🏳️‍🌈 This #PrideMonth, we’re sharing a few podcasts, articles, films, and creators we’ve been learning from lately. 👉 Swipe through for the resources! 🔖 Links below

🔋⚡ Meet the startups pushing energy innovation forward. We’re proud to introduce the 14 seed-stage startups selected for the 2026 Aspire Climatetech cohort! 🔌 See the solutions they’re building → bit.ly/3Rx3zkU

Meet the 2026 Stage 0 Ocean Enterprise Accelerator cohort—21 bluetech startups taking their first steps to bring new technologies to the blue economy. We’re proud to welcome them to the VentureWell network and support them along their journey → bit.ly/42jvff5

To kick off National Inventors’ Month, The Lemelson Foundation’s Executive Director Robert Schneider & VentureWell’s CEO Phil Weilerstein reflect on what’s needed to create more inclusive pathways to invention and support the next generation of problem solvers. Read more: bit.ly/4eQosAY

An eye implant to reverse blindness may sound like sci-fi—but it’s closer than you think. With support from the NIH’s Blueprint MedTech Incubator Hubs Program, innovators are turning it into reality. See how we help bring bold visions to life → bit.ly/4uavxAH

Your big ideas deserve protection, and IP management shouldn’t be a barrier. VentureWell Senior Program Officer Megan Aanstoos breaks down what founders need to know to navigate the complexities of intellectual property in a global context. Set your innovation up for success → bit.ly/4vQkIW2

⛵ Ready to set sail! We’re thrilled to introduce our Spring 2026 Ocean Entrepreneurship Accelerator Stage 1 cohort: 15 startups developing innovative solutions to advance the blue economy. Meet the teams → bit.ly/4sxvgGI

We’re excited to welcome 26 student teams to the 2026 Spring E-Team cohort. From healthcare to infrastructure and beyond, these innovators are using science and technology to address unmet challenges across sectors. 👋🏾 Meet the teams → https://bit.ly/48tkhXG

We’re grateful for @markey.senate.gov's efforts to advance legislation to reauthorize SBIR and STTR programs. Our CEO and President, Phil Weilerstein, joined Senator Markey and others in the small business innovation community in urging the protection of these programs. Read the full story:

Our CEO and President, Phil Weilerstein, sat down with bioengineering and medtech innovation experts to discuss how to prepare the next generation of innovators for a healthcare landscape increasingly influenced by AI. Read the takeaways → bit.ly/3OLzXia

On the latest episode of VentureWell Voices, we sat down with Elise Strobach [pictured left], co-founder and CEO of AeroShield Materials, to share the story behind a transparent aerogel designed to improve the efficiency of double-pane windows by up to 65%. Tune in → bit.ly/4gWpyKp

As Black History Month comes to a close, we’re recognizing Dr. Anne Maghas [pictured left]—a serial entrepreneur, co-founder of Milestone Growth Capital Institute, and mentor for our Aspire program. See how Anne is helping reshape the innovation ecosystem → bit.ly/3Xal6iE

📣BME faculty—tell your undergrad students about the #DEBUT2026 #biomedical design challenge with prizes up to $20K. 🚨 Applications close on June 5: bit.ly/49Aslao

Launch your entrepreneurial journey with our E-Team Program, designed to help students bring their bold ideas to life with: 💰 Up to $25K in non-dilutive grant funding 🤝🏾 Expert training & mentorship 🌐 A powerful network to grow your venture Apply by April 28 → bit.ly/3M39mMG

Caretaker Medical's VitalStream monitors postpartum patients, flagging risks like hypotension, hemorrhage, and sepsis—complications often missed. Meet the other teams we’ve supported through The National Institutes of Health Maternal Health Challenge. → bit.ly/4rdHmox

In partnership with HIGHWAY Ventures, we’ve selected three companies advancing AI-enabled solutions for the next stage of our FLIPspace program, which helps founders validate market demand, refine their value proposition, and accelerate toward deployment. Meet the teams → bit.ly/4kPMrBu

⚓️ Still tying up loose ends? Good news! You’ve got a little more time! Applications for Stage 1 of our Ocean Enterprise Accelerator are now due February 18 → bit.ly/48mY91G

⛴️ From early ripples to deeper waters, Stage 2 of Ocean Enterprise Accelerator has officially set sail. We’ve selected 15 teams to move into the next phase, where they’ll position their ventures for long-term growth. 🌊 Meet the teams → bit.ly/3Mq7YDL

Have a game-changing idea that could solve real-world healthcare challenges? 💉🩺 Undergrad biomedical students can compete for up to $190K in prizes through the #DEBUT2026 Challenge. 🗓️ Apply by June 5 → bit.ly/49Aslao

In the latest episode of VentureWell Voices, Véronique Peiffer, biotech founder and author of “The Scrappy Entrepreneur," reflects on her entrepreneurial journey and shares lessons that don’t always make it into the playbook. 🎧 Tune in → bit.ly/4gWpyKp

We’re proud to join the Moonshots for Development (M4D) global alliance to launch the Open Innovation Challenge, calling on early-stage teams tackling urgent challenges for smallholder farmers. $1M in total grants! Learn more → bit.ly/4qU6JvP

Innovation won’t wait. Neither should we. ⏩ We break down the forces reshaping science- and technology-driven innovation—and what it takes to thrive as the landscape shifts. Five trends setting the direction → bit.ly/3Z2XUU6

Have a game-changing idea that could solve real-world healthcare challenges? 💉🩺 Undergrad biomedical students can compete for up to $190K in prizes through the #DEBUT2026 Challenge. Apply by June 5 → bit.ly/49Aslao

🌍 Building a climate tech startup and want to raise capital without giving away more equity than you should? Apply for Aspire Climatetech, a five-week hybrid program that helps founders get investor-ready. Applications close April 8 → bit.ly/49muw0Z

Maternity care shouldn’t depend on your ZIP code. Yet across the United States, entire counties lack birthing facilities or obstetric clinicians. This #MaternalHealthAwarenessDay, learn how innovators in the NIH RADx Maternal Health Challenge are helping bridge the gaps in care → bit.ly/4rdHmox

2025 reminded us that real progress doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s the steady, collective work of an entire community moving ideas forward, together. Explore the stories and milestones that defined the year → bit.ly/4qhT2pV

New investments are driving momentum in women’s health—but it isn’t enough. We work alongside innovators to refine their stories, sharpen their strategies, and prepare for investor conversations, helping promising solutions move from lab to market 👇 See how we help close the gap.

For more than 30 years, VentureWell has supported innovation leaders at pivotal moments. To mark our 30th Anniversary, we’re sharing 30 innovator spotlights that highlight the lasting impact of our network. Meet 30 innovators who’ve shaped #30YearsofImpact → bit.ly/4akF0yP

We’re excited to celebrate 32 VentureWell program alumni named to the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 list! 🌟 Meet the founders driving the next wave of innovation → https://bit.ly/4prcss4

We’ve helped more than 230 women’s health innovators speed up their path to market. If that sounds like a lot, that’s because it is. ⚡ Explore how we build investor readiness, expand networks, and manage awards with impact → bit.ly/4rN563E

Ready to make waves in the blue economy? Stage 1 of our Ocean Enterprise Accelerator equips early-stage ventures with: 👥 1:1 mentorship 📝 Industry-specific training 🌐 In-person three-day workshop 💸 $15K to advance your bluetech innovation Apply by February 12 → bit.ly/48mY91G

💭 Ever wonder if your tech might actually be meant for another industry? In this month’s VentureWell Voices episode, Adam Stager, co-founder and CEO of TRIC Robotics, shares how his team shifted from SWAT teams to strawberries 🍓🤖. Listen here → bit.ly/4gWpyKp

We’re excited to partner with @jhu.edu to offer a three-month program that helps early-stage neurotech ventures advance their innovation to market through tailored training and expert mentorship. 🗓️ Applications accepted on a rolling basis until Dec. 12. neurotechharbor.org/early-entrep...

