Founded in 2005, Y Combinator is a California-based startup accelerator and early-stage venture capital firm. It provides funding, mentorship, and resources to early-stage companies across various industries, with a focus on technology, healthcare, and finance. The organization helps founders refine their business models and products through an intensive three-month program in Silicon Valley, culminating in Demo Day presentations to investors.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a leading biomedical research facility in the United States, operating under the Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1887 and based in Bethesda, Maryland, NIH is the primary agency responsible for biomedical and health-related research in the country. It comprises 27 separate institutes and centers, each focusing on different disciplines within biomedical science. NIH conducts its own scientific research through the Intramural Research Program and provides significant funding for research at external institutions via the Extramural Research Program. With a workforce that includes 1,200 principal investigators and over 4,000 postdoctoral fellows, NIH has been instrumental in major medical breakthroughs, such as the development of vaccines for hepatitis and human papillomavirus, as well as the discovery of treatments for various health conditions. As the world's largest source of medical research funding, NIH continues to advance scientific knowledge and contribute to public health improvements.

Techstars is a global platform that invests in and supports early-stage technology companies. Founded in 2006, it operates a mentorship-driven accelerator program, providing seed funding, intensive mentorship, and access to a network of investors and entrepreneurs. Techstars has programs in various locations worldwide, including Boston, Boulder, New York, Seattle, London, Chicago, and Austin. It invests $118,000 in each company, with $18,000 in seed funding and an optional $100,000 convertible debt note. Techstars also has industry-specific accelerator programs, such as Techstars Retail and Techstars Music, focusing on retail and music technology, respectively. Its portfolio includes over 1,000 companies with a combined market cap of $8.1 billion.

General Catalyst is a venture capital firm established in 2000, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with additional offices in North America and Europe. The company specializes in early-stage and growth equity investments, focusing on technology-driven businesses. It invests across various sectors, including consumer internet, enterprise software, fintech, health assurance, and crypto. General Catalyst provides not only capital but also mentorship and resources to accelerate the growth of its portfolio companies. To date, it has managed eight venture capital funds, totaling approximately $3.75 billion in capital commitments.

MassChallenge is a global startup accelerator supporting early-stage entrepreneurs across various industries. Founded in 2009, it provides mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities through its programs worldwide.

Google is a multinational technology company renowned for its search engine, offering services such as Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, and YouTube. It specializes in advertising solutions through Google Ads and mobile operating systems with Android, while actively innovating in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Alumni Ventures Group is a venture capital firm based in Manchester, New Hampshire, with offices across North America. It provides access to venture investing for individual accredited investors, particularly alumni networks, by offering diversified portfolios of venture opportunities and allowing members to invest alongside fellow alumni in ventures led by peers. The firm backs early-stage and later-stage opportunities across technology, consumer, healthcare, financial services, and other sectors, with a sector- and geography-agnostic approach. It typically invests between $10,000 and $3 million per deal and emphasizes the involvement of alumni connections and an institutional lead investor in opportunities. Alumni Ventures also offers focused funds to broaden participation, enabling accredited investors to access venture portfolios diversified by type, sector, stage, and geography. The model aims to democratize access to venture capital while maintaining rigorous selection standards through alumni networks.

Founded in 1989, OrbiMed is a New York-based healthcare-dedicated investment firm managing approximately $5 billion in assets. It invests across the spectrum of healthcare companies, from private start-ups to large multinational corporations, focusing on biopharmaceuticals, life sciences, digital health, medical devices, and diagnostics sectors globally.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency established in 1950 and based in Alexandria, Virginia. It is dedicated to supporting research and education in science and engineering across a wide range of disciplines. The NSF provides significant non-dilutive funding, up to $1.5 million, to startups and small businesses through its America's Seed Fund initiative, which is part of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program mandated by Congress. With an operating budget of approximately $7.8 billion, the NSF is committed to advancing fundamental research and education, thus fostering innovation and technological development in the United States.

SOSV, established in 1995 and headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, is a global venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments. It focuses on deep tech innovations in the health and environmental sectors, supporting founders with breakthrough technologies through its HAX and IndieBio startup development programs. SOSV provides resources, facilities, and lab equipment to accelerate product development and scale, with a track record of helping its portfolio companies secure subsequent funding rounds led by top-tier investors.

Fidelis Care, established in 1993, is a health insurance provider based in New York State that serves over 2.3 million members across various stages of life. With regional offices in New York City, Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo, along with more than 20 community offices, Fidelis Care emphasizes grassroots outreach to enhance community health. The company collaborates with local schools, healthcare providers, community agencies, and food pantries to deliver tailored care to its members. Fidelis Care offers a range of health coverage options, including Medicaid Managed Care, Qualified Health Plans, Child Health Plus, Essential Plan, Health and Recovery Plan, Managed Long Term Care, Medicaid Advantage Plus, and Wellcare by Fidelis Care.

