BetterWay Blood Testing Wins 2025 SXSW Innovation Award

New fingertip blood testing technology, developed by Babson Diagnostics, takes home coveted prize in the health and biotech category

BetterWay™ blood testing by Babson Diagnostics was announced the winner in the Health and Biotech category of the prestigious 26^th Annual SXSW® Innovation Awards competition. BetterWay was recognized for its new, customer-friendly blood testing technology that collects pea-sized samples from the fingertip instead of tubes of blood from the arm.

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BetterWay team members celebrate with their Innovation Award at SXSW. (Photo: Business Wire)

SXSW judges chose BetterWay out of five finalists in the category, which featured a high-tech hearing aid, at-home fertility kit, an AI avatar for people with Alzheimer’s, and a hemostatic gel used to stop bleeding.

SXSW announced the winners in 11 categories last night at an award ceremony during the festival. The SXSW Innovation Awards honor the most forward-thinking new ideas that are making a positive impact on society.

“We are honored to receive this award at SXSW, where some of the most transformative ideas in technology and healthcare are celebrated,” said Eric Olson, founder and chief operating officer of Babson Diagnostics. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our team to empower people to take charge of their health with friendly, convenient, and affordable blood testing.”

During the festival on Saturday, Babson showcased the BetterWay innovations for judges and SXSW attendees, including a novel capillary collection device that obtains blood samples without the need for a phlebotomist, and the Babson Sample Preparation Device, which fully automates labeling, mixing, centrifuging, and cold storage. Samples are tested at Babson’s CLIA-certified laboratory in Austin, which was purpose-built to analyze small-volume, capillary blood.

Babson launched BetterWay blood testing in May at pharmacies across Austin. In December, the company launched BetterWay for Healthcare Organizations, providing health systems with an alternative to venipuncture for their patients. This can help lower barriers to testing, close gaps in care, and improve patient satisfaction.

About BetterWay by Babson Diagnostics

BetterWay is blood testing reimagined—affordable fingertip collection at convenient locations with fast, accurate lab results. Available now at Austin pharmacies and clinics, BetterWay empowers people to take charge of their health. Customers can order tests for themselves or with a doctor and receive clear, easy-to-understand results in one to two days. BetterWay was developed by Babson Diagnostics, a science-first healthcare technology company named 2024 Medtech Company of the Year by MD + DI. Healthcare organizations across the U.S. can partner with Babson to bring the BetterWay experience to their patients. For more information, please visit betterway.com or connect with us on Instagram or LinkedIn.

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