VSP Vision announced that applications are open for the 2027 VSP Vision Innovation Challenge, a global competition designed to source, spur and advance emerging technologies and startups elevating the eye care experience. Applications will be accepted through Dec. 4, 2026.
“Some of the most meaningful advances in eye care can start with an idea developed outside the traditional boundaries of our industry,” said Will Flanagan, Head of Programs and Partnerships for the VSP Global Innovation Center (GIC), which organizes the annual challenge. “Through the VSP Vision Innovation Challenge, we want to find those innovators, connect them with eye care expertise, and give them an opportunity to put their solutions in front of the people who understand the needs of providers and patients firsthand.”
Following a multi-round selection process, finalists will participate in a virtual four-week accelerator from Feb. 2–27, 2027, working with mentors, optometrists, clinical experts and VSP Vision leaders to assess product fit, refine their value propositions, and prepare to showcase their ideas to the broader eye care community. The experience culminates at Vision Expo 2027 (March 10–13, Las Vegas) on March 11, where finalists will pitch their solutions on the Vision Expo Innovation Stage.
Now in its fourth year, the VSP Vision Innovation Challenge is presented in partnership with The Vision Council and RX Global, organizers of Vision Expo. Previous challenges have brought together innovators working across AI-driven diagnostics, exam automation, digital education, and accessibility-focused smart solutions. In 2026, decision support platform Altris AI was named the Judge’s Winner, while Captify, smart glasses for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, received the Audience Choice honour.
Who Should Apply
The 2027 VSP Vision Innovation Challenge is seeking emerging technologies and startups that can help expand access to eye care, modernize the patient experience, unlock practice and provider efficiencies, and more. Applicants will be asked to demonstrate the eye care need their solution addresses, supporting evidence and feasibility, their team and business model, and their readiness to participate in the accelerator.
Key Dates
- 1, 2026: Applications open
- 4, 2026: Application deadline
- 2–27, 2027: Four-week accelerator
- March 11, 2027: Finalist pitch at Vision Expo
To learn more and apply, click here.
