2023 Year in Review
Flexing new muscles to support the changing needs of those we serve.
A message from MATTER's CEO
Global footprint
Over the course of the year, our global network of healthcare innovators continued to grow.
In 2023, the MATTER community included:
2023 startup sector breakdown:
2023 partner sector breakdown:
2023 startup community:
“Before joining MATTER, we struggled to grow our company and take it to the next level. From the CEO leadership course to the one-on-one mentoring … MATTER provided us with the direction necessary to turn things around … MATTER got us to where we are 2-3 years faster than if we had tried to figure everything out ourselves.”
Rich Sokolosky
CEO & Co-founder of Sentier
Accelerating startup innovation
In 2023, we expanded our services to support entrepreneurs building the next generation of healthcare and life sciences technologies.
Helping more entrepreneurs build their businesses
We launched a new, digital-first membership called Flex, which includes more than 180 learning modules (with more coming soon), a directory of vetted professional services firms, a library of templates, frameworks and contracts and access to mentors.
Our premier, application-based membership is now called “Select” and offers founders one-on-one mentorship and coaching, support raising capital, exclusive learning opportunities and industry connections.
Supporting growth through collaboration
We welcomed three new venture capital firms to our Catalyst Network — firms we work most closely with to help our entrepreneurs raise capital. This 14-member network now includes Esplanade Ventures, Inflect Health and Michigan Capital Network Ventures.
We also introduced TeamUp, a partnership with MDisrupt, that gives MATTER members preferred access to more than 1,200 experts, helping our companies more efficiently add expertise they need.
“I’m continually impressed with the tenacity and perseverance of MATTER’s entrepreneurs. It has been an exceptionally rewarding experience working with them and I look forward to continuing to play a role in the support and development of these startups doing important work.”
Mark Cohen, MD
Executive in Residence at MATTER
MATTER startup partnership highlights of 2023
CareAcademy partnered with Amada Senior Care to provide comprehensive training, upskilling and compliance management solutions to Amada’s 150 locations.
Clearstep partnered with Mount Sinai Health to provide patients with improved access to care through a wide range of digital tools.
Junum partnered with Ochsner Health to integrate the Junum MalnutritionCDS™ clinical decision support solution into their Epic EHR.
Level Ex partnered with Gladskin to create custom, interactive gaming experiences to educate and train medical professionals in eczema care.
Neurotrack partnered with Nationwide to offer their three-minute, online digital cognitive assessment as part of Nationwide’s CareMatters product.
Somnea Health partnered with the Alliance of Sleep Apnea Partners, strengthening their collective expertise for higher quality of care.
Supply Clinic partnered with Office Depot’s B2B arm, ODP Business Solutions, to offer a wide range of office supplies on the dentist-owned-and-operated healthcare and dental supplies marketplace.
Advancing strategic innovation
Through large-scale innovation initiatives, validation studies and core programs, we facilitated 27 collaborations between large enterprises and startups.
Accelerators that create real value for the industry
MATTER ran seven accelerators in 2023 in collaboration with leading healthcare companies. Our accelerators focused on nurturing collaborations in oral health, caregiving, pediatric chronic conditions and more. Through these programs, our corporate partners tapped entrepreneurial talent from around the world to co-develop and deploy solutions more efficiently and effectively than if they were trying to build themselves.
Preparing for the U.S. market
MATTER’s market entry programs help entrepreneurs from around the world refine their approach to enter and grow in the U.S.
In 2023, we marked our ninth year working with the Consulate General of Canada to advise Canadian life sciences and healthcare entrepreneurs. For a third consecutive year, we provided a cohort of Korean companies with critical resources, mentorship and programming to propel their product, sales and fundraising. And, for the first time, we collaborated with the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest to introduce innovative Israeli healthcare startups to the U.S.
Spotlight: Women's health
In April, we concluded our inaugural women’s health accelerator, 51 Labs. The accelerator, a collaboration with Astellas, Walgreens, University of Chicago Medicine, Baycare, Parkview Health and Capita3, focused on accelerating the development of solutions to help women manage their menopausal journeys. In December, MATTER launched its second iteration of 51 Labs, focusing on solutions that can address the staggering U.S. maternal mortality rate.
Collaborating with foundations and associations
In 2023, we broadened our collaborations with foundations and associations. The Alzheimer’s Association Pitch Competition focused on identifying innovations to increase early detection of dementia within primary care settings. NeuroTrack was selected as the winner.
Our Accelerating Innovation in Aging program, developed with the support of the RRF Foundation for Aging, featured six startups building solutions to support caregivers. Onward and Zinnia each received $10,000 awards.
The Restoring Brain Health Innovation Challenge, developed with support from the Lundbeck U.S. Charitable Fund, focused on companies using data science to advance care in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. We selected five startups to share their novel solutions.
“The MATTER team has been an invaluable partner for us through the community they cultivate, the expertise they provide and their capacity to deliver. Through a rigorous process driven by an extensive expert network, we created a program with the power and potential to move the needle on some of the biggest healthcare challenges facing our society today.”
Molly Poarch
President of Lundbeck U.S. Charitable Fund
Innovation program highlights from 2023:
51 Labs: A women’s health accelerator
Empowering and supporting women in their menopausal transition
Alzheimer’s Association Pitch Competition
Increasing cognitive assessment and early detection and diagnosis of dementia within primary care settings
Canada-Chicago Mentoring Program (C2MP)
Mentoring and guiding Canadian startups for U.S. market entry and growth
Israeli Healthcare Startup Pitch Event at HIMSS
Introducing Israeli healthcare startup companies
KOSME U.S. Market Entry Program
Helping Korean small- and medium-sized enterprises with U.S. market entry and growth
Loyola Chicago Health Equity Quest
Addressing the intersection of health equity and climate change
Restoring Brain Health Innovation Challenge
Accelerating insights in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias through advanced data science
Oncology to Optometry Innovation Accelerator
Minimizing the burden of eye care for cancer patients
Healthy Kids Health Future Pediatrics Innovation Competition
Supporting children and teens in managing chronic conditions
Accelerating Innovation in Aging
Navigating caregiving or improving caregiver well-being through technology-enabled innovations
2023 community engagement, by the numbers:
Top event takeaways
A common thread emerged from the many, varied events and conversations throughout the challenging year that was 2023: Together is the only way we’ll advance solutions and make
change in healthcare.
Loyola Chicago Health Equity Quest
Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome, Federal Chief Environmental Justice Officer of the White House Council on Environmental Quality
Accelerating Innovation in Aging Demo Day
Tracy Chadwell, Founding Partner of 1843 Capital
SMILE Health: Integrating Oral Health Into Overall Health
Dr. William Giannobile, Dean of Harvard School of Dental Medicine
Personalizing Healthcare Benefits for Every Life Stage
Amy Smith, Chief Human Resources Officer of VillageMD
“As an industry, we can shape more than just products and services. By uniting the healthcare ecosystem and crafting strategies, we can build a future where health equity has no limits, becoming a reality for every person.”
Laura Westercamp
Managing Director of Accenture Life Sciences Strategy and Consulting
Listen and learn
We launched a new podcast series called Advancing Health Equity. Initial episodes cover health and wealth disparities, LGBTQ+ health and aging. Below are our most-listened-to podcasts of 2023, including two from our new series.
Thank you!
We continue to be humbled by you, our community of innovators, entrepreneurs, change makers, physicians, investors, advocates and executives who join us in our mission to accelerate the pace of change of healthcare. Thank you for your work. It truly matters.
