The Greater Baltimore Committee announced that the University of Maryland Medical System, the University of Maryland Baltimore and MedStar Health have joined CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and Johns Hopkins as anchor collaborators for Techstars AI Health Baltimore, marking the first time the institutions have aligned within a single accelerator collaboration.
The expanded partnership brings together the region’s largest health systems, payer and academic research institutions into a unified platform aimed at supporting early-stage startups building AI-driven healthcare solutions. Through the collaboration, founders gain access to varied clinical settings, operational structures, and commercialization pathways across multiple healthcare environments.
Techstars AI Health Baltimore serves as the organization’s flagship healthcare accelerator, drawing on Baltimore’s dense network of hospitals, research institutions, and healthcare talent. The program runs two 13-week cohorts each year and supports startups developing solutions spanning care delivery, clinical operations, revenue cycle, patient engagement and population health. The next cohort is scheduled to begin March 10.
As anchor collaborators, UMMS, UMB, MedStar Health, CareFirst, and Johns Hopkins will work directly with participating startups, providing insights into clinical workflows, payer dynamics, research translation, and system-level implementation to help companies validate value propositions and accelerate adoption.
The 13-week accelerator will culminate in a Demo Day event in June at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, where founders will present their healthcare innovations to investors, healthcare executives, and members of the broader innovation community. The public event will feature guest speakers, live startup pitches, and networking opportunities.
The accelerator builds on ongoing civic and philanthropic investment in Baltimore’s innovation ecosystem, positioning the region as a national proving ground for healthcare and artificial intelligence. Additional details about Demo Day are expected in the coming months.
KEY QUOTES
“This is a milestone moment for Baltimore’s innovation economy. Our region’s major health systems, payer and academic leader are aligned around a single accelerator to help founders turn promising ideas into scalable solutions, strengthening healthcare delivery and Baltimore’s long-term economic competitiveness.”
Mark Anthony Thomas, President And CEO, Greater Baltimore Committee
“From a founder’s perspective, this is significant. This is the first time these institutions have all come together in this way, giving founders access to a range of systems, perspectives and opportunities. That diversity of access and options is a meaningful advantage for companies building in healthcare.”
Nick Culbertson, Managing Director, Techstars AI Health Baltimore
“Johns Hopkins believes that health innovations emerge when leading clinical institutions engage directly with entrepreneurs who are solving real-world problems. By expanding this collaboration, we are strengthening an ecosystem where new ideas can mature into practical solutions for patients and providers. We are proud to help cultivate a Baltimore-based innovation community that accelerates progress in healthcare.”
Kevin Sowers, President, Johns Hopkins Health System And Executive Vice President, Johns Hopkins Medicine
“Healthcare AI only matters if it improves outcomes for patients and providers across every care setting, team and operational model. With the state’s four largest healthcare organizations focused on how we use AI to advance health, the Techstars accelerator helps us build solutions that improve care and affordability at scale and take bold steps toward redefining the healthcare experience in Maryland.”
Ricardo Johnson, Executive Vice President, CareFirst
“UMMS is proud to join this initiative at a time when collaboration is essential to advancing healthcare innovation. Working together through Techstars allows us to support founders developing solutions that improve patient outcomes while reinforcing Baltimore’s leadership in healthcare and life sciences.”
Mohan Suntha, President And CEO, University Of Maryland Medical System; Board Chair, Greater Baltimore Committee
“MedStar Health is honored to come together with the breadth of Baltimore’s healthcare ecosystem to help shape the future of our industry. Techstars’ accelerator creates opportunities to collaborate with innovators developing compelling, scalable solutions to improve care delivery and operational performance.”
Bradley S. Chambers, Senior Vice President And Chief Operating Officer, Baltimore Region, MedStar Health