Plug and Play Tech Center, established in 2006, is a global innovation platform that connects startups, investors, and corporations. Based in Sunnyvale, California, with operations in 22 locations worldwide, the company runs 12 industry-specific accelerator programs twice a year, fostering collaboration between major corporations and high-quality startups. These programs span sectors such as Fintech, Insurtech, IoT, Brand & Retail, Mobility, and Health & Wellness, among others. Plug and Play invests in seed, angel, and Series A rounds, with a focus on great teams leading emerging growth companies. Since inception, their startup community has raised over $9 billion in venture funding, with notable success stories including Dropbox, PayPal, and LendingClub.

Antler, established in 2017 and headquartered in Singapore, is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on investing in technology companies. It supports exceptional founders from day one, providing access to a global network of co-founders, talent, advisors, and expansion support, along with capital. Antler's funds, including Antler UK Fund and Antler India Fund, target various sectors such as information technology, climate tech, healthtech, software, energy services, and SaaS, with investments ranging from USD 0.2 to 0.4 million.

Founded in Boston in 2004, RA Capital is an investment firm specializing in life sciences and drug development. Its team, with backgrounds in biology, chemistry, medicine, and industry experience, invests in early-stage companies with promising technologies and products across healthcare and life science sectors.

Google for Startups is an initiative supporting global startups. It offers access to Google's products, connections, and best practices through a network of partners in over 135 countries. The program aims to help determined startups succeed.

New Enterprise Associates is a venture capital firm founded in 1977 and based in Menlo Park, California, with offices in the United States, India and China. It makes investments across technology and healthcare startups at multiple stages, from seed to growth, including software, cloud, data, internet services, fintech, AI, e-commerce, and enterprise technology, as well as healthcare information technology, life sciences, medical devices, and biopharma. It also considers energy technology and infrastructure opportunities, such as solar, batteries and smart grids. The firm pursues a global approach, with activity in the United States, Asia and other regions, and supports companies through rounds of financing ranging from small to sizable investments as they scale. NEA focuses on building portfolios in software, IT services, consumer technology, and healthcare technology, backing ambitious entrepreneurs across sectors and geographies.

Right Side Capital Management, established in 2010, is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that specializes in early-stage technology investments. It focuses on funding pre-seed rounds, making 75-100 investments annually in startups outside major tech hubs, with pre-money valuations typically ranging from $1M to $3M. The firm prefers capital-efficient businesses and aims to provide a swift investment decision, usually within two weeks. Since 2012, RSCM has invested in approximately 200 companies across 19 U.S. states and several international locations, including Canada, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, and Western Europe.

Khosla Impact, established in 2013, is an impact investment firm based in Menlo Park, California. It focuses on assisting high-impact entrepreneurs who develop products and services for the three billion people at the bottom of the world's economic pyramid. The firm invests in for-profit enterprises serving low-income individuals and small businesses in emerging markets, with a primary focus on South Asia. Khosla Impact encourages experimentation and supports entrepreneurs passionate about solving socio-economic challenges through technology and innovative business models.

Perceptive Advisors, established in 1999, is a New York-based investment management firm specializing in the life sciences sector. It invests in both private and public biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostics, and health services companies across their lifecycle, from seed and early-stage ventures to public equities. The firm employs a long/short equity strategy and conducts in-house research to identify promising opportunities. Perceptive Advisors also offers customized debt financing solutions through its Perceptive Credit Opportunities Fund.

Founded by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz in 2009, Andreessen Horowitz is a venture capital firm investing primarily in software businesses. It focuses on seed to late-stage investments across sectors such as consumer internet, enterprise software, fintech, healthcare, and cryptocurrency.

Duke Energy is a leading U.S. energy company providing electric and gas services to approximately 7.9 million customers across six states. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company owns and operates diverse power generation assets, including renewable energy sources, with a focus on sustainability and community vitality.

Founded in 2009 and based in New York City, BoxGroup is an early-stage investment fund focusing on pre-seed to Series A rounds. It invests globally, with a primary focus on New York City, Silicon Valley, and Los Angeles. The firm typically allocates between $50,000 and $250,000 per investment across various sectors including consumer, enterprise, fintech, healthcare, life science, marketplace, synthetic biology, and climate.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) is an insurance company headquartered in Richardson, Texas, that has been in operation since 1929. It specializes in providing health insurance services, along with property and casualty insurance products. As a subsidiary of the Health Care Service Corporation, BCBSTX is committed to delivering financially sound healthcare coverage to its members, focusing on the well-being and health needs of individuals and families across Texas. The company is dedicated to adapting its offerings to meet the evolving demands of the healthcare landscape.

