Project Lift Miami, a new accelerator aimed at developing young healthcare-technology companies and prepare them for investment opportunities, is now accepting applications for its first class, which will begin in May. Its website is live beginning Monday at www.lift1428.com/projectlift and Facebook, also.
The accelerator is a partnership between Lift1428, an innovation design, strategy and communications firm, the University of Miami Life Science & Technology Park and its developer, Wexford Science + Technology, and the UM Miller School of Medicine, said Robert Chavez, executive director of Project Lift Miami. The for-profit accelerator will offer up to 15 selected entrepreneurial teams a structured 100-day program of training by a large network of local and national experts as well as mentoring, warm introductions and strategic support that will continue well beyond the program, said David McDonald, CEO of Lift1428, co-founder of Project Lift Miami and creator of the programming. The class of startups will get funding and services valued at more than $100K in exchange for 7% equity, he said.
Chavez and McDonald said they have already fielded lots of interest from within the state and nationally. The goal is that the companies will want to stay and grow their businesses in Miami and create jobs, said Chavez, pointing out that South Florida is rich in healthcare resources and almost any idea can be tested and validated here. "When they are ready to run, we don't want them to run away."
Applications will be accepted through March 14 at www.lift1428.com/projectlift.
Read my recent post on Project Lift Miami, which contains more info on the accelerator, here.
