Dental News - Meet the winner of the Great Oral Health Pitch Grand 2025 Finale: Adrian Finzelberg, founder of KiDDY CAPS

Shils Fund

Thu. 18 September 2025

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The Shils Fund proudly announces Adrian Finzelberg, founder of KiDDY CAPS, as the grand prize winner of the 2025 Shils Fund Great Oral Health Pitch Grand Finale, taking home the Shils Fund Grand Sponsorship Package valued at more than $50,000.

This comprehensive package includes:

Cash funding to support business growth.
Mentorship opportunities with leaders across dentistry, healthcare and entrepreneurship.
Marketing and branding support to accelerate visibility and outreach.
Strategic consulting, sales guidance and networking introductions with top dental organizations and decision-makers.
Oral healthcare products and services from leading industry partners.

The package brings together resources provided by leaders across the industry — including Colgate, DMG America, Verasoni, Henry Schein, Dental Product Shopper, Scarlett Consulting, Plan Forward, The Smilist, Bien Air and others — united in their commitment to helping bring this innovation to scale.

This year’s competition celebrated the best and brightest in oral health entrepreneurship, honoring the legacy of Ed Shils by showcasing bold, innovative businesses and ideas set to transform the future of dentistry.

KiDDY CAPS / ZircoThin is the world’s first mass-produced, ultra-thin, tooth-colored zirconia crown for children, designed for affordability and cost efficiency. Radically easier to use with less prep and faster placement — often without the need for any anesthesia — these crowns make high-quality ceramic restorations accessible to all kids, not just those from wealthier families.

The Shils Fund also recognizes the national runner-ups, including:

Dr. João Guilherme Medeiros – The Bright Smile Adventure (Greater New York Dental Meeting Winner). A gamified oral health solution using 3-D technology and electric toothbrushes to help children develop better brushing habits.
Evan Schlossberg – The Gleamery (California Dental Association Presents Winner). Founder of a modern dental wellness brand reinventing dental care for Millennials and Gen Z through spa-like studios and a consumer-first experience.

“Congratulations to KiDDY CAPS on their remarkable achievement in the Shils Fund Great Oral Health Pitch competition! Their creativity, dedication and vision set them apart. We can’t wait to see this innovation transform dentistry and inspire future entrepreneurs,” said Keith Drayer, Shils Fund president.

The Grand Finale was a celebration of innovation and creativity at its best — an event filled with excitement and inspiration. The committee selected KiDDY CAPS because it combined ingenuity with real-world impact; its vision and execution truly set it apart as the standout project,” said Arthur Mateen, Shils Fund board member and event judge.

“The Shils Fund is proud to foster innovation that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in oral health,” Drayer said. “KiDDY CAPS exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to improving access to care that Ed Shils championed throughout his life.”

“Winning the grand prize is an honor — made more meaningful by the Shils Fund’s distinguished board of innovation experts. With this support, our patent-pending, low-cost, made-in-Germany ceramic crowns are on track to replace metal crowns nationwide by 2030. Partners across provider networks, distribution and public programs can now help accelerate adoption and end the social, physical and psychological burdens that millions of American children experience from their ‘silver smiles,’” said Finzelberg.

The Shils Fund congratulates all finalists for their groundbreaking work and thanks the dental community, industry partners and sponsors for making this year’s competition a success.

For entrepreneurs eager to be the next Great Oral Health Pitch winner, applications are now open for the upcoming competition launching at the Greater New York Dental Meeting on Dec. 1. Register at shilsfund.org/the-great-oral-health-pitch/.

For information about the Shils Fund and how to support future oral health innovators, visit shilsfund.org.