MedTech Collaborative Fuels Healthcare Innovation Across New England

Innovation in New England is thriving in unexpected places. From Manchester’s emerging biosciences hub to Providence’s revitalized research corridor, smaller communities across the region are driving breakthroughs in fields from aerospace to advanced manufacturing.

In healthcare technology, that shift is accelerating. Fueled by remote work, deep local expertise, and a growing network of cross-state collaborations, medtech startups are finding the resources they need closer to home. Networks like the MedTech Collaborative connect innovators with the mentorship, regulatory guidance, legal support, and funding pathways that can turn promising prototypes into market-ready products.

EpiWatch, a seizure detection technology born from Johns Hopkins research and now FDA-cleared for clinical use, is a standout example.

Developed to detect tonic-clonic seizures with very low false-alarm rates, the Apple Watch–based app can automatically alert emergency contacts. For loved ones, this offers a new piece of mind: 

“For the first time, I felt peace of mind leaving my child alone in a room,” shares one parent. Another notes, “The alert went off just in time. We were able to intervene before things got worse. That kind of support is priceless.”. 

But the path from academic project to commercial product is rarely straightforward. Initially aiming for a de novo FDA clearance, the EpiWatch team pivoted to a faster 510(k) process by citing Empatica, a predicate wearable already on the market. When it came time to lead commercialization, the academic founders turned to Teresa Prego, a medtech industry veteran with over 20 years of experience. 

Her answer was immediate: “I had been waiting for them to ask.”

Even with her extensive background, Teresa knew that bringing EpiWatch to market would need more expertise.

The Collaborative, founded after Greg’s chance conversation with another medtech professional on a ski lift in New Hampshire, was built to address a problem he’d long recognized: the region was full of world-class medtech talent, but much of it operated in isolation. By creating a curated ecosystem that brought together clinicians, entrepreneurs, grant programs, and healthcare systems, the Collaborative has helped its members raise capital and secure more FDA clearances.

For Teresa and EpiWatch, the Collaborative delivers critical expertise. One important introduction was to Ken Merritt, an industry superconnector and veteran attorney who provided in-kind legal counsel on complex pharmaceutical contracts. 

“Ken has been just amazing… we didn’t have an affordable resource, and he stepped right in,” Teresa recalls. His guidance kept negotiations on track that might otherwise have stalled progress.

Today, EpiWatch is in active clinical use, prescribed by neurologists and epileptologists, and is raising a $3 million seed round to expand its reach. The team is also working to integrate the technology into pharmaceutical-led clinical trials, opening the door to even greater impact.

This November, the same network that supported EpiWatch will grow even larger. The MedTech Collaborative is partnering with Northeastern University’s Roux Institute to host the 5th Annual Northern New England MedTech Conference, November 12–14 in Portland, ME. The event will feature the 2025 pitch competition and bring together founders, investors, researchers, and industry leaders to accelerate the next wave of healthcare breakthroughs.

EpiWatch’s journey, from research concept to FDA-cleared, market-ready product, shows how the right ecosystem can accelerate innovation in ways that would be difficult to achieve alone. With its expanding network and upcoming conference, the MedTech Collaborative and networks like them are proving that the future of medtech innovation may not be confined to big-city hubs, but will thrive in connected regional networks where collaboration is constant, expertise is shared, and resources flow to those ready to put them to work.

About The Roux Institute

The Roux Institute in Portland, Maine is designed as an engine of innovation, talent-building, and economic growth for Portland, Maine, and northern New England. As part of Northeastern’s global university system, the Institute includes 13 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, and serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. Students study, conduct research, and work on co-op in 149 countries and on all continents. The university has 300,000-plus alumni and more than 3,500 industry partners worldwide.

About The MedTech Collaborative

The MedTech Collaborative is the leading healthcare innovation industry group in Northern New England, dedicated to supporting advancements in healthcare on a global scale. We drive innovation by fostering collaboration, raising awareness, and eliminating barriers to advancement. By uniting innovators, investors, technologists, and implementers, we accelerate the development of life-changing medical technologies. Through strategic industry connections, educational initiatives, and regional advocacy, we create opportunities for breakthrough ideas to become real-world solutions — advancing healthcare locally, nationally, and beyond.