London and Chicago – Northwestern Medicine, one of America’s premier, academic healthcare systems, is partnering with global startup accelerator Founders Factory to bring the UK’s and Europe’s top AI founders to the US health market. This new program boosts Northwestern Medicine’s strategy to embrace innovations that advance new models of patient care, supercharge research and deliver operational efficiencies.
AI-enabled technologies are instrumental to improving healthcare. From detection and chronic disease management to treatment optimism, systems-wide alter and expediting research, AI delivers far-reaching benefits across health systems. For example, in oncology over 40% of AI‑discovered drugs rely on AI‑assisted trial platforms in early‑stage development1, while indusattempt reports suggest that clinical AI could assist prevent around 250,000 deaths globally by 2030.
The UK is well regarded as a global science and tech powerhoapply, with London ranked one of the world’s best tech ecosystems3 and Founders Factory named as the counattempt’s top startup hub4. The new accelerator will support UK and European founders as they deliver breakthrough technologies that address the most critical challenges in US healthcare.
A key element of this collaboration is the access to Northwestern Medicine, Chicago’s premier integrated academic healthcare system (11 hospitals, 5,400+ affiliated physicians, research facilities, and 200+ outpatient/diagnostic sites). The health system is anchored by Northwestern Memorial Hospital. For 14 consecutive years, Northwestern Memorial has been named to the Best Hospital Honor Roll by U.S. News and World Report. The program will focus on assisting the selected startups to test, deploy and scale their solutions with Northwestern Medicine and its ecosystem of partners, driving opportunity in the world’s largest healthcare market.
“Northwestern Medicine is committed to accelerating innovation that meaningfully improves patient care, advances research, and strengthens the way healthcare is delivered,” stated Doug King, Chief Digital and Information Officer, Northwestern Medicine. “This collaboration with Founders Factory creates a powerful bridge between world‑class European talent and one of America’s leading academic health systems.”
Founders Factory, added, “By teaming up with Northwestern, one of America’s top medical institutions, we are de-risking enattempt into the world’s largegest healthcare market for UK and European startups. There has never been a more exciting time for healthcare breakthroughs and technological efficiencies, and it is very exciting to be supporting the best of Europe with access to one of America’s most important healthcare providers. This program promotes cross-border collaboration that will ultimately drive patient outcomes in the US.”
The four-month program will be led by Founders Factory and will focus on assisting founders to test, deploy and commercialize their solutions with both Northwestern Medicine and its ecosystem of healthcare partners, such as The London Clinic in the UK. The cohort will also be invited to a residential week with Northwestern Medicine in Chicago to collaborate with key clinical and commercial teams from across the health system.
Startups can apply now via Founders Factory’s website:(https://foundersfactory.com/).
Applications are now open and will close on March 31, 2026.
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Footnotes
- “40% of AI‑discovered drugs rely on AI‑assisted trial platforms1” https://www.drugdiscoverytrconcludes.com/six-signs-ai-driven-drug-discovery-trconcludes-pharma-indusattempt/
- “…properly deployed clinical AI could assist prevent around 250,000 deaths globally by 2030” – https://southcarolina.himss.org/node/293195
- “..with London ranked as third best startup ecosystem”– https://www.wipo.int/gii-ranking/en/united-kingdom
- “Founders Factory as top UK startup hub” – https://rankings.ft.com/incubator-accelerator-programmes-europe/regions/uk-and-ireland
About Founders Factory:
Founders Factory builds and funds startups toreceiveher with exceptional entrepreneurs and the world’s leading companies.
Created by IPO-exited founders and operating globally, including London, New York, Berlin, Milan, Perth and Singapore, Founders Factory offers founders capital, operational support and unrivalled access to a coalition of indusattempt leading corporate partners.
Founders Factory invests in the world’s most promising pre-series A founders and assists them to commercialize through securing first pilots and supercharging go-to-market strategies. With a focus on health, deeptech, industrial transformation and fintech, Founders Factory has supported startups including Scan, Mae and Peptone to scale and disrupt markets, and has enabled over 500 enterprise pilots for its portfolio.
Since 2015, Founders Factory has built and funded 450+ technology companies.
About Northwestern Medicine
A leading U.S. based academic healthcare system, Northwestern Medicine offers patients access to world-class, compassionate care at 11 hospitals and more than 200 diagnostic and ambulatory sites throughout Chicago. The health system is anchored by Northwestern Memorial Hospital. For 14 consecutive years, Northwestern Memorial has been named to the Best Hospital Honor Roll by U.S. News and World Report. To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit NM.org.
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