Drive Medical wins SRS Shark Tank 2026 with Pollywog System
News provided bySociety of Robotic Surgery · 2 min read
At the third annual SRS Shark Tank 2026, held during the Society of Robotic Surgery's annual conference at the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida, Drive Medical emerged as the winner with its innovative Pollywog System, an AI-integrated robotic endoscope designed for faster, safer access to the small bowel.
The event, a collaboration between SRS and Puma Venture Capital, brought together nine early-stage companies showcasing cutting-edge technologies in digital and robotic surgery. Each company had five minutes to present their technology and five minutes for a Q&A session with a panel of judges, including top surgeons, investors, and medical device experts.
The judges evaluated the companies based on innovation, impact on healthcare, market potential, business model, and presentation. Drive Medical’s Pollywog System stood out, offering a single-session solution for diagnosis and treatment of small bowel issues, significantly improving the efficiency and safety for surgeons.
In second place was DeepQure with HyperQure, the world’s first extravascular renal denervation system for resistant hypertension, designed to be delivered laparoscopically without affecting the vessel lining. Microsure took third with MUSA-3, a microsurgical robot that stabilizes a surgeon’s hand movements during complex procedures.
Other notable companies included Reveal Surgical, which presented optical imaging technology for tumor assessment, and Symphera, which demonstrated a laparoscopic system allowing for quick changes in instrument tips. Tioga Cardiovascular showcased a transcatheter approach to valve replacement, while CardioSentry introduced an AI platform for autonomous cardiac ultrasound. Nina Medical presented a non-invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, and LITLab offered mobile surgical training labs.
All nine presenting companies received recognition from at least one judge, reflecting the high quality and competitive nature of the field. The 2026 judging panel included Steve Bell, Rob Morgan, Dr. Santiago Horgan, Dr. Erik B. Wilson, Scott Zinober, and Babak Tehranchi. Amit Hazan and Dr. Vipul Patel co-chaired the event.
Founded in 2012, the Society of Robotic Surgery (SRS) is a global organization dedicated to advancing education and collaboration in robotic surgery. With over 20,000 members from various medical disciplines, the SRS aims to share information on robotic surgery, including multi-centric studies, database collection, and funding support. The organization’s annual meeting covers updates in over a dozen medical sub-specialties, along with state-of-the-art sessions.
Puma Venture Capital, an investment firm focused on leveraging surgeon venture partners to improve patient outcomes and reduce system costs, co-hosted the event.