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Accelerator

MATTER Groundwork: An Emerging Innovator Accelerator

MATTER

An 11-week virtual-first accelerator teaching early-stage digital health founders how healthcare works, ending with an in-person showcase in Chicago.

Award
Not stated
Who can apply
North America
Where
Chicago, Illinois, USA (virtual-first), remote possible
Deadline
22 Nov

About the programme

Groundwork is MATTER's newest program for aspiring and early-stage digital health founders at the earliest stages of their ideas. Expert-led workshops, mentorship, peer learning and practical application cover healthcare incentives, buying dynamics, compliance, go-to-market strategy and company building. A cohort of up to 12 founders meets weekly online and presents at an in-person closing showcase at MATTER in Chicago.

Duration: 11 weeks (January–April 2027)

Eligibility

  • Aspiring or early-stage digital health founder preparing to build a healthcare solution
  • Applicant is based in the United States (founders from across the US may participate)
  • Sign in to check these against your background.

What they look for

  • Functioning prototype or early proof of concept that can be shown to potential customers or users
  • First-time founders, clinicians, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs entering from other industries, or researchers translating research are good fits
  • Founder commitment and passion for the problem being solved
  • Meaningful healthcare problem with clear understanding of it

What you receive

  • 11-week healthcare-focused curriculum led by experienced operators and subject matter experts
  • Practical guidance on navigating healthcare
  • Mentorship through group discussions, office hours and/or 1:1 conversations
  • Peer community of early-stage healthcare founders
  • Opportunities to build relationships across the healthcare ecosystem
  • Structured opportunities to apply learnings to their own companies
  • In-person closing showcase at MATTER in Chicago

How to apply

  1. Applications open October 13, 2026 and close November 22, 2026 at 11:59pm CT
  2. Application review and finalist confirmation in late November to December 2026
  3. Cohort announcement in mid-December 2026
  4. Program runs January to April 2027
  5. Closing showcase at MATTER in Chicago in April 2027 (date to be announced)
  6. An informational webinar is offered on October 28, 2026 (registration required)

Applications are submitted on MATTER’s own site. Open Doors helps you prepare; it is not the official application portal.

From people who applied

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Source and verification

Official source
MATTER · Application
Last checked
11 Nov 2026, read automatically from the official page

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