Healthbox, an incubator which has been backed by Sandbox Industries, the US-based venture capital firm that manages the medical group BlueCross BlueShield Association’s corporate venture fund, and imaging company Merge Healthcare has expanded its programme to Massachusetts.
Healthbox said the Boston and Cambridge programme would select up to ten New England-based healthcare startups to receive $50,000 in seed capital. This followed the incubator running a similar programme last year in Chicago.
Nina Nashif, founder of Healthbox, said: "Massachusetts’ world-renowned academic institutions, cutting-edge provider systems and strong investor community make it an ideal location for a healthcare accelerator to stimulate the ecosystem and support new ideas. We are looking forward to working with New England’s most promising healthcare entrepreneurs to help them gain traction in the industry and develop sustainable businesses."
The programme in Chicago was supported by strategic partners that included Merge Healthcare and Sandbox, as well as BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners, the venture fund managed by Sandbox, and venture firms HLM Venture Partners, Ascension Health and Merrick Ventures. Backers also included the Walgreens, who set up the eponymous pharmacy chain as well as non-profit organisation California HealthCare Foundation.