MightyZebras Bio Wins First Prize in Epicenter’s Innovate Xcelerate Pitch Competition

Innovative University of Memphis research leads to first targeted therapeutic for Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS)

University of Memphis Ph.D. candidate Andie Tubbs (Biomedical Engineering) and TTAC Innovation Fellow captured first place in Epicenter’s Innovate Xcelerate pitch competition with his startup, MightyZebras Bio. The company is developing what could become the first targeted therapeutic for Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS)—a connective tissue disorder affecting an estimated 1 in 300 people worldwide, nearly 90% of whom are women.

Working in collaboration with Dr. Amber Jennings, associate professor of Biomedical Engineering, Tubbs and the MightyZebras Bio team are translating novel biomedical research into a potential treatment pathway for a condition that has long lacked targeted options. Their work aims to deliver earlier, more precise intervention for hEDS patients and to reduce the cascade of complications associated with delayed diagnosis and limited therapies.

“This recognition from Epicenter underscores the strength of our commercialization-focused research ecosystem at the University of Memphis,” said Ido Sarig, Director of Commercialization at the University of Memphis. “Innovators like Andie are demonstrating how university research can evolve into viable technologies that improve lives, create new ventures, and position Memphis as a hub for biomedical innovation.”

Innovate Xcelerate, run by regional entrepreneurship catalyst Epicenter, is a competitive accelerator that equips founders with hands-on training, expert mentorship, hackathon-style challenges, and access to funding opportunities. The program supports startups across sectors—from logistics and clean energy to health tech and cybersecurity—with the goal of helping entrepreneurs tackle complex local and global challenges.

Tubbs’ win highlights the University of Memphis’s momentum in translational health innovation and its commitment to turning research into real-world impact. Through initiatives such as the Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium (TTAC) and the FedEx Institute of Technology, the University provides students and faculty with resources for technology transfer, commercialization, and venture creation—strengthening the region’s innovation economy while improving patient outcomes.

For more information, contact Ido Sarig, Director of Commercialization, at isarig@memphis.edu.