Deadline: November 22, 2026
Applications are open for the MATTER Groundwork Innovator Accelerator 2027. Groundwork is MATTER’s newest offering — an 11-week accelerator program for digital health innovators at the earliest stages of developing their ideas and turning them into businesses. Designed to help entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of healthcare and lay the groundwork for building a successful healthcare startup, the program is now accepting applications.
Through expert-led workshops, mentorship, peer learning and practical application, participating founders will deepen their understanding of how healthcare works — from industry incentives and buying dynamics to compliance, go-to-market strategy and building a company. The program will bring together a cohort of up to 12 founders for weekly virtual sessions, culminating in an in-person showcase at MATTER in Chicago.
Benefits
Participating founders will receive:
- An 11-week, healthcare-focused curriculum led by experienced operators and subject matter experts from across healthcare
- Practical guidance on navigating healthcare
- Mentorship through group discussions, office hours and/or 1:1 conversations
- A peer community of aspiring and early-stage healthcare founders
- Opportunities to build relationships with leaders across the healthcare ecosystem
- Structured opportunities to apply program learnings to their own companies
- Participate in an in-person closing showcase at MATTER in Chicago
Eligibility
Groundwork supports aspiring and early-stage digital health founders who are preparing to build a healthcare solution.
The program may be a fit for:
- First-time founders looking to build a stronger foundation in healthcare innovation
- Clinicians and healthcare professionals working to commercialize an innovation
- Entrepreneurs entering healthcare from another industry
- Researchers translating academic or clinical research into a commercial venture
The program is virtual-first, enabling founders from across the United States to participate. The closing showcase will take place in person at MATTER in Chicago.
Selection Criteria
- Program fit: Does the applicant align with the program’s focus on aspiring and early-stage digital health founders actively working to build a novel healthcare solution?
- Problem: Is the applicant addressing a meaningful healthcare problem or opportunity, and do they demonstrate a clear understanding of the problem they are trying to solve?
- Founder commitment: Does the applicant demonstrate serious commitment to building the company, along with genuine passion and energy for the problem they are solving?
- Stage: Is the company at an appropriate early stage to benefit from the program while being developed enough to actively apply the curriculum?
- Product readiness: Does the applicant have a functioning prototype or early proof of concept that can be put in front of potential customers or users to gather feedback?
Application
Applications will be reviewed and accepted until November 22, 2026 at 11:59pm CT.
For more information, visit MATTER Groundwork Innovator Accelerator.
