After nearly a decade at AdvaMed, The MedTech Association, I’ve come to see January as a moment to recalibrate. J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference Week (JPM) brings together ongoing conversations, long-standing relationships, and new connections in one place. It’s a valuable point in the year to reflect on progress and look ahead to what’s next for medtech start-ups.
JPM Is Where the Conversations Start
During JPM (January 12–15), AdvaMed brought together innovators, investors, and industry leaders through hundreds of one-on-one meetings, standing-room receptions, and focused moments of connection, including our Mayo Clinic Lunch-and-Learn.
What stood out to me this year was hearing directly from founders about what made a difference during JPM Week. For many small companies, AdvaMed’s meeting space served as both a logistical anchor and a credibility boost when meeting with investors. Fundraising teams also highlighted the Mayo Clinic Lunch-and-Learn as a valuable opportunity to hear about partnership and investment pathways, and to connect directly with Mayo Clinic’s business development team.
JPM week Is the Starting Line—Not the Finish
We think about JPM as the first touchpoint in a broader, year-long business development pathway—one that gives companies multiple chances to be seen, heard, and remembered. Real business development doesn’t happen in a single week. Investor interest builds over time. Strategic partnerships require follow-up, progress, and proof. That’s why AdvaMed is designed to support start-ups well beyond January—helping companies maintain momentum year-round.
Turning Momentum into Visibility (and Why It Matters)
That pathway comes together at The MedTech Conference, October 18–21 in Boston.
It’s a chance to reconnect with investors and strategics you met at JPM, show how your story has evolved, and meet new partners who may not have been in San Francisco in January.
Two opportunities I always encourage start-ups and emerging companies to think carefully about:
- Company Presentations
If you’re applying to present, focus on clarity over complexity. Investors and potential strategic partners are looking for a strong value proposition, a clear problem-solution narrative, and evidence that you understand your regulatory pathway, funding strategy, and how your company fits into the broader medtech landscape. - Innovation Pavilion
For early-stage companies, the Innovation Pavilion exhibit opportunity in the Medtech Campus can be one of the most powerful ways to build visibility. I’ve seen founders use it as a launchpad, creating space for spontaneous conversations that turn into follow-up meetings long after the conference ends.
We are selling Innovation Pavilion exhibit space now and the company presentation program opens in March. With both opportunities being competitive, starting early and being thoughtful about how you position your story makes a real difference.
What Comes Next
If you’re a start-up or small company looking to turn JPM conversations into real business outcomes, the key is staying engaged throughout the year.
Many companies continue those early discussions at industry touchpoints like LSX World Congress and LSI USA, where investor and strategic conversations can deepen in a more focused setting. These moments help companies keep relationships warm as deals and partnerships take shape.
That momentum then carries into The MedTech Conference, where those conversations come full circle, supported by structured opportunities to present, exhibit, and engage with the global medtech community all in one place.
If you’re considering what the year ahead looks like, now is the time to explore opportunities to present or participate in the Innovation Pavilion, and to consider joining AdvaMed Accel, our division dedicated to small and emerging-growth companies.
After nearly a decade at AdvaMed, I’ve learned to view JPM week as a moment to reconnect, reflect, and look ahead, with AdvaMed and The MedTech Conference helping create the space and structure for those conversations to continue throughout the year.
Beth Perkins
Senior Director, Business Development & Investor Relations
AdvaMed