Five Innovative Healthcare Startups Selected for Inaugural gBETA Charlotte Health Accelerator
The program will be hosted at The Pearl, Advocate Health’s new innovation district
CHARLOTTE, NC (April 2, 2026) – Five health care startups have been selected for the inaugural cohort of gBETA Charlotte Health, a new initiative powered by the City of Charlotte in partnership with gener8tor and Advocate Health.
The five early-stage startups, chosen from a pool of over 50 applications, were first announced during Health Innovation Day at The Pearl – Advocate Health’s globally leading innovation district – on April 1. The companies are:
9+1AI is transforming the most common cardiac test with AI, making the heart's hidden signals actionable for every clinician and patient. Conner McCraw, CEO
Casandra.ai is building a platform that streamlines access to diagnostic testing by helping providers navigate fragmented lab data, ensuring every patient receives the right test. David Brooks, CEO
Inolyt is developing next-generation antimicrobial solutions to combat antibiotic resistance with safer alternatives for healthcare and consumer applications. Margaret Kocherga, CEO
Pump For Joy is reimagining maternal health with compostable, single-use breast pump components designed to improve hygiene and convenience for new parents. Erin Devine Martin, CEO
SKG Lifesciences is developing a bioelectrically enabled smart bandage using algae-based biomaterials to accelerate healing for diabetic ulcers and reduce amputations. Gregory Roberts, CEO
“Congratulations to the five health startups chosen for the region’s first-ever health innovation pre-accelerator program,” said Shahid Rana, director of Charlotte Economic Development. “We’re excited to host this cohort at The Pearl, home of Charlotte’s new medical school, and even more energized by the innovative ideas emerging from this cohort, ideas that have the potential to significantly improve quality of life across our community.”
Over the next seven weeks, the founders will receive intensive concierge coaching and access to a national network of mentors, customers, corporate partners and investors.
The companies will work out of Connect Labs Charlotte, which is located at The Pearl and managed by Wexford Science & Technology. This location places startups in close proximity to health care institutions, research organizations and industry leaders across Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and the broader region.
“The momentum building across Charlotte’s health care innovation ecosystem is clear, and this inaugural cohort is an important step in activating The Pearl as a hub for innovation,” said Dr. Rasu Shrestha, EVP and chief innovation & commercialization officer at Advocate Health. “Through this program, we are creating a platform for early-stage companies to connect with clinical and industry expertise, explore opportunities for collaboration and help shape a growing pipeline of innovation, partnerships and future opportunities for the region.”
The cohort will run through May, with the startup founders pitching their companies to investors, community partners and the public at a showcase event at 5 p.m. on May 28 at The Pearl. RSVP for the gBETA Charlotte Health Showcase here,
“We’ve seen applications come in across digital health, clinical technology, infrastructure and beyond, which speaks to how broad and dynamic this ecosystem has become,” said Amory Lenarz, program manager for gBETA Charlotte Health. “Each company was selected for its strong potential, meaningful impact and investor readiness, and the volume and quality of applicants made that selection process highly competitive. As the program gets underway, we’re excited to engage the broader community through our lunch and learns and other programming and invite others to plug in and be part of what these founders are building.”
This is the third cohort of gBETA Charlotte. Since it launched in 2024, and the program has supported 10 companies that have raised $2.2 million and created 69 jobs.
Startup companies and founders interested in learning more about gBETA’s programming and resources or applying to a future program can visit the gener8tor gBETA Charlotte Health website, or reach out to Amory Lenarz at amory@gener8tor.com. Those interested in mentoring these companies or getting involved in other ways are also encouraged to connect.
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.
About gBETA
gBETA is a non-equity accelerator that facilitates the growth of early-stage companies through a network-driven program. This accelerator supports five startups per cohort and requires no fees for startups and takes no equity. Since launching in 2015, gBETA accelerator alumni have raised more than $1B+ in capital and created more than 6,900 jobs across the U.S. and internationally.