Aortyx, spin-off of the IQS School of Engineering, has won the first annual Àlex Casta Awards for best pitch in the healthcare and life sciences ecosystem in Catalonia. The competition took place today at the presentation of the 2020 BioRegion of Catalonia Report, compiled by Biocat and CataloniaBio & HealthTech.

The other start-ups that competed as finalists were Ona Therapeutics, Glycardial Diagnostics, Able Human Motion and Pebble Analytics.

Founded by Jordi Martorell, Salvador Borrós and Vicenç Riambau, head of Vascular Surgery at Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Aortyx is developing a new generation of grafts to repair blood vessels.

“I hope these awards inspire the values that were important to Àlex: persistence and commitment to improving quality of life, always contributing with a positive, proactive attitude”, said Cristina Ribas, journalist and partner of the deceased Àlex Casta.

Cristina Ribas and Ester Riambau, director of Life Sciences at UPF Ventures, presented the award to Jordi Martorell, CEO of Aortyx. The spin-off also received a prize valued at €5,000 (€2,500 in cash and €2,500 in consultancy hours thanks to Genesis Biomed) and a one-year CataloniaBio & HealthTech membership.

The Àlex Casta Awards are a joint initiative of the whole sector in memory of colleague Àlex Casta and aim to promote talent and raise awareness of entrepreneurship in healthcare and the life sciences in Catalonia.