Founded in 1993, Maverick Capital is a global investment firm with offices across New York, San Francisco, London, Hong Kong, Philadelphia, and Dallas. The firm primarily manages private investment funds for qualified investors, focusing on long/short hedged equity strategies to grow and preserve capital. Since its inception, Maverick has strategically invested in private companies with disruptive business models or technologies, actively partnering with portfolio teams to build businesses.

Enhanced Capital, established in 1999, is a New York-based investment firm managing over $400 million. It specializes in providing flexible equity and debt financing to small and mid-sized businesses, promoting their growth and expansion. The firm's investment approach is practical and tailored, aiming to maximize the growth potential of companies poised for rapid growth. Enhanced Capital also invests in renewable energy, historic real estate rehabilitation, and affordable housing projects, often leveraging federal and state incentive programs.

Founded in 2006, Qiming Venture Partners is a leading China-based venture capital firm with offices across China and Singapore. It manages multiple funds totaling $9.5 billion, focusing on early and growth-stage investments in the Technology and Consumer (T&C) and Healthcare industries.

Founded in 2011, StartUp Health is dedicated to improving global health through collaboration with entrepreneurs. It invests in 'Health Transformers' across six continents, focusing on various health moonshots such as Access to Care, Cure Disease, and Mental Health. With over 330 companies in its portfolio, it's backed by prominent investors.

Exact Sciences is a leading molecular diagnostics company specializing in colorectal cancer detection. It offers Cologuard, a non-invasive stool-based DNA screening test, which is recommended by major healthcare guidelines. The company also provides Oncotype DX, a suite of tissue-based genomic tests for breast and colon cancers.

Flare Capital Partners, established in 2013, is a Boston-based venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments in healthcare technology. The firm focuses on transformative technologies and services that enable value-based healthcare, with a particular interest in mobile solutions, big data analytics, and secure infrastructure. Flare Capital Partners invests across the United States, recognizing the widespread innovation in healthcare technology across the country.

Gaingels is a venture investment syndicate founded in 2014 and based in Burlington, Vermont, dedicated to supporting the LGBT+ community and its allies. The organization invests in companies led by LGBT+ founders and executives at all stages of development, as well as in established firms committed to enhancing their diversity and inclusivity. With a global portfolio comprising over 130 companies and $70 million in investment capital deployed, Gaingels plays a vital role in fostering an inclusive business environment. Additionally, the Gaingels network actively assists its portfolio companies in identifying and recruiting diverse talent for their leadership teams, while cultivating a vibrant community of industry leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs committed to driving positive social change through business initiatives.

Casdin Capital is a New York‑based investment firm founded in 2012 by Eli Casdin. The firm specializes in fundamental research and long‑short equity strategies focused on the life sciences and healthcare sectors, including oncology, digital health, and agtech. In addition to its public‑market fund, Casdin Capital invests in early‑stage to late‑stage private companies within these industries. It operates as a Registered Investment Adviser and, as of October 2020, managed approximately $2.2 billion in assets.

Foresite Capital is a San Francisco based, multi-stage healthcare and life sciences investment firm that also maintains a New York office. It employs a data-driven, scientifically informed approach to identify and fund startups and growth companies across therapeutics, biotechnology, life sciences infrastructure, and healthcare technology and services. The firm seeks ventures that combine biology and data science to address unmet medical needs and improve patient outcomes. It supports portfolio companies through a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, analysts, and clinicians who help evaluate business models and guide value creation. By investing across early to later stages, Foresite Capital aims to accelerate the development and deployment of breakthrough health solutions through rigorous analysis and strategic partnerships while focusing on long-term impact in healthcare.

Polaris Partners is a venture capital firm based in Boston with offices in Boston and San Francisco that invests across healthcare, life sciences, biotechnology, and technology sectors. The firm backs companies from early-stage to growth across the United States and Europe, with portfolios spanning digital health, patient-provider solutions, data science, genomics, therapeutics, software, and IT. Founded in 1996, Polaris Partners partners with repeat entrepreneurs to support ventures through multiple stages, helping them scale scientific and software-enabled businesses.

IndieBio is an accelerator that supports startups using biology to solve major problems, delivering four-month programs for companies and teams with ideas. Based in San Francisco with an office in New York, it focuses on life sciences, biotechnology and synthetic biology, investing in seed and early-stage ventures that place biology at the core of their technology across products, processes and software. The program favors teams with two or more co-founders and generally provides equity-based funding in the early stages, often combining direct investments with additional financing options. Founded in 2014, IndieBio operates within the SOSV accelerator network, a global platform that supports portfolio companies through mentorship, resources and cross-border programs.

Founded by Kevin Ryan, AlleyCorp is a startup studio and fund based in New York City. It originates ideas, forms founding teams, provides initial funding for 6-12 months, launches companies, and maintains leadership throughout their lifecycle. Notable companies founded include MongoDB, Business Insider, and Gilt Groupe. AlleyCorp also invests as the first seed investor in early-stage companies, with a focus on transformational ideas and supporting first-time founders.

Frist Cressey Ventures is a venture capital firm headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, focused on early- and growth-stage investments in healthcare and digital health technologies and services. It seeks opportunities that improve quality of care, system integration, patient outcomes, and population health, partnering with entrepreneurs to accelerate growth and translate viable solutions into practical healthcare improvements. The firm targets technology-enabled healthcare enterprises and service businesses with strong potential to advance care delivery and health outcomes, and it emphasizes value-added collaboration with portfolio companies.

CVS Health is a leading healthcare company offering pharmacy services, health insurance, and wellness solutions. With over 9,000 retail pharmacies nationwide, it provides prescription drug coverage and affordable healthcare access to millions of customers. CVS Health also operates as a top-tier health insurer serving approximately 27 million medical members through its subsidiary Aetna.

Everywhere Ventures is an early-stage venture fund founded in 2017, operating from New York. It invests globally in pre-seed deals, focusing on purpose-driven teams across money, health, and work verticals.

Town Hall Ventures is a New York–based venture capital firm founded in 2018 that backs healthcare technology companies across the United States. The firm focuses on early growth stages, typically Series A and Series B rounds, and partners with entrepreneurs to improve care delivery and health outcomes for underserved and high-need populations. It pursues investments in companies working to drive higher quality and more affordable care, aiming to transform the U.S. health care market by leveraging technology and innovative models. Town Hall emphasizes collaboration with founders to scale solutions that address systemic gaps in care and access, supporting ventures that can impact millions of lives.

Oak HC/FT is a venture and growth equity investment firm specializing in healthcare information services and financial technology. It supports portfolio companies with strategic counsel, board-level participation, and access to a broad network of industry leaders to drive transformation in these sectors. The firm, based in Stamford, Connecticut, operates within the Oak Investment Partners family, leveraging sector-specific expertise from Oak's healthcare and fintech teams to build and scale innovative businesses.

F-Prime Capital is a venture capital firm established in 1969 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with additional offices in San Francisco and London. It is part of the Fidelity Investments family, which has a long history of supporting entrepreneurs. F-Prime Capital focuses its investments on companies in North America and Europe, specializing in sectors such as healthcare, life sciences, therapeutics, fashion, medtech, health information technology and services, and technology. The firm emphasizes a hands-on approach, leveraging its deep industry expertise and extensive relationships to assist entrepreneurs in building significant companies. F-Prime Capital operates without the pressures of external fundraising, allowing it to concentrate on identifying and nurturing promising ventures.

Established in 2020, the European Innovation Council supports innovative startups and researchers with promising ideas, focusing on early-stage companies with positive environmental, social, or governance impacts. It co-invests alongside private investors.

City Light Capital is a New York-based venture capital firm founded in 2004 that invests in seed, early, and growth-stage companies across technology, education, digital health, climate, food, wellness, energy, agriculture, safety and care, and the environment in the United States. It emphasizes impact investing, partnering with experienced teams to build category-defining solutions in education, safety and care, and the environment, aiming to scale revenue in ways that improve lives. Notable portfolio companies include 2U, ShotSpotter, Trilogy Education, and Ready Responders.

Founded in 2015, Liquid 2 Ventures is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California. It specializes in seed-stage investments for early-stage technology companies.

First Round Capital, established in 2004, is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm specializing in seed-stage investments. It focuses on building a robust community of technology entrepreneurs and companies, providing custom software solutions, in-person experiences, and unique services to help early-stage companies grow. First Round Capital has invested in notable startups like Uber, Square, and Warby Parker, and has adopted the Diversity Term Sheet Rider to promote diversity in its portfolio. The firm invests nationally, with additional offices in San Francisco and New York, typically providing around $500,000 in the initial investment. It actively supports its portfolio companies and has facilitated a VC-sponsored exchange fund for qualified entrepreneurs. To date, members of the First Round Capital community have raised over $2.5 billion in follow-on capital.

Versant Ventures is a healthcare-focused venture capital firm based in San Francisco with offices in Canada, the United States and Europe. Founded in 1999, it invests across the healthcare sector at all stages, with emphasis on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics, medical devices, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. The firm combines investment, operating and scientific expertise to take a hands-on approach to building portfolio companies, helping entrepreneurs translate science into commercial therapies and technologies. It has supported numerous portfolio companies through acquisitions or IPOs, reflecting a track record of guiding early stage ventures toward meaningful exits in biopharma, life sciences and related fields.

CareSource is a nonprofit managed care organization headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, with additional offices in Hilliard and Mayfield Heights, Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky, and Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1989, it is one of the largest Medicaid managed health care providers in the United States, offering plans to members in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. CareSource is committed to enhancