Medtech Startups Prepare for Investor Engagement with Aspire

Aspire Medtech is a five-week in-depth, hybrid program that prepares startups for investor engagement. Investor-mentors work one-on-one with startups to simulate due diligence conversations and integrate feedback into deal room materials in real-time. This program aims to prepare startups to raise equity investment.

Applications are currently closed. Sign up to receive updates.

Read about our 2024 Aspire Medtech cohort!

Why Apply?

Spend one-on-one time with investor-mentors
You will work with high-caliber investor-mentors throughout the program who have experience investing or partnering with startups like yours.

Vet your fundraising strategy
Startups will leave with a clear articulation of their investment needs, including the investment ask and planned milestones for the round. Take part in a mock board meeting to prepare yourself for fundraising and investor conversations.

Due Diligence Deal Room
Spend time creating and refining deal room materials to use during the fundraising process. Invest your time and energy into a work product for a deal room discussion, not a demo day pitch.

Stress-test your startup
Work through real-world disaster scenarios with your team to discover how to best prepare for the unexpected.

Collaborate and network
Connect with fellow founders and leverage the VentureWell investor network after the program ends.

Aspire Medtech 2024 Investor-Mentors

Elaine Bolle

Angel Investor, RTP Angel Fund and Portfolia Active Aging and Longevity Fund

Charlotte Epée-WillSuN
Angel Investor, Angel Capital Association and Faith Driven Investors

Tania Fernandez
Founder and Managing Partner, DreamCatcher Ventures

Kim Frazier
Executive Director, EC Angels

LeKeisha Grant
Innovation Manager, Entrepreneurs’ Center

Marianne Hudson
Angel Investor and Executive Director Emeritus, Angel Capital Association

Dave Morin

Founder and Managing Mentor, Care Technology Advisors

Sheila Narayan
Managing Director, Golden Seeds

Marquicia Pierce

Founder and Principal Consultant, Ruby Leaf Media

Jamie Ryan
Managing Member and Principal, JL Ryan Consulting LLC

Jonathan Seltzer

Angel Investor, NuFund Venture Group

Jen Soltis
Impact Investing Professional and Advisor

Aspire Medtech 2024 Entrepreneur-in-Residence

Katie Solley

Co-Founder and CEO, Eyedea Medical

Is Your Startup a Good Match?

For each cohort, VentureWell selects 10-15 dedicated science- and engineering-based startups from across the nation that are launching high-impact inventions. The Aspire program receives a significant number of quality applications, and unfortunately we cannot accept them all. Ideal candidates tend to share the following traits:

• Committed to the program: The CEO of the company must be able to commit to full participation for the entirety of the five-week Aspire program.
• Actively fundraising: Company is preparing for a round of equity investment within 12 months.
• Team identified and startup formed: First-time founders with management team and key roles identified. At least one member is full-time. Incorporated as a C-corp or LLC.
• High-impact invention: Innovation has a clear positive impact, solves a real problem felt by customers, and has a compelling value proposition.
• Early market validation: Validated customer segments and initial evidence of product-market fit. Articulation of economic value proposition and evidence of customer buy-in.
• Intellectual property: Provisional patent(s) filed and assigned to the company, or evidence of a clear pathway to the license.
• Beyond proof of concept: Initial prototype developed and pilot studies/field trials underway. Team has received grants to develop the technology or initial prototype.

Questions on whether your company is a fit? Contact Patrick Beattie.

Questions? Contact Patrick Beattie.

The Fall 2024 Aspire Medtech program is offered in partnership with our generous sponsors, The Lemelson Foundation, Techtown Detroit, MedHealth, Cooley LLP, in2being, and Siemens.