FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, NY – August 10, 2026 – The Shils Fund proudly announced Zach Rome, Founder and CEO of NatEureka Labs, as the Grand Prize Winner of the 2026 Great Oral Health Pitch Grand Finale, earning a Grand Sponsorship Package valued at more than $50,000 to accelerate the commercialization of his groundbreaking oral healthcare innovation, CajuDent™.
Held virtually on August 10, the Grand Finale featured three exceptional regional champions who earned first-place honors at the profession’s premier dental meetings:
- Zach Rome – NatEureka Labs
Winner, California Dental Association Great Oral Health Pitch - Dr. Khamir Patel – SmartChair.AI
Winner, Greater New York Dental Meeting Great Oral Health Pitch - Suzanne Cano – LunaLite Dental
Winner, Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting Great Oral Health Pitch
After presenting their innovations before a distinguished panel of judges and an international audience of oral health professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, educators, and industry leaders, NatEureka Labs was selected as this year’s Grand Prize Winner.
Rome’s winning innovation, CajuDent™, is a patent-pending, naturally derived oral health ingredient platform designed to target the biofilm drivers of cavities and gum disease through standardized anacardic acid extracts from cashew apples. The technology is being developed to complement existing oral health products while addressing the underlying biological causes of disease.
“We founded NatEureka to bring fresh thinking to some of the world’s most widespread and persistent health challenges. Winning the Great Oral Health Pitch is an exciting validation of that vision, and we’re grateful to the Shils Fund for recognizing the importance of continued innovation in oral health”, said Rome.
The $50,000+ Grand Sponsorship Package includes cash, products and services, mentorship, strategic business support, and exposure to influential leaders throughout the oral health industry, providing critical resources to help bring innovative ideas to market.
“The Shils Fund exists to find entrepreneurs whose ideas can genuinely change the trajectory of oral healthcare,” said Keith Drayer, President of the Shils Fund. “This year’s finalists brought an exceptional level of scientific rigor and vision to the stage. Zach Rome and NatEureka Labs are tackling one of dentistry’s most persistent challenges from an entirely new angle, and we’re proud to help drive CajuDent into its next phase.”
The Shils Fund also recognized this year’s outstanding national finalists:
Dr. Khamir Patel – SmartChair.AI
An AI-driven platform that enhances dental practice efficiency, diagnostics, and patient communication through intelligent technology integration.
Suzanne Cano – LunaLite Dental
An advanced imaging solution designed to improve the consistency, accuracy, and efficiency of dental radiographs.
“The Great Oral Health Pitch keeps proving just how much innovation is happening across our profession,” added Drayer. “Every finalist this year presented a solution capable of moving patient care forward. Congratulations to Zach Rome, and our thanks to all three finalists for the vision they brought to this competition.”
The Great Oral Health Pitch is one of the Shils Fund’s major initiatives, designed to recognize, cultivate, and connect entrepreneurs developing innovations that will shape the future of oral healthcare. Through mentorship, education, networking, and strategic partnerships, the program helps transform promising ideas into successful ventures.
The Shils Fund congratulates all three finalists and thanks the judges, sponsors, and supporters whose commitment continues to foster entrepreneurship and innovation throughout the profession.
Zach Rome will be formally recognized during the Shils Fund Annual Awards Celebration on Tuesday, October 13, at the NYU College of Dentistry in New York City. The event will honor leaders in innovation, research, industry, and service, and all are welcome to attend.
RSVP: 2026 Shils Annual Awards Event RSVP
Entrepreneurs interested in competing in the next Great Oral Health Pitch are encouraged to apply for the upcoming competition at the Greater New York Dental Meeting on December 1, 2026.
Apply Here: Great Oral Health Pitch – Greater New York Dental Meeting 2027
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About the Shils Fund
The Shils Fund supports innovation, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and leadership development throughout oral healthcare. Through educational initiatives, networking opportunities, and programs that cultivate the next generation of oral health innovators, the Shils Fund celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit of the dental community.
Shils Fund Spotlights the Future of Dental Innovation at the Great Oral Health Pitch in Anaheim, California.