A showcase for innovators, by innovators. We’re not doing “Innovation Theater” here. We’re making game-changing connections between startups/tech companies, investors and industry experts (navigators).
What is the WhaleTank?
Whale Tank is not just a pitch competition. It is a curated experience for emerging solution companies building, launching, or scaling new solutions in clinical trials and life sciences.
WhaleTank brings together innovators, pharma leaders, investors, service partners, customers, and expert navigators to help participating companies refine their market fit, pressure-test their message, and build meaningful relationships with the people who can help them move forward.
WhaleTank ING 2026 Cohort open now (Details below)
The WhaleTank ING 2026 Cohort
Companies join the Whale Tank stream as part of the Innovation Network Gathering. The program is designed to create value for all participating companies, and everyone in the cohort will get an opportunity to pitch to the WhaleTank judges.
*Space is limited to preserve a curated, high-value experience. Register early to join the cohort.
Who should join?
The WhaleTank is designed for emerging solution companies in the Clinical Trials, including: Early-stage startups and established companies with new solutions looking to introduce, validate, or expand a specific offering.
The Cohort Experience
Add program details here:
Access to the Innovation Network Gathering (invitation only event, but WhaleTank stream offers it open through the special registration to participate in the stream) with a discounted innovator rate
Pitch Workshop & Judge & Peers Feedback
Truth Booths (1-1 conversation with pharma reps and experts)
Networking
Organizations the past judges were part of
2026 Judging Committee will be announced shortly
Our Mission
The Whale Tank supports novel solutions in reaching the market faster—because patients are waiting.
Whale Tank supports novel solutions in reaching the market faster — because patients are waiting.
We aim to forge powerful connections between emerging solution companies and their ideal partners, whether they are customers, investors, strategic advisors, or industry collaborators.
Whale Tank is not a one-off pitch event. It is a curated stream built to create momentum before, during, and after the Innovation Network Gathering. Every participating company should walk away with something tangible: actionable insights, meaningful connections, and practical steps forward.
Our mission is to help promising solutions move closer to real-world use in clinical research and life sciences.
Why Whale Tank?
Customer-Centric Approach
We start with real industry needs. WhaleTank helps companies focus on problems that matter and solutions the market can actually use.
Diverse Stakeholder Involvement
We bring together the right people into the conversation: pharma representatives, investors, strategic advisors, providing participants a broader view to their solutions and more practical feedback.
Evaluation and Feedback
The program is built around thoughtful review, meaningful conversation, and actionable insight. Whether or not companies pitch on Main stage, the goal is for every participant to leave with clearer direction and stronger connections.
How It Works
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Call for Solutions
We start by listening—gathering insights from customers and stakeholders to identify pressing needs and opportunities. From there, we issue a targeted call for startups working on solutions that directly align with these challenges.
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Collaborative Preparation
Selected companies go through a structured preparation process that includes curated feedback from customers, investors, and expert navigators. This isn't about perfecting a pitch—it's about refining the solution with the people it’s built for.
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Whale Tank Sessions
During the live event, companies engage in high-touch sessions including Main Stage pitches and deep-dive roundtable discussions ("The Pods") with key stakeholders. These conversations are designed to spark meaningful feedback, real traction, and ongoing collaboration.
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Post-Event Follow Up
Participation doesn’t end at the event. Startups receive:
- Follow-up conversations with interested stakeholders
- A feedback report capturing insights from judges and advisors
- Ongoing engagement as part of the Whale Tank community
Past Presenting Companies
What Founders Loved
“It has proven transformative”
Angela Holmes, OmniScience
The insights and advice on our messaging and G2M by our advisors and judges, and the subsequent follow up meetings has been incredibly valuable. The messaging that evolved from Whale Tank has helped us achieve significant milestones — being accepted into life science accelerator program, generating numerous active sales leads and winning a showcase competition at another industry conference. The media coverage and our recent wins have sparked growing interest from investors. I am grateful.
“We felt the team’s love and passion for the industry”
Brad Pruitt, Kenosha AI
All the feedback and prep sessions were very helpful and appreciated. The group feedback session after the pitch was excellent. The feedback form was also very helpful as well as getting the contacts of those interested in followups. We all felt the love and passion for the industry and willingness to help startups. Thank you!
“Great opportunity to pitch directly to buyers”
Hannah Sieber, Artyc
The production value, coaching, and support for Whale Tank was awesome - all the coaches were incredibly supportive and thoughtful in their commentary. The TedX style production value made it easy to present and created a valuable digital asset. Whale Tank is a great opportunity for founders building in the clinical space to pitch their idea directly to buyers!
Turn your idea into market-proven success
October 8-9, 2025
at the annual Innovation Network Gathering
PatientPartner: Connecting clinical trial patients with experienced mentors that have been through the journey — improving enrollment, retention, and trust.
Connecting clinical trial patients with experienced mentors that have been through the journey — improving enrollment, retention, and trust.
PatientPartner is a patient engagement platform designed to improve patient enrollment and retention for pharma study teams. The technology fosters meaningful, peer-to-peer connections between new patients (mentees) and experienced patients (mentors), offering firsthand insights into the clinical trial experience. These personalized interactions empower patients to take a proactive role in their healthcare journey, resulting in increased enrollment, stronger retention, and greater confidence in treatment decisions.