Startup competition Red Herring has named Sommetrics a 2019 Top 100 North America winner.

Sommetrics’ aerSleep system consists of a silicone collar fitted on the front of the neck to hold the airway open via the application of mild external negative pressure delivered by an integrated vacuum pump. This investigational system is non-invasive, simple to use and maintain, portable, and well tolerated by the majority of users. An earlier version of aerSleep has previously received market clearance from Health Canada.

“We’re honored to be selected as a Red Herring’s Top 100 North America award winner—one of the technology industry’s most respected prizes,” says Richard Rose, MD, president, CEO and chief medical officer of Sommetrics, in a release. “aerSleep is unlike anything on the market today, and it has the potential to bring relief to millions of people who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. We’re pleased that Red Herring, and the array of industries that it represents, recognizes this opportunity.”

The winners, celebrated at a special awards ceremony at the Westin Pasadena hotel, have been chosen from thousands of entrants, whittled down to hundreds making the trip to California. The ceremony, led by Red Herring chairman Alex Vieux, was preceded by two days of keynote speeches, discussions, and finalist presentations.

Companies were judged by industry experts, insiders, and journalists on a wide variety of criteria including financial performance, innovation, business strategy, and market penetration. Winners ran the gamut of verticals, from FinTech and marketing to security, IoT, and many more industries.

Red Herring’s editors have been evaluating the world’s startups and tech companies for over two decades. Brands such as Alibaba, Google, Kakao, Skype, Spotify, Twitter and YouTube have all been singled out in Red Herring’s history.

“2019’s crop of Top 100 winners has been among our most intriguing yet,” says Vieux. “North America has led the way in tech for so many years, and to see such unique, pioneering entrepreneurs and companies here in California, which is in many ways the heartland of the industry, has been a thrilling experience.

“What has excited me most is to see so many people forging niches in high-tech and cutting edge sectors. Some of the technical wizardry and first-rate business models showcased here at the conference has been fantastic to learn about. We believe Sommetrics embodies the drive, skill, and passion on which tech thrives. Sommetrics should be proud of its achievement—the competition was incredibly strong.”