Application Information
2026 Cycle Application Information
Applications for the 2026 cycle closed on September 25 and review is underway. The next cycle opens Fall 2027.
2026 Selection Timeline
- September 1–25: Applications open
- October–November: Application review
- November 11: All applicants notified of initial decision; advancing teams invited to PitchFest
- December 3: PitchFest
- January 2027: Awardees announced
How Applications Are Reviewed
Applications are reviewed by Yale Ventures staff and our Entrepreneurs-in-Residence network. Reviewers look at the science or technology together with your application responses. Deck requirements are intentionally light, so no application is measured against a fixed format. Each application is scored by multiple reviewers, and those scores inform a group discussion that decides which teams present at PitchFest.
Why Customer Discovery Matters
At this stage, conversations with potential customers sharpen a venture faster than anything else. They show whether the problem is urgent enough to pay for, who holds the budget, and what would need to be true for someone to adopt your solution. That work shapes everything that follows, from how you frame the opportunity to how you would use funding. Learn more about customer discovery at Yale Ventures.
PitchFest
Advancing teams present at PitchFest on December 3, 2026. Format and timing details are shared with the November notification.
Office Hours
Office hours are open through November 6. Book a time here. Booking runs through Microsoft Teams; sign in with your Yale login or continue as a guest. Bring questions about the process, extra context on your work, or anything you’re stuck on. We can’t share the status of individual applications.
Visit the FAQs to learn more.
Focus Areas
Domains
AI/ML-Enabled Tools
Diagnostics
Digital Health
Medical Devices
Wellness
Target Markets
Biotech and Pharma
Consumers and Patients
Hospitals and Health Systems
Payers and Providers
Key Features
Receive up to $100k in non-dilutive grants to advance high-potential healthtech solutions from the lab toward commercialization.
Work closely with domain-specific Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs) and industry experts to refine your technology, market strategy, and go-to-market plan.
Access tailored coaching in IP strategy, regulatory pathways, product development, and customer discovery—designed specifically for Yale faculty innovators.
Connect with a global network of investors, corporate partners, and public sector stakeholders through pitch events and curated introductions.
Collaborate with a select cohort of graduate and undergraduate students who bring analytical, technical, and business skills to help accelerate your venture.
Contact
Kenzie Mucci
Director, HealthTech Works
kenzie.mucci@yale.edu