For many students, the classroom is where their innovation journey begins. So, we asked higher ed leaders in our network to share the activities they use to spark creative thinking and problem-solving. 🔖 Bookmark these classroom-ready ideas→ bit.ly/49iEYXH

How it started: An idea to power student entrepreneurs to bring their game-changing solutions to life. How it’s going: A global network of changemakers fueling the future of innovation. From spark to scale, our story continues…Check out the highlights → bit.ly/4nrDJt8

Have a groundbreaking idea? Let’s make it a reality! Our E-Team Program helps students take their ventures to the next level with: 💰 Up to $25K in funding 🤝🏾 Expert training & mentorship 🌐 Access to a powerful network Apply for our Spring E-Team Program by January 27 → https://bit.ly/4qp7vRr

🎉 Congratulations to I-Corps™ alumni company JuneBrain on winning first place and the Fan Favorite award at The New Orleans BioInnovation Center 2025 BioChallenge Competition. Learn how they’re translating lab insights to real-world impact → neworleansbio.com/junebrain-na...

We’re honored to be featured on the cover of this month’s Inventors Digest. For 30 years, we’ve championed inventors who bring innovative solutions to life, and we’re proud to see their impact highlighted in this story. Read the issue → inventorsdigest.com

👁️ Reversing blindness isn’t science fiction. It’s happening now, and Katie Solley and her team at Eyedea Medical are leading the way. In this episode of VentureWell Voices, Katie shares how her team is transforming corneal surgery to make treatment more accessible worldwide. → bit.ly/4gWpyKp

Scaling your #healthtech innovation? 🗒️ Start here → bit.ly/42plmwY

“What if joints could heal themselves? What if we could deliver advanced hospital-level care to every rural county in America?” VentureWell VP @mark-marino.bsky.social is driven by questions like these—and by the partnerships that turn them into real-world impact. hub.jhu.edu/magazine/202...

💭 Think intellectual property (IP) is too complicated or out of reach? 🧠 Think again! In honor of #IPMonth, we’re resharing our list of free IP resources that will help you protect your ideas with confidence → bit.ly/4jOITgW

Looking for fresh insights on science and tech innovation? Look no further! We curated a list of eight of our favorite podcasts 🎧 From deep tech to impact investing to inclusive leadership, these podcasts offer something for everyone. 🔗 Read our full write-up → bit.ly/41SJojG

How can universities more effectively turn research into real-world impact? At the NAI Annual Conference, our CEO Phil Weilerstein & AUTM CEO Steve Susalka co-facilitated a listening session that revealed promising trends and opportunities to strengthen the innovation pipeline: bit.ly/46x1la4

Take your #HealthTech venture to the next level with five must-know tips from VentureWell-supported innovators. Grab your notepad → bit.ly/42plmwY Photo Credits: Digital Healthcare Innovation Summit

Our brand-new podcast, VentureWell Voices, is here! In the first episode, Micah Ulrich, CEO of Flux Hybrids, shares his journey from a prototype built in a parking lot to a 5,000-square-foot facility. Tune in for insights on navigating setbacks and building confidence as a founder: bit.ly/4gWpyKp

So what’s holding innovation back, and what’s helping move it forward in higher ed? Our CEO Phil Weilerstein shares takeaways from a listening session hosted with Steve Susalka, CEO of AUTM, at the 2025 NAI Annual Meeting → bit.ly/46x1la4

✨From bold ideas to thriving ventures, we’ve spent three decades helping innovators turn the impossible into possible. CEO Phil Weilerstein reflects on the moments that shaped our journey and shares the path forward → https://bit.ly/48vpRd1 #VentureWell30 #30YearsofInnovation

👏🏼 Big congrats to E-Team alums Mayela Fernandez, cofounder & CEO of Ecoplasticity, and Serena Allen, founder and CEO of AirVitalize Innovation, for receiving the Walking Softer Young Leaders Award! 💫 We can’t wait to see what’s ahead!

Please join us in welcoming VentureWell to #SOCAP25 as one of this year's mission-aligned Catalyst partners! ⭐️ @venturewell.bsky.social supports the cultivation of science and technology inventors and the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems critical to their success.