Techstars partners with Johns Hopkins University and CareFirst for AI accelerator program

TechstarsJohns Hopkins University and CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, an investor in early-stage startups, announced the launch of a new healthcare accelerator program designed to support early-stage entrepreneurs using artificial intelligence to improve care pathways.

Backed by Johns Hopkins University and CareFirst, Techstars AI Health Baltimore leverages the power of academic research to translate findings into commercially viable businesses.

It also leverages CareFirst’s experience in promoting affordable, equitable and high-quality access to health care and the Techstars accelerator model.

The Baltimore-based accelerator program aims to build on the success of Techstars Equitech, a three-cohort series in partnership with UpSurge Baltimore that concluded in May.

As Baltimore’s tech ecosystem builder, UpSurge will continue to work to help Techstars founders leverage the wide range of assets present in the Baltimore metropolitan area.

Adam Phillips, former managing director of Techstars Equitech, will lead the 13-week program, which will focus on supporting entrepreneurs leading healthtech, medtech and biotech startups.

Startups can get the capital, expert mentorship and other support they need to navigate the complexities of the healthcare ecosystem and regulatory environment.

Applications will open on August 26th and will be accepted until November 20th.

Myra Norton, Head of Startup Acceleration Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures“By collaborating with Techstars at the intersection of healthcare and AI, we aim to attract more entrepreneurs to our university’s ecosystem and spur more startup activity to bring high-impact healthcare innovations to market,” Johns Hopkins, the university’s commercialization and entrepreneurship arm, said in a statement.

Larger trends

in In 2021, Techstars was one of the investors in Climb, a UAE-based health tech startup that raised $1.6 million (€1.4 million) in a pre-series A round of funding, which enabled Climb to expand into the Saudi Arabian and US markets.

August 15th, Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have uncovered a new test that may enable gastroenterologists to determine which patients with Barrett’s esophagus are likely to progress to esophageal cancer or abnormal cell buildup called high-grade dysplasia. This information could help doctors decide how to monitor or manage patients during clinical treatment.

In July, Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures Development of specialized nanoparticles that can deliver gene therapy directly to different cell types in the bone marrow to correct disease-causing mutations.

In the same month, using genetic engineering technology, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center And that Ludwig Center, Lustgarten Research Institute and Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy They engineered a new type of cell that can recognise and fight cancer.

Other companies offering healthcare accelerator programs include: Duke-NUS Medical School launched LIVE Ventures, a $20 million incubator, in July to help commercialize academic research projects and translate scientific breakthroughs into clinical applications.

The incubator aims to provide academic innovators with expertise and resources from the public and private sectors, including pharmaceutical companies, market data research experts, investors and industry professionals. – Conduct a product-market fit assessment for the commercialization of the project.

Mayo Clinic Platform_Acceleration is a 30-week program that helps early-stage healthtech AI startups get market ready.

Penn HealthTech’s HealthTech Accelerator is a one-year, cohort-based program designed to provide support through advice and funding aimed at accelerating the lifecycle of innovative medical technologies.

The HIMSS AI in Healthcare Forum is scheduled to take place in Boston from September 5 to 6. More information and registration.