LunaLite Wins Top Honors at 2026 Shils Fund Great Oral Health Pitch
Chicago, IL – February 24, 2026 — Innovation took center stage at the Chicago Midwinter Dental Meeting as Suzanne Cano, LunaLite, were named the 2026 Chicago Regional Winner of the Shils Fund Great Oral Health Pitch event, held on February 21, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency McCormick in Chicago, Illinois.
LunaLite, an advanced imaging solution designed to help dental teams capture consistent, accurate radiographs with greater efficiency and less guesswork, distinguished itself among a highly competitive field of emerging companies. Cano was awarded the $2,000 regional prize and will advance to the national finals in California in May 2026, where she will compete for a Grand Sponsorship Prize package valued at more than $50,000.
The Great Oral Health Pitch brought together innovators, investors, industry leaders, and clinicians for a dynamic morning of breakthrough ideas designed to advance oral healthcare. Keith Drayer, Shils Fund President and moderator of the program, shared, “It was inspiring to watch bold oral health entrepreneurs turn ideas into impact—innovation, passion, and purpose all on one stage.”
Suzanne Cano added, “I am incredibly honored to be selected as the 2026 Great Oral Health Pitch – Chicago winner. The recognition of LunaLite and our mission to advance oral health means a great deal. I’m grateful to the Shils Fund for their support and look forward to continuing to develop solutions that make a meaningful difference for patients and clinicians.”
Heather Trombley, DentalEZ President & COO, and one of the esteemed judges, noted, “What an honor to support these entrepreneurs who will make a difference in dentistry. The quality of the presentations made it difficult to select a winner, but LunaLite resonated strongly with the judges. It offers a practical solution to real-world challenges—simplifying training, addressing staff turnover, improving efficiency, and delivering great X-rays every time.”
In addition to LunaLite, five other companies presented transformative technologies and business models:
- AssurTek (Alicia Everitt): Converts standard surgical drills into AI-powered tools, delivering real-time implant feedback
- TruBridge® (Dr. Helena Lincoln): A patented minimally invasive full-arch rehabilitation system
- Semantic AI (Dr. Katheryn Alderman): Enables brands to be discovered within AI-driven search environments
- Oral Biolife (Greg Ambra): A first-in-class piezoelectric gel platform designed to stimulate bone regeneration
- Ediccare (Rita Zhao): A drug-free precision gumline care platform supporting periodontal health
The panel of Judges included Dr. Scott Kalniz of Tyree & D’Angelo Partners, Megan Lohman, Plan Forward CEO , Dr. Margaret Scarlett, Scarlett Consulting International President, and Heather Trombley, DentalEZ President and COO.
The event was moderated by Keith Drayer, Shils Fund President, who continues to lead the Fund’s mission of supporting emerging leaders in oral healthcare innovation.
The Chicago event represents another milestone in the 2026 national pitch series. The Shils Fund now looks ahead to the final round in California this May, where regional winners will compete for the Grand Sponsorship Prize designed to accelerate their innovations to market.
For more information on upcoming events and how to get involved, visit shilsfund.org.
About the Shils Fund
The Shils Fund is dedicated to recognizing, cultivating, and connecting the next generation of oral healthcare entrepreneurs to advance oral health worldwide.
