MATTER Top Five: Our most popular stories of 2024

2024 was a year of significant milestones for MATTER. From partnering with Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and relocating our offices to forging new collaborations and launching innovative programs, we remained steadfast in advancing healthcare innovation. Staying true to our mission, throughout the year, we also prioritized promoting health equity and supporting the successes of our community.

Join us as we reflect on 2024 through some of our most popular stories.

Five: SMILE Health 2024: CareQuest Innovation Partners and MATTER Announce Largest Cohort of Startups to Date for Oral Health Accelerator Program

CareQuest Innovation Partners, a company focused on validating and scaling transformative solutions to improve overall health through oral health for all, in partnership with MATTER selected six emerging startups to participate in the third year of the SMILE Health accelerator – the largest cohort in the program’s history.

“As our largest and most diverse cohort in the history of SMILE Health, this year’s innovative startups, together with our industry-leading partners, are redefining how we care for the whole person, inclusive of their oral health and igniting the health innovation ecosystem to drive better health outcomes for all,” said Katie D’Amico, vice president of growth & innovation at CareQuest Innovation Partners.

Read the full story here.

Four: Alzheimer’s Association and MATTER select five finalists for second annual pitch competition

The Alzheimer’s Association, the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research, and MATTER chose five finalists for the second annual Alzheimer’s Association Pitch Competition. Finalists focused on solutions that increase access to quality, person-centered care for people living with Alzheimer’s disease in underserved communities.

Read the full story here.

Three: MATTER Selected to Lead the Digital Health Accelerator in the Next Generation of the BARDA Accelerator Network

In late 2024, MATTER was selected by the BARDA as the Digital Health Accelerator for the BARDA Accelerator Network Hub for Digital Health. BARDA, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, is responsible for ensuring the nation has emergency medical countermeasures necessary to respond to health security threats.

“We are honored that BARDA selected MATTER to support BARDA’s efforts to advance digital health entrepreneurship needed for emergency preparedness,” said Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER. “MATTER has a ten-year track record of finding great entrepreneurs, accelerating their trajectories and validating their solutions, and we look forward to harnessing our capabilities to help our country prepare for future health security threats.”

Read the full story here.

“The eye is a window into full-body health and new technology-driven shifts are underscoring the role that vision care plays in a person’s ability to be and stay healthy,” Chandra Johnson-Greene, senior content specialist at VSP Vision’s Global Innovation Center, wrote in 2024’s second most popular story. Johnson-Greene goes on to share insights on the healthcare industry’s latest vision trends, including new screening modalities and generative artificial intelligence in eye care.

Read the full story here.

One: MATTER announces second 51 labs cohort

MATTER, alongside Health Care Service Corporation, Laerdal Million Lives Fund, BayCare, Parkview Health, University of Chicago Medicine, Organon and Stryker, selected 10 startups for the second cohort of 51 Labs focused on preventing maternal mortality in the U.S. before, during and after birth. The cohort participated in a virtual, 12-week accelerator featuring one-on-one mentoring with industry experts, workshops, interactive roundtable discussions, forums and more. The program culminated in a live showcase bolstered by perspectives throughout the women’s health community.

Read the full story here or watch the showcase below.

About MATTER
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.