A Rehabilitation Technology Innovation Competition
Monday 27 October 2025*
LaunchPad is an annual competition created to highlight innovative rehabilitation technologies developed by non-profit research and engineering labs and startup companies. The competition is held at ACRM’s annual conference each fall.
Dates are subject to change*
This year’s competition will be held during the ACRM Annual Conference — the largest interdisciplinary rehabilitation research conference in the world.
ACRM is where cutting-edge research and technology meet clinical practice to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. The conference is attended by thousands of researchers and clinicians who value cutting-edge research and technology.
The ACRM Technology Networking Group is pleased to announce LaunchPad — an exciting opportunity to pitch your company or idea to a panel of rehab industry experts and an audience of clinicians, researchers, engineers, and decision-makers to receive market feedback and win prizes.
LaunchPad is an annual competition created to highlight innovative rehabilitation technologies developed by non-profit research and engineering labs and startup companies. The competition is held at ACRM’s annual conference each fall.
STAGE 1 - Spring
LaunchPad is a 6-month, 2-stage competition, beginning with the submission of applications in the spring by competitors. The application deadline is 19 April EXTENDED TO 2 May 2025. Applications should include an Executive Summary that describes the following:
Download the Executive Summary Outline to identify the information needed to submit an application.
STAGE 2 - Fall
Finalists will present their technologies before a panel of interdisciplinary judges, including healthcare administrators, rehabilitation technology researchers and engineers, rehabilitation clinicians, medical doctors, and technology entrepreneurs to win prizes and gain valuable feedback from rehab professionals at the ACRM Annual Conference.
The conference is attended by thousands of researchers, physicians and clinicians, engineers, and business and community leaders who value cutting-edge rehabilitation research and technology. Last year, 81% of all attendees identified themselves as purchasing decision-makers & influencers for their departments!
First place: “Best Overall”
Secondary awards: “Most Innovative” and “Most Impactful”
* The “Most Innovative” and “Most Impactful” winners will be featured in a shared inline booth space (8’ x 10’) at the ACRM 2025 Annual Conference EXPO. (Please note this is the same year in which the competition is held. We encourage finalists to be prepared to exhibit if they win these awards.)
In addition, all three winners will be featured in a complimentary, shared, full-color, one-page LaunchPad advertisement in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
2024 LaunchPad Winners
Meet Kristin Nuckols, an occupational therapist and co-founder of Imago Rehab, ACRM 2024 LaunchPad winner, creator of a wearable soft robotic glove. This groundbreaking device empowers stroke survivors to regain independence by bringing therapy into their homes.
Meet Maheen M. Adamson, PhD, MHL, ACRM 2023 LaunchPad winner, to discuss Give Voice to the Speechless for A Vision Neuroscience-Based Communication & Detection Solution.
Meet the ACRM 2022 LaunchPad winner, Lianna Genovese, who is the CEO & Founder of ImaginAble Solutions. Her Guided Hands™ device helps enable anyone with limited fine motor skills to write, paint, draw and access technology.
Meet the winner of the 2021 ACRM Launchpad competition, Braze Mobility’s Pooja Viswanathan. We take a close look at her technology making it easier & safer for wheelchair users who don’t have eyes in the back of their heads to navigate all sorts of spaces.
Meet the ACRM 2020 LaunchPad winning rehab engineering project – a virtual occupational therapy tool utilizing object recognition developed by Sam Colachis of Battelle. We talk with him about his winning submission and what else he and the neuro group at Battelle are up to these days.
The Technology Networking Group (TNG) aims to be recognized as the leading international networking group providing collaboration and resources for development and deployment of technology in the field of rehabilitation medicine.
The ACRM Annual Fall Conference: Progress in Rehabilitation Research is the premier educational conference for evidence-based learning in rehabilitation medicine. The 2025 Program Committee invites proposals focused on research evidence and its translation into clinical practice.
Proposals that are interdisciplinary in nature, or include international or early career presenters are encouraged!
Avoidance of Commercialism
All presentations must avoid commercialism. Presentations that constitute promotion and advertising will be prohibited. This includes pervasive and inappropriate use of logos. No advertising matter of any kind may be distributed. No material may be displayed that in any way directly promotes the commercial interest of any company or enterprise, or of the author(s)/presenter(s). If the cost of presentation has been underwritten to any extent, a clear acknowledgment stating support and identifying the particular source should be included (e.g., “The support of [name of corporation/institute] for this project is gratefully acknowledged.”) Statements made in presentations are the sole responsibility of the author(s)/presenter(s). Any statement made should not be viewed as, or considered representative of, any formal stance or position taken on any product, subject, or issue by ACRM.
Accreditation Requirements
At the time of online submission, submitters must provide complete contact information (e.g., name, credentials, title, institution, mailing address, email, and phone) for all authors/presenters associated with the submission. Further, all submitters, authors, and presenters must submit a current CV or resume and electronically sign a continuing education (CE) agreement and disclosure form. Failure to do so prevents acceptance of a submission. An electronic copy of presentations must be held on file with ACRM.
Conference Attendance and Presenter Expenses
Presenters for all accepted proposals are required to register for the conference, and are fully responsible for all of their expenses related to the conference (e.g., registration, airfare, hotel, meals).
Email Raeda Anderson, PhD or submit them via the form below.