A McCall-based nurse practitioner and medical device entrepreneur has punched her ticket to a global startup competition in San Francisco after her emergency infusion technology topped the field at Boise’s regional Startup World Cup qualifier Thursday evening.
Chantell Williams, founder and CEO of Critical Medical Devices, defeated a field of competing startups at the event held at Jack’s Urban Meeting Place in downtown Boise. The competition was organized by Trailhead, a Boise-based nonprofit focused on supporting Idaho entrepreneurs, along with Pegasus Tech Ventures, the global coordinator of the Startup World Cup series. Williams will now advance to the Grand Finale in November, where she will compete against startups from more than 100 regional qualifiers worldwide for a $1 million investment prize.
The Device Behind the Win
Williams developed the Anchor IV Pump after spending decades working as a frontline emergency and flight nurse. The device is a protocol-embedded infusion system built to standardize how medications are delivered during high-pressure resuscitations and time-sensitive emergency interventions.
Medication errors and delivery delays in acute care settings represent a well-documented and potentially fatal failure point in emergency medicine. The Anchor IV Pump is designed to reduce the cognitive burden on clinicians — who must make rapid, high-stakes decisions — by embedding protocols directly into the delivery system.
According to the company, the pump is intended for use across emergency departments, EMS units, intensive care units, anesthesia settings, and military field medicine applications. The device addresses a problem Williams encountered firsthand throughout her nursing career.
Idaho Medtech Wins Boise Qualifier for Third Straight Year
Williams’ victory extends a notable run for Idaho’s medical technology sector. For the third year in a row, a medtech company has taken the top prize at Boise’s Startup World Cup regional qualifier — an outcome that reflects a deepening bench of health-focused innovation in the Treasure Valley and across the state.
In 2024, Ashley Crafton of Galena Innovations won the Boise qualifier with a cervical cup engineered to reduce the risk of preterm birth and miscarriage. Crafton went on to finish in the top 10 at that year’s Grand Finale in San Francisco. In 2025, Donald Young of Rattler Medical claimed the title with Life Hold, a temperature-controlled blood transport container developed for emergency response and military field use.
The back-to-back-to-back medtech wins signal that Idaho entrepreneurs are finding a competitive niche at the intersection of clinical experience and product innovation — particularly in emergency and field medicine applications.
Support From Idaho Sponsors
As the regional winner, Williams will receive a $2,500 travel stipend provided by presenting sponsor Alturas Capital, an Idaho-based investment firm, along with travel accommodations for herself and one guest courtesy of Delta Air Lines.
Additional sponsors for the 2026 Boise qualifier included JP Morgan Chase, Espiritu Studio, and law firms Dorsey & Whitney and Perkins Coie LLP.
Trailhead, which organized the local event, emphasized the accessibility of entrepreneurship in a statement following the competition. “Trailhead believes entrepreneurship is for everyone,” the organization said.
What Comes Next
Williams and Critical Medical Devices will compete at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco in November. The competition draws entrants from over 100 regional qualifiers held across the globe, making it one of the most expansive startup competitions in the world. The winner takes home a $1 million investment prize.
Ada County and Treasure Valley residents interested in following Williams’ journey or learning more about the Anchor IV Pump can visit criticalmedicaldevices.com. Information about the Startup World Cup competition is available at startupworldcup.io.
Those interested in Trailhead’s programs for Idaho entrepreneurs — including future competitions and startup resources — can connect with the organization through its Boise offices. The nonprofit has been a consistent driver of startup activity in the region, helping Idaho founders access mentorship, funding networks, and visibility at national and global events.