AGA Incubator: Improving GI Care

How might your innovation improve the care experience for people living with digestive diseases?

More than 60 million people in the U.S. live with a digestive disease¹ — from Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome to liver disease and colorectal cancer — costing the healthcare system nearly $120 billion annually.²

While hospitalization and mortality rates have declined in recent years, ambulatory and emergency care visits have increased, pointing to persistent gaps in prevention, early intervention and management.³ The burden of disease is not evenly distributed either: Black patients experience higher rates of emergency care use and mortality for digestive diseases compared to white patients, and women account for more healthcare utilization overall for digestive diseases.⁴

These disparities underscore the need for more equitable, accessible digestive health solutions. To further accelerate innovation and benefit patients, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and MATTER have launched the first incubator dedicated exclusively to digestive disease care. This initiative will bring together entrepreneurs, researchers, clinicians and industry leaders to accelerate new solutions.

In the ensuing six-month program, program participants will:

• Accelerate your growth with exclusive access to MATTER’s digital curriculum, product pitch resources, and investor and mentor network.
• Participate in monthly, private workshops.
• Receive one-on-one coaching from an Executive-in-Residence.
• Pitch your solution to a curated audience of GI stakeholders and vie for potential investment from the AGA GI Opportunity Fund.
• Connect with potential customers, mentors, stakeholders, investors and more.

August 5, 2025: Applications open
September 21, 2025: Applications close
October 17, 2025: Cohort announced
November 1, 2025–April 30, 2026: 6-month incubator
May 2-6, 2026: Final event in-person in Chicago, IL (exact date TBD)

This global call for solutions is open to individuals and teams across the innovation ecosystem—including community researchers, students, clinicians, entrepreneurs and early- to mid-stage startups. We welcome innovations in the GI and hepatology space that address meaningful, unmet needs through products, technologies, services or therapeutics.

To be considered, your solution must be beyond the conceptual or pre-seed stage. We’re looking for innovations that demonstrate tangible progress—such as a working prototype, early clinical or user data, initial regulatory engagement or other clear indicators that the concept is being executed as envisioned.

Participants should be able to commit approximately five hours per week to the virtual program, which runs from November 1 to April 30. All participants must also be able to attend the final in-person pitch event in Chicago, IL, during the week of May 2–6, 2026.

We will evaluate submissions with the following criteria in mind:

• Strategic relevance: The innovation should address a meaningful opportunity in gastroenterology or hepatology, targeting a significant unmet need.
• Stage of development: Applicants should demonstrate sufficient progress beyond the idea stage, with evidence that the solution is on a viable development path.
• Differentiation and defensibility: Solutions should be clearly differentiated within the competitive landscape.
• Regulatory and business viability: A clear and achievable regulatory pathway—ideally FDA—and a credible path to market are expected.
• Team strength: Founders and teams should bring relevant expertise and be supported by key opinion leaders or advisors where applicable.
• Market and return potential: The opportunity should demonstrate potential for scale, a compelling business model and a reasonable likelihood of generating a meaningful return on investment (e.g., 3x or more).
• Execution readiness: Applicants should have access to capital—or a clear strategy to secure it—to support continued development and growth through the next milestone or financing event.
• Strategic interest: Strong alignment with the interests of potential co-investors, partners or stakeholders in the GI innovation space will be considered a plus.

Applications will be open from August 5, 2025, until September 21, 2025, at 11:59 pm CT. By October 17, 2025, MATTER will select and notify 10 finalists to participate in the six-month accelerator followed by the final event in early May 2026, during Digestive Disease Week^®.

See the full Terms and Conditions.

1. “Digestive Diseases Statistics for the United States,” National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
2. “Burden and Cost of Gastrointestinal, Liver, and Pancreatic Diseases in the United States,” National Library of Medicine, 2022
3. “Burden of Digestive Diseases in the United States Population: Rates and Trends,” The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2024
4. “Burden of Digestive Diseases in the United States Population: Rates and Trends,” The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2024

The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, AGA represents members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice, and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research, and educational programs of the organization.

At MATTER, we believe collaboration is the best way to improve healthcare. The MATTER collaborative includes more than 1,000 current and alumni startups from around the world, working together with dozens of hospitals and health systems, universities and industry-leading companies to build the future of healthcare. Together we are accelerating innovation, advancing care and improving lives. For more information, visit matter.health and follow @MATTERhealth.