Memphis, TN – November 5, 2025 – The Musculoskeletal New Ventures Conference (MNVC) brought together the brightest minds in orthopedic innovation this week, transforming the FedEx Institute of Technology into a hub of cutting-edge medical technology and entrepreneurial vision.
Over two packed days, more than 40 emerging companies presented breakthrough solutions addressing some of orthopedic medicine’s most pressing challenges — from advanced bone healing technologies to next-generation surgical robotics and patient-specific implants.
A Gathering of Game-Changers
The conference showcased remarkable breadth of innovation in musculoskeletal care, from AI-powered surgical planning that could prevent billions in failed surgeries to the “holy grail” of cartilage repair. Companies presented solutions spanning artificial intelligence, advanced biomaterials, next-generation robotics, and novel surgical techniques, all aimed at improving patient outcomes while reducing healthcare costs.
“For the first time in our 23-year history, the 2025 MNVC was sold out,” said Gary Stevenson, Conference Host. “All of us at HealthpointCapital and our fellow sponsors are very proud of how the MNVC has become such an important event for musculoskeletal companies, investors, and business development teams. It has never been our goal to be the largest event of its kind, only the best.”
The dual-track format, with presentations in both “The Zone” and Methodist Presentation Room, allowed investors and industry leaders to engage with a diverse array of technologies. Companies had 20-minute slots to present their innovations, with networking breaks strategically positioned throughout the schedule.
Novel Approaches to Persistent Problems
While we can’t address every company that presented at MNVC this year, here are some highlights from the sessions.
Nanochon addressed what Founder Benjamin Holmes called “the holy grail of orthopedics”: cartilage repair. Their Chondrograft device uses a nylon-based nanocomposite with 20 internal layers created through 3D printing to mimic natural cartilage structure. Twelve-month horse studies showed 61% pain improvement and continued tissue quality enhancement while control groups degraded. With IRB approval secured and first patients scheduled before year-end, the company targets a $2 billion U.S. market, aiming for FDA approval by first half 2029.
Agada Medical confronted the $20 billion annual cost of failed spine surgery with AI-powered surgical planning. Dr. Isador Lieberman noted that “nearly 40% of what we do does not result in the outcome that the patient expected.” Their software platform calculates forces across the spine and predicts outcomes using thousands of variables from bone density to zip codes. The system displays traffic-light risk scores for each spinal level. With HCA and Kansas University data agreements in place, they’re collecting 2-3 cases daily to train algorithms.
Redefine Surgery presented vision-based surgical navigation at a fraction of traditional robotics costs: $50,000 versus hundreds of thousands. Their system scans knee joints, captures a quarter million data points, and completes procedures in 10 minutes versus 20+ for competitors. The real ambition: a five-year roadmap requiring a million procedures to achieve true surgical AI assistance. Their strategy involves partnering with device companies to rapidly scale data acquisition.
HAPPE Spine showcased hydroxyapatite-infused porous PEEK combining titanium’s bone-friendly properties with PEEK’s load-sharing benefits. CEO Ryan Roeder reported $1 million in sales in first half 2024 at 74% gross margins, with over 1,000 patients treated across 2,000 implants and zero adverse outcomes. Surgeons report seeing fusion in half the typical time.
SutureTech, created by Duke professor Dr. Oke Anakwenze presented on RapidFix. “The world’s first tendon repair staple made entirely of suture,” promises 60% reduction in operative steps and just received FDA clearance seven weeks prior.
ZKR Orthopedics tackled patellofemoral arthritis with a minimally invasive patella lift implant. Founder Dr. Jeffrey Halbrecht’s device slides behind the patellar tendon in a 25-minute outpatient procedure. Early pivotal trial data showed 61% pain improvement and 44% functional gains with zero serious adverse events, plus MRI evidence of actual bone healing in 18 patients treated to date.
CustomSurg brought computational precision to trauma surgery with scan-to-plan software running on smartphones. Co-founder Thomas Zumbrunn emphasized practicality: trauma surgeons need solutions that work in minutes, not hours at a computer. With FDA approval secured two months prior, they process CT scans in 24-48 hours and provide biomechanical simulations showing optimal implant configurations.
Spark Spine introduced EMP: a piezoelectric polymer converting mechanical force into electrical voltage, creating self-powered, electrically charged implants without batteries. CEO Luke Diehl demonstrated live voltage generation from material that looks like thin plastic but dramatically improves bone integration. Animal studies showed bone fully integrated into porous material by 24 weeks. FDA clearance for lumbar interbodies expected Q2 2026.
RevBio’s Tetranite represented perhaps the most versatile biomaterial platform. CEO Brian Hess described their regenerative bone adhesive as “10 times stronger than plates and screws” while promoting actual fusion.
KiriGenX addressed rotator cuff tears with Kiri SE — the first bio-inductive collagen implant targeting the articular side where 70% of tears begin. Founder Theodore Kucklick emphasized the gap: “When teeth decay, we fill them, but when tendons degenerate, we just watch them.” With American Orthopaedic Society’s new 4-star recommendation for bio-inductive implants and 16 industry-leading KOLs assembled, they’re raising $5 million for 18-month commercialization timeline.
The Capital Equation
Charles Hamilton’s Tuesday keynote on “Financing and M&A Environment for Private Companies” provided essential context. The Piper Sandler Managing Director noted that while MedTech M&A volumes remain suppressed (31 deals in 2025 versus an average of 56 pre-COVID), multiples have remained relatively stable at 3-4x revenue.
“We have a healthy gap,” Hamilton observed, describing the spread between public market valuations and private acquisition multiples. Large strategics are “getting very active” and showing bullish signals, though focused primarily on commercial-stage companies delivering growth, margins, and EPS accretion.
Hamilton emphasized that the current environment rewards capital efficiency, a theme echoed throughout presentations. The afternoon Investor Roundtable reinforced these themes, with panelists Cor Medical Ventures, Genesis Innovation Group, Neovate Capital Partners, and Runway Healthcare discussing what separates fundable companies from the rest in an environment where only 40 of thousands are truly “IPO-able.”
Looking Ahead
As the conference came to a close Wednesday, the energy was palpable. Tickets to the final round of the Masters (Courtesy of The De Angelis Group), were raffled off in the annual closing session (congratulations to Jasmin Nuhic from Smith + Nephew)! Conversations continued through lunch, with entrepreneurs and investors exchanging contact information and scheduling follow-up meetings.
Several themes emerged across the two days: AI integration is accelerating from buzzword to shipping products; biomaterials are getting smarter with molecular-level engineering; capital efficiency is imperative in a challenging funding environment; and platform technologies with multiple applications are gaining increased attention over single-product companies.
For the orthopedic community, MNVC 2025 offered a compelling glimpse into the future, one where technology and medicine converge to deliver more personalized, effective, and efficient care for patients with musculoskeletal conditions.
The innovations presented last week in Memphis may well define the standard of care for tomorrow’s patients, representing not just entrepreneurial ambition, but genuine hope for improved outcomes and quality of life for millions of people worldwide. The future of orthopedic care isn’t coming, it’s here. And it was on full display in Memphis earlier this month.
