By Andy Meek
Memphis is gearing up to host what will be the 13th annual Musculoskeletal New Ventures Conference, an annual confab where surgeons, venture capitalists, angel investors, industry leaders and others gather to talk shop, and more.
The day-and-a-half conference spanning Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 also is important because big industry players like Medtronic, Wright Medical, Smith & Nephew and others have typically sent business development teams to the event. That means, wandering the halls at the FedEx Institute of Technology where the event will be held, companies who’ve flown in to pitch their concepts and products are likely to run into bigger companies on the hunt for potential strategic partners. 
This year, about 22 companies covering orthopedic and spine businesses – and ranging from early- to late-stage in their existence – will present at the conference. Ten to 15 speakers also will participate.
Conference hosts include the Memphis Bioworks Foundation and MB Venture Partners, a Memphis-based venture capital firm that provides equity capital and strategic direction to life sciences companies.