City of Charlotte, Advocate Health Expand gBETA Charlotte with New Health-Focused Cohort at The Pearl

CHARLOTTE, NC — Charlotte Economic Development, in partnership with Advocate Health, is launching gBETA Charlotte Health, a health innovation-focused cohort of its successful pre-accelerator program designed to support early-stage startups advancing health care and digital health solutions. 

Operated by gener8tor and funded by the City of Charlotte, gBETA Charlotte Health is a continuation of the existing gBETA Charlotte, which launched in 2024. The program has had 10 companies graduate, raising $2.2 million in capital and creating 69 jobs.  

gBETA Charlotte Health will be hosted at The Pearl, Advocate Health’s globally leading innovation district. The program is now recruiting early-stage startups and will kick off on April 2. 

“We’re pleased to partner with Advocate Health to offer our region’s first-ever health innovation pre-accelerator program,” said Shahid Rana, director of Charlotte Economic Development. “Partnering with one of the nation’s largest health systems will provide gBETA Charlotte Health founders with access to mentorship, capital and resources needed to scale — further positioning Charlotte as a destination for health innovation.” 

During the seven-week program, participating founders will work from Connect Labs Charlotte, which is located at The Pearl and managed by Wexford Science & Technology. The startups will gain access to labs, flexible workspace, meeting rooms, event space and shared innovation infrastructure. Its location at The Pearl places startups in close proximity to health care institutions, research organizations and industry leaders across Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and the broader region.

“By hosting gBETA Charlotte Health at The Pearl – and more specifically within Connect Labs Charlotte – founders will be immersed within a vibrant, one-of-its-kind ecosystem that sits at the crossroads of world-leading research, academic excellence and enduring community impact,” said Dr. Rasu Shrestha, chief innovation and commercialization officer for Advocate Health. “Through access to clinical insight, industry expertise and a collaborative innovation environment, we’re excited to support entrepreneurs working to improve health care outcomes both locally and beyond.”

gBETA Charlotte Health is designed to help early-stage founders build healthcare and digital health innovations, gain traction, refine their business models, and prepare for future equity-based accelerators and investment opportunities. The program is a free, seven-week, no-equity accelerator that provides hands-on coaching, concierge programming, and access to a broad network of mentors, customers, and investors.

Program Eligiblity
gBETA Charlotte Health is open to founders and early-stage, pre-seed companies with high growth and high impact potential. Ideal applicants are building scalable healthcare and digital health solutions across areas such as care delivery, life sciences, consumer and community health, food and nutrition, and health-promoting sustainability. Mecklenburg County–based founders as well as founders intending to establish a presence in Charlotte. 

“Partnerships with organizations like the City of Charlotte and Advocate Health amplify gener8tor’s ability to drive meaningful change in a community and beyond,” said Vanessa Huerta, Partner and VP of gBETA at gener8tor. “By working together, we’ll empower local healthcare founders with the mentorship and business-building tools they need to accelerate innovation and scale their impact.”

Developed through a visionary public-private partnership led by Advocate Health and Wexford Science & Technology, The Pearl unites cutting-edge medical education, research and technology to drive collaboration and economic growth. Anchored by the Charlotte campus of Wake Forest University School of Medicine – the city’s first four-year medical school – and IRCAD North America, a global leader in surgical training, The Pearl is positioned as a global destination for medical advancement.

Over the next 15 years, The Pearl is projected to generate more than 5,500 on-site jobs and over 11,500 jobs regionally, serving as a catalyst for opportunity and inclusive growth. 

Information Session
Program partners will host an in-person information session, Inside the Accelerator: gBETA Charlotte Health, from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at The Pearl. The session will provide an overview of the program, feature perspectives from the City of Charlotte, Advocate Health and experienced founders, and offer networking opportunities for prospective founders and mentors. Registration for the event is available here.

Amory Lenarz will serve as program manager for gBETA Charlotte Health. Founders with questions or interest in applying are encouraged to reach out directly at  amory@gener8tor.com or visit the gBETA Charlotte Health website to apply online.

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About Charlotte Economic Development
Charlotte Economic Development is a full-service team dedicated to supporting local businesses, sparking innovation and promoting inclusive growth to build a vibrant, thriving community for everyone. Through strong partnerships, we attract and retain companies, drive equitable investment, and champion small business and entrepreneurial success across the City of Charlotte.

Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Health Care, Atrium Health and Aurora Health Care. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. Advocate Health is nationally recognized for its expertise in heart and vascular, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs more than 160,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to redefining care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

About gener8tor
gener8tor is a global venture firm and accelerator network that supports startups, workers, employers, artists and musicians across race, place and gender. gener8tor partners with companies, governments, universities and nonprofits to operate programs and conferences in more than 45 communities across 23 states and two countries. Fast Company named gener8tor one of the Best Workplaces for Innovators in 2021 and 2022. The International Trade Council recognized gener8tor as Global Venture Capital Firm of the Year in 2022.