TMCx: What we are doing differently
The Texas Medical Center Innovation team recently announced that we have redesigned our TMCx accelerator program to focus on engagements between startup companies and our member institutions.
We would like to take this opportunity to share what we are doing differently in 2020 and beyond and why our program is unique in the world.
The Texas Medical Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of health, education, and research. Over the last 60+ years, we have brought together dozens of non-profit hospitals and research institutions that share this mission. These members are some of the most well recognized healthcare providers in the world. We at the Texas Medical Center drive initiatives that support each of our members and collaborative efforts among them. TMC Innovation is one such initiative that is centered around building a healthcare innovation community in the heart of the world’s largest medical center.
TMCx has been the flagship program of the TMC Innovation Institute since it was founded 5 years ago. The accelerator provides a pathway to support local technologies and innovators coming from the member institutions and to bring technologies from around the world to our TMC member institutions. Our alumni companies have continued to provide impact to our members, as well as grow and scale beyond Houston. We’ve grown too, attracting later stage and more international companies and working more closely with our clinical partners.
TMCx is special because:
1. We support 21 different clinical institutions
2. We are a no cost accelerator that does not take equity
3. We have an incredible team with backgrounds spanning healthcare, research, startups, and corporate organizations. We provide a concierge service where our team is dedicated to supporting your relationship development with our TMC member institutions.
For anyone who is already familiar with our program, here are the ways TMCx will be different in 2020:
Themes are directing the cohorts, not technology
Medical device, digital health, and all combinations thereof are welcome to apply to our TMCx program. Each cohort will focus on different clinical themes instead of technology.
Our member institutions will be more directly involved in the selection process
Every company selected to join TMCx will have already met with our clinical partners and other key stakeholders in our community. Therefore, the potential fit with the company’s key customers will have been preliminarily evaluated prior to the company joining our program.
Curriculum will not be a cornerstone of the program
We are significantly reducing the amount of time companies are expected to spend in a classroom in Houston. The 3 days per month in Houston will be focused on engagements with our clinical partners and customized meetings with business advisors
Applicants will be expected to have proof of concept preclinical or clinical data before entering the program
Our focus is to help companies that already have some proof-of-concept to expand their partners and potential customers. We are not the right fit for companies to validate their unmet clinical need or to do their first round of customer discovery.
Flexibility expands opportunities for all
By 2021, there will be 3 intake cycles. These enable companies to join us when the time is right. The bootcamp periods are also an opportunity for our corporate, investment, business, and government entities to engage with this community.
To apply to our next TMCx accelerator, visit us at tmc.edu/innovation/apply/
