MSU Research Foundation Announces Conquer Startup Accelerator in Detroit
Entrepreneurship program to leverage Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences Partnership with focus on healthcare entrepreneurship.
DETROIT, MI — The Michigan State University Research Foundation announces the launch of its Conquer Accelerator program for healthcare-related startup businesses in Detroit. Building upon the success of the program in East Lansing and Grand Rapids, this new accelerator offers programming, mentorship, and investment opportunities that emerge from the Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences partnership.
Tom Stewart, Director of Venture Programming at the MSU Research Foundation, expressed his excitement about the expansion, saying, "We've supported startups in various industries over the past eight years, and working with the Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences partnership will be a great compliment to the work our organizations are already doing."
Michigan’s thriving healthcare industry and Detroit’s strategic location make it an ideal base for a healthcare-focused accelerator program. In 2021, Henry Ford Health and Michigan State University Health Sciences announced a 30-year partnership focused on setting new standards for how individuals and communities experience care within the state of Michigan and across the nation.
“Henry Ford has been a leader in clinical research and innovation for over 100 years,” said Lisa Prasad, Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer at Henry Ford Innovations. “Collaborating with the MSU Research Foundation and MSU Health Sciences underscores our commitment to advancing research, innovation, and community impact.”
The Henry Ford + Michigan State University Health Sciences partnership has introduced expanded research and a new MSU College of Human Medicine campus at Henry Ford Hospital. In 2022, the partnership announced the funding of nearly $1 million in cancer research grants, with 40 percent of initiatives addressing disparities in cancer outcomes. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has recognized the partnership as a single, aligned research organization.
"The future of healthcare is not just in the discovery of new treatments, but in how we deliver care and engage patients using technology and innovation," said Dr. Norman Beauchamp, Executive Vice President for MSU Health Sciences, Director for the MSU Research Foundation, and Board Chair for the Henry Ford + MSU Health Sciences partnership. "This new startup accelerator compliments the Henry Ford + MSU partnership by engaging with healthcare innovators that can help bring advancements to the marketplace, while catalyzing economic growth in Detroit."
All startups are encouraged to apply; however, the program will give preference to healthcare and health tech businesses. The Conquer team will select five Detroit-based startups for the 2024 cohort, offering comprehensive startup support, mentorship, and the potential for investment through the MSU Research Foundation, upon successful completion.
Applications for the Conquer Detroit Accelerator are open until January 31, 2024, and the program will commence on March 11, 2024. The program will have a hybrid format, with the initial week taking place in Detroit, providing participants with access to the city's vibrant resources and networks.
For more information about the Conquer Detroit Accelerator and details on the application process, visit msufoundation.org/conquer-detroit.
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About the Michigan State University Research Foundation
The Michigan State University Research Foundation was established in 1973 as an independent nonprofit committed to the commercialization of cutting-edge technologies invented by MSU faculty, staff, and students. Today, the MSU Research Foundation is focused on enhancing research, encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, and facilitating economic growth at MSU and across the state through its subsidiary organizations—Spartan Innovations, Red Cedar Ventures, and Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III—and its Research Parks. Learn more at msufoundation.org
About Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
The Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences partnership is a catalyst for change, reimagining how healthcare is conceived, innovated, and delivered. The goal is to establish a new standard for the way individuals and communities receive care within the state of Michigan and across the nation. Through a collaborative research initiative, the establishment of a premier cancer center, and a focus on shaping the future of academic medical and health education, the Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences partnership is actively addressing health disparities affecting vulnerable communities, working toward substantial change for the next 30 years and beyond. Learn more at henryfordmsu.org