DALLAS - The American Heart Association has selected eight companies to join its Heart and Brain Health Accelerator, a specialty track within the 2026 MedTech Innovator Accelerator. The program aims to advance novel medical or digital health technologies aligned with the Association's mission to improve cardiovascular and brain health.
The companies were chosen from a highly competitive global pool as part of MTI's overall 2026 cohort, representing early- and mid-stage medical technology startups. Through collaboration with MedTech Innovator, American Heart Association Ventures and Studio Red will support innovation that aims to improve patient outcomes, expand access to care, and address critical gaps in cardiovascular and neurological health.
Lisa Suennen, managing partner of American Heart Association Ventures, emphasized the importance of novel approaches: "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. 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, focused on a neurovascular balloon catheter; Eupnoos, using acoustic breath biomarkers for heart failure detection; Flux Robotics, developing magnetically guided robotic systems; Lucentia, turning non-contrast CT scans into virtual CCTA for early heart disease detection; OMINI, creating a portable platform for blood biomarker monitoring; and Prima Medical, offering real-time AI guidance for catheter ablation.
The cohort was selected by an American Heart Association advisory committee based on innovation, clinical impact, and potential to improve patient care. Participants will receive specialized mentorship and coaching from American Heart Association Ventures. They also become official members of the MedTech Innovator program, gaining access to networking, funding, and visibility. The companies qualify to compete 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.
This accelerator underscores the American Heart Association's commitment to fostering innovation that can transform cardiovascular and neurological health care. By supporting these startups, the Association aims to accelerate the development of technologies that address unmet clinical needs and improve patient outcomes globally.
