breakfast Annual marquee networking event held in conjunction with The MedTech Conference powered by AdvaMed. Brings together MedTech professionals, C-suite executives, startup founders, students, mentors, sponsors, and industry leaders. The 8th Annual Networking Breakfast was held in San Diego, Oct. 5-8, 2025, with 600 registrants (up from 400+ in 2023). The 9th Annual Networking Breakfast is scheduled for October 19, 2026, in Boston.
• Collaborative Community Membership-based workgroup program providing virtual meetings focused on diversifying clinical trials and incorporating inclusive perspectives into the medical device product development lifecycle. Includes the INSPIRE initiative (INcreasing the Number of DiverSe Principal Investigators in Medical Device Research) working to improve patient-to-provider racial concordance and increase diverse investigators in clinical studies.
• Job Board Online job board platform connecting employers committed to inclusion with diverse MedTech candidates. Employers pay to post jobs and access the candidate network while job seekers access opportunities in inclusive workplaces. Accessible at careers.medtechcolor.org as a self-serve platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• Companies with the most encompassing executive teams are 33% more likely to outperform peers on profitability
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• MedTech InnovatorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025MedTech Color partnered with MedTech Innovator in 2025 to support innovators on their journey to bring groundbreaking products to market. The partnership leverages MedTech Innovator's accelerator infrastructure and network to advance diverse founders supported by MedTech Color's Pitch Competition. Pitch Competition winners have been invited into MedTech Innovator's accelerator program.
• Johnson & Johnson MedTechcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Johnson & Johnson MedTech sponsors the MedTech Color Pitch Competition, providing masterclasses on Pre-Clinical/Clinical/Regulatory Strategies, IP and Business Development, and Health Economics Strategy. J&J MedTech professionals serve as facilitators for workshops supporting diverse founders in the medtech ecosystem.
• LSI-MedmarcsecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025LSI-Medmarc is a sponsor of the MedTech Color Pitch Competition, supporting the organization's mission to diversify medtech through funding and resources for underrepresented founders.
• Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR)secondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is a sponsor of the MedTech Color Pitch Competition, providing legal and strategic expertise to support diverse founders navigating the medtech startup landscape.
• AbbottcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Abbott serves as the Presenting Sponsor of MedTech Color's 8th Annual Networking Breakfast. Dr. Jennifer Jones-McMeans, Divisional Vice President of Global Clinical Affairs at Abbott and Co-Founder of Abbott's Diversity in Research Office, delivered the keynote address on designing and executing clinical trials that expand access.
• AdvaMed (Advanced Medical Technology Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025AdvaMed powers The MedTech Conference, the world's largest medical device conference, with which MedTech Color's Annual Networking Breakfast is held in conjunction. This partnership provides MedTech Color with access to the industry's premier networking event and C-suite audience.
• American Association of Black Physician Scientists (AABPS)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024AABPS is a partner organization in the INSPIRE initiative (INcreasing the Number of DiverSe Principal Investigators in Medical Device REsearch), supporting the goal of improving patient-to-provider racial concordance and increasing diverse investigators in clinical research.
• Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ABC is a partner in the INSPIRE initiative, working to improve health outcomes in diverse populations through increased representation of Black cardiologists and researchers in medical device clinical studies.
• Women as OnesecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Women as One is a partner in the INSPIRE initiative, supporting the visibility and advancement of diverse principal investigators in medical device research.
• National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024NHMA is a partner in the INSPIRE initiative, working to increase Hispanic physician representation in medical device clinical research and improve health outcomes in Hispanic communities.
• NIH Intramural Research ProgramsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The NIH Intramural Research Program is a partner in the INSPIRE initiative, providing resources and support for diverse principal investigators entering medical device clinical research.
• Harvard Catalyst (Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Harvard Catalyst offers complimentary access to the on-demand course 'Medical Device Development: Advancing from Product to Market' to MedTech Color members, providing education on regulatory decision-making, technology valuation, and fundraising for medtech innovators.
• DeviceTalks (MPG Media)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024DeviceTalks produces the MedTech Mosaic podcast for MedTech Color. DeviceTalks is an open platform for the medtech community through podcasts, webinars, spotlights, and in-person conferences, helping bring MedTech Color's mission-driven storytelling to a broader audience.
• GE HealthCaresecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerGE HealthCare participated as a speaker sponsor at the Networking Breakfast, with Abigail Epane-Osuala, Chief Culture & Belonging Officer, presenting at the event.
• Edwards LifesciencessecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerEdwards Lifesciences has been represented at MedTech Color events, including Tania Saison, SVP and Chief Compliance Officer, as a past keynote speaker.
• StrykersecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerStryker leadership has participated in MedTech Color Networking Breakfasts, with CEO Kevin Lobo and VP Lamont Bryant featured as keynote speakers.
• Becton Dickinson (BD)secondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerBrooke Story, President of Integrated Diagnostic Solutions at BD, has been featured as a keynote speaker at MedTech Color's Networking Breakfast.
• OlympussecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerOlympus has participated as a workshop facilitator at the Pitch Competition, with Gabriella Kaynor leading the 'What Strategics Want' workshop for diverse founders.
• FDA/CDRH (former)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health previously participated in MedTech Color's Collaborative Community. As of early 2025, FDA withdrew from participation in accordance with Administration policies. MedTech Color expressed gratitude for past support and will continue its work with volunteers, partners, and stakeholders.
• Hines DortchsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerHines Dortch is MedTech Color's Marketing & PR partner agency handling media inquiries ([email protected]) and public relations activities for the organization.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Association of Black Physician Scientists (AABPS): AABPS is an INSPIRE partner of MedTech Color focused on advancing Black physician-scientists in clinical research. It shares MedTech Color's mission of increasing diverse principal investigators and representation in medical research, with a comparable nonprofit professional-community structure.
• MedTech Innovator: MedTech Innovator is the largest medical device accelerator globally and is a direct strategic partner of MedTech Color, with Pitch Competition winners invited into its accelerator program. Both serve early-stage medtech founders and operate at the intersection of innovation, capital, and clinical/regulatory readiness.
• National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA): NHMA is a direct INSPIRE partner of MedTech Color and serves Hispanic physicians and health professionals through advocacy, education, and leadership development. Both organizations target Hispanic representation in healthcare with overlapping programmatic structures (membership, conferences, advocacy for clinical research diversity).
• National Medical Fellowships: National Medical Fellowships is a nonprofit dedicated to increasing representation of underrepresented minority physicians and researchers. It is highly comparable to MedTech Color in mission, structure (scholarships/grants + professional community), and target population (diverse medical professionals), though its focus is broader clinical practice rather than medical devices specifically.
• Women as One: Women as One is an INSPIRE partner focused on advancing women in medicine through talent development and visibility programs. It shares MedTech Color's mission of diversifying medical leadership and clinical research, with a complementary focus on gender rather than racial/ethnic representation.
• Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC): ABC is an INSPIRE partner focused on Black representation in cardiology and cardiovascular research. It has overlapping program design (membership, conferences, advocacy) and shares MedTech Color's clinical-research-diversity mission, though specialized in cardiology rather than the full medtech industry.

Broad incumbents

• Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO): BIO is the largest biotech industry trade association in the U.S., with a broader life-sciences scope that overlaps with MedTech Color's medical device industry. BIO runs major industry conferences (BIO Convention) and policy advocacy programs analogous to AdvaMed's role for MedTech Color.
• AdvaMed (Advanced Medical Technology Association): AdvaMed is the largest medical device industry trade association in the U.S. and operates The MedTech Conference where MedTech Color's Annual Networking Breakfast is held. AdvaMed serves the full medtech ecosystem across policy, regulatory, and commercial dimensions, providing MedTech Color with audience access rather than competing directly.
• National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE): NSBE is one of the largest student- and professional-governed STEM diversity organizations in the U.S., supporting Black engineers across all disciplines including biomedical and medtech. It is comparable to MedTech Color in nonprofit structure and diversity-mission focus but addresses a broader engineering population beyond medtech.
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU): HACU represents Hispanic-serving institutions in higher education and serves a comparable Hispanic representation mission. While its focus is academic institutions rather than industry professionals, HACU shares MedTech Color's commitment to advancing Hispanic representation in STEM and healthcare pathways.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/medtechcolor
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxYD4JqK1
• Facebookfacebook.com/MedTechColor
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/medtech-color
• Instagraminstagram.com/medtechcolor

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MedTech Color - Diversifying Medtech