Healthcare innovation incubators and accelerators around the country are helping entrepreneurs grow and develop their startup companies with funding, mentorship and investment resources.
Here are 12 healthcare innovation incubators and accelerators based around the U.S. This list was compiled through editorial research. Contact Laura Dyrda at ldyrda@beckershealthcare.com with any questions or comments about this list.
Blueprint Health (New York). Blueprint Health invests $20,000 in 20 health IT companies annually and provides staff as well as mentors to work with companies for three months on individual business goals. The mentors have experience with raising capital, building markets, gaining customers and refining a sales pitch. Blueprint Health continues to support alumni founders through the company building process.
Dreamit Health (Philadelphia). Dreamit Health's program is designed to support breakthrough startups. The health tech accelerator helps companies scale their business and build relationships with payers, providers, pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions. Dreamit Health also provides a framework for the company's growth and development and culminates with a two-week roadshow to raise financing.
Healthbox (Chicago). Healthbox was founded in 2011 as one of the first healthcare-focused accelerator programs in the country. Healthbox no longer hosts traditional incubators, but it does host an annual Chicago Studio, a five-day program dedicated to advancing digital health solutions intended for early stage companies with a product in the market or product-ready prototype. The program offers an opportunity to meet healthcare leaders and network with other start-up founders from across the country.
Health Wildcatters (Dallas). Health Wildcatters is a mentor-driven seed accelerator designed to support healthcare entrepreneurs and startups with a 12-week program and initial seed investment. The accelerator also provides mentors, advisors, office space and strategic resources for growth. Health Wildcatters supports companies focused on digital health, mhealth, health IT, medical devices, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics.
The Iron Yard (Asheville, N.C.). The Iron Yard is a seed stage investment firm. Since 2012, it has invested in more than 62 early-stage technology companies that went on to raise more than $100 million. The Iron Yard provides mentorship for company founders to grow ideas as well as capital for startup and value-generating relationships. The company's digital health accelerator is located in Spartanburg, S.C., and offers startups $20,000 in seed capital along with three months of mentorship and workshops.
Matter (Chicago). Matter is a healthcare innovation incubator that brings together healthcare and life sciences entrepreneurs and industry leaders in a 25,000-square-foot space. Matter includes the American Medical Association Interaction Studio, which replicates an outpatient environment; The Shop for medical device prototyping; and The Stimulation Stage, which is a high-acuity simulation environment constructed through a partnership with Jump Training Education and Simulation Center at OSF Healthcare.
MedStartr (New York). MedStartr, a crowdfunding source for healthcare companies, grew out of the Health 2.0 NYC meetup group and launched as a partnership between founder Alex Fair and former KickStarter Co-founder Mike Pence. MedStartr relaunched in July 2016 as a healthcare crowd engagement platform designed to facilitate and automate services for healthcare innovators to bring their products to market more quickly and sustainably.
New York Digital Health Accelerator. The New York eHealth Collaborative and the Partnership Fund of New York City runs the New York Digital Health Accelerator for early- and growth-stage digital health companies. The accelerator focuses on companies developing technology products in care coordination, patient engagement and workflow improvement. Participating companies receive feedback from senior level executives at healthcare organizations and mentorship from healthcare investors.
Rock Health (San Francisco). Rock Health is a nonprofit seed fund for entrepreneurs focused on health and wellness through web and mobile technologies. The seed fund supports companies with fundraising, go-to-market planning, customer development, contracting, pricing, marketing and public relations. Rock Health has partnerships with companies such as AARP, Blue Shield of California and Boston Children's Hospital to provide portfolio companies with strategic insights and resources.
StartUp Health (New York). StartUp Health launched in 2011 at Health Datapalooza in Washington, D.C., with the mission of investing in thousands of healthcare entrepreneurs. The company focuses on mindset and value creation with weekly and quarterly coaching and its StartUp Health Academy connects entrepreneurs with a global peer network. Notable strategic partners include AON, Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee and Cleveland Clinic.
StartX Med (Palo Alto, Calif.). StartX Med is Stanford University's technology accelerator designed to work with medical and biotech startups. StartX provides mentors in the Silicon Valley as well as guidance through calls, lectures and informal meetings. Program alumni have had their companies acquired by Twitter, Dropbox and Apple, raising funds from firms like Benchmark Capital and Google Ventures.
Techstars Healthcare Accelerator (Los Angeles). Techstars partners with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles to support physicians and researchers focused on advanced technology that will improve patient care. The participants receive a $120,000 investment and mentors from Cedars-Sinai. The participants also have access to Techstars' network of entrepreneurs, investors and corporate partners.