The American Heart Association has selected eight companies to participate in its Heart and Brain Health Accelerator, a specialty track within the 2026 MedTech Innovator Accelerator. This initiative is designed to advance novel medical or digital health technologies aligned with the Association's lifesaving mission, focusing on cardiovascular and brain health.
The companies were chosen from a highly competitive global pool as part of MedTech Innovator's 2026 cohort, representing early- and mid-stage startups with promising solutions. Through collaboration with MedTech Innovator, American Heart Association Ventures and Studio Red aim to identify and support innovation that improves patient outcomes, expands access to care, and addresses critical gaps in cardiovascular and neurological health.
"Novel approaches to tackling today's most pressing challenges are what will drive us forward in addressing the age-old challenges of improving heart and brain health," said Lisa Suennen, managing partner of American Heart Association Ventures. "Through the Heart and Brain Health Accelerator, we are connecting high-potential companies with the expertise, resources and networks needed to bring more trustworthy, rapid and impactful product and service advancements to patients and the clinicians who care for them."
The 2026 cohort includes: Cerevia Neurosciences, developing a non-invasive neuromodulation platform for dementia; Chambertech, creating a minimally invasive hybrid ablation for atrial fibrillation; Envera Medical, focusing on a neurovascular balloon catheter for safer embolization; Eupnoos, using acoustic breath biomarkers for heart failure detection; Flux Robotics, developing magnetically guided systems for navigating complex arteries; Lucentia, turning non-contrast CT scans into virtual CCTA for early heart disease detection; OMINI, offering a portable point-of-care platform for monitoring chronic diseases; and Prima Medical, providing real-time AI guidance for pulsed field ablation.
The cohort was selected by an American Heart Association advisory committee of clinical, investment and industry experts, based on innovation, clinical impact and potential to improve patient care. As members of the accelerator, these companies will receive specialized mentorship, coaching, and capacity building from American Heart Association Ventures, customized to their focus on cardiovascular and/or brain conditions.
The selected startups also become official members of the MedTech Innovator program, gaining access to networking opportunities, funding, and increased visibility. They qualify to participate in the MedTech Innovator Competition Finals at the MedTech Conference on October 18-21, 2026, in Boston, and are included in the inaugural MTI Index, a new recognition platform highlighting promising medtech companies.
This accelerator represents a significant step in driving technology-driven improvements in cardiovascular and neurological health, leveraging the expertise and resources of the American Heart Association to bring innovative solutions to market.
