Catalyst, An EmeraNova™ Accelerator

About

A four-month Phoenix-based accelerator supports global TRL 3+ startups in tissue restoration, advanced wound care, and regenerative medicine with mentorship, technical and regulatory validation, investor readiness, Demo Day exposure, and potential investment of up to $200,000.

Benefits

• 🚀Up to $200,000 investment
  Selected startups may receive potential investment of up to $200,000 per venture, subject to selection and investment discussions
• 🧭Hands-on mentorship
  Participants receive hands-on mentorship, education, and in-depth guidance from experienced medtech, biotech, healthcare, and life sciences mentors
• 🔬Technical validation
  Startups work with experts to assess and validate their technology
• 📋Regulatory and clinical guidance
  The program supports regulatory, clinical, and market-access strategy
• 📈Investor readiness
  Startups refine investment materials, address due diligence gaps, and organize a data room for investor review
• 🤝Industry connections
  Participants gain access to clinicians, founders, investors, and life sciences executives
• 🌍U.S. market access
  Participants gain insight into the U.S. wound care market and build relationships with healthcare ecosystem stakeholders
• 🎤Demo Day exposure
  Startups present live to EmeraNova leadership, partners, and investors at Demo Day

Eligibility Criteria

• Mandatory: startups must be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 or higher
• Program target: startups in tissue restoration and advanced wound care, including regenerative medicine
• Program target: medical device, biologics, or drug sectors, and medtech, biotech, or pharma companies
• Program target: companies that have demonstrated proof of concept and progressed to later stages of development
• The program is open to startups from around the globe

Participation Commitments

• Submit a startup application for evaluation
• Applications are open from November 2026 through 29 January 2027
• Applicants advancing from primary review must schedule a video pitch call
• Selection and invitations occur in February 2027
• The four-month acceleration program runs from March to the end of summer 2027
• Demo Day takes place in fall 2027
• Term sheet and investment discussions for selected startups occur in fall 2027
• Post-program support in fall 2027 includes fundraising, investor introductions, mentor access, and the Catalyst Alumni network

Target Sector

Healthcare & Life Sciences

Target Location

Global. Startups from around the globe are eligible; the program is based in Phoenix, Arizona, but applicant geographic eligibility is not limited to Phoenix or the United States.