Johns Hopkins to launch health tech accelerator
Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, Johns Hopkins University's commercialization arm, plans to launch a health-focused accelerator, reports The Baltimore Sun.
The new accelerator will replace Baltimore's Dreamit Health, according to the Baltimore Business Journal (BBJ). While Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures has historically been geared toward innovations from university faculty and students, the potential healthcare-focused accelerator will be open to parties not affiliated with the university, according to the report.
Hopkins' healthcare technology accelerator will work to maintain the community-building role Dreamit played in the city's startup ecosystem, according to the BBJ. The program hopes to drive growth among Baltimore startups and attract new companies to the area, which is another focus on Johns Hopkins Ventures.
Investment group Village Capital awarded Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures $25,000 in funding for the accelerator program that employs the firm's peer review model. The university is seeking other partners and will invest an undetermined amount into the accelerator, according to the report.
"Village Capital has discovered that many successful accelerators have a real focus," Elizabeth Smyth, senior director of strategic initiatives at Hopkins, told The Baltimore Sun. "Healthcare, digital health —we're still working out our exact focus within the healthcare space. But it's clearly a regional strength here, and we have myriad assets."
Editor
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.