Header Hero logoHeader Hero logo

ACCELERATOR - Health

Northwestern Medicine & Founders Factory Healthcare Accelerator

  • Applications closed

    $150k Investment • 4 Months Operational Support • London & Chicago

program overview

Backing and scaling European AI technologies with a US healthcare leader

Northwestern Medicine, one of America’s premier, academic healthcare systems, is partnering with Founders Factory to bring the UK’s and Europe’s top AI founders to the US health market. This programme reflects Northwestern Medicine’s strategy to embrace innovations that advance new models of patient care, advance research and deliver operational efficiencies.


AI-enabled technologies are instrumental to improving healthcare. From detection and chronic disease management to treatment optimism, systems-wide change and expediting research, AI delivers far-reaching benefits across health systems.


Our programme offers founders $150k capital, 16 weeks support across product development, fundraising, GTM and commercialisation.



The programme includes a partner track to accelerate customer discovery, use case development and pilot execution with Northwestern Medicine in Chicago and the London Clinic in the UK. Northwestern Medicine is one of the premiere US health ecosystems: 11 hospitals, 5,400+ affiliated physicians, research facilities, 200+ outpatient/diagnostic sites and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. 


As part of the programme, founders will attend a Residency Week in Chicago to scope and secure pilots with Northwestern Medicine, engage with our partners in the wider US healthcare ecosystem, and connect with local investors. The programme will culminate with an investor showcase in London, giving founders the opportunity to find investors in both markets.

Chicago Showcase

Our founders take the stage Wednesday 26 August, 9–11am CT at MATTER, Chicago, pitching to investors and health system leaders.

go further, faster

Build, fund and commercialise your technology with the backing of Northwestern Medicine and Founders Factory

$150k Capital

$150k Capital

Receive $150k cash investment and opportunities for follow-on funding through our investor networks.

Operational Excellence

Operational Excellence

Four months of expert-led programming across product development, operations, commercialisation, data science, partnerships, and fundraising.

Northwestern Medicine Partner Track

Northwestern Medicine Partner Track

Commercial opportunities to deploy, validate and scale technologies with Northwestern Medicine, one of America's premiere healthcare systems. Additional opportunities with the London Clinic.

US Healthcare Industry Access

US Healthcare Industry Access

Access our networks of healthcare organisations, investors and clinical specialists - in the US, Europe and globally. Startups will be invited to Chicago for a Residency Week in August 2026 for pilot discussions, customer roundtables and connections to investors.

Playbooks & Resources

Playbooks & Resources

Leverage our venture building knowledge, systems and processes to de-risk your startup and increase the probabilities of success.

Deals & Perks

Deals & Perks

Access hand-picked deals, discounts and benefits with leading software and service providers, worth $300,000.

Meet the program team

Join the Northwestern Medicine & Founders Factory Healthcare Accelerator