Catalyst Partnership Grants Showcase

Blog: Monday 14 April 2025

Game-changing heart health innovations pitched live at inaugural Catalyst Partnership Grants Showcase

Catalyst finalists pitched their innovative ideas to improve heart health in Australia to a live audience in Melbourne, as part of the Heart Foundation’s first-ever Catalyst Partnership Grants Showcase.

The two-day event, held at the Grand Hyatt on 25–26 March, brought together more than 300 people – including leading researchers, philanthropists, health funders, and impact investors – for a first-of-its-kind opportunity to accelerate breakthrough solutions for cardiovascular health.

The finalists pitched ideas ranging from a digital twin platform for personalised medicine to a breakthrough blood test for heart disease risk and diagnostics-in-a-box to regeneration of heart muscle.

Heart Foundation CEO David Lloyd said the Showcase marked a turning point in how the organisation identifies, supports and accelerates health innovation.

“We’ve long been proud of our contribution to cardiovascular research, but Catalyst allows us to move faster, be bolder, and fund the kinds of high-impact ideas that might not fit into traditional models,” Mr Lloyd said.

“By putting innovators in the room with people who are passionate about heart health – and capable of funding transformative work – we’re opening the door to breakthroughs that could save lives within years, not decades.”

Catalyst finalists were selected from over 220 expressions of interest, following a national call for game-changing ideas to improve heart health. One team secured funding ahead of the event, resulting in 19 live pitches.

Ten of the proposals will be selected to form the Heart Foundation’s inaugural Innovation Portfolio and will partner with the Heart Foundation for support to bring their idea to life.

“We saw more than $225 million worth of unfunded ideas in those 19 pitches – all with real potential to change the trajectory of heart health in Australia,” Mr Lloyd said.

The Catalyst Showcase was a powerful reminder of how much talent and vision exists in this space. Now, the real work begins – and we’re calling on supporters, partners and investors to help us take these ideas from pitch to impact.

David Lloyd

Heart Foundation CEO

For more information on the Catalyst Partnership Grants Showcase and to explore the innovations, visit heartfoundation.org.au/catalyst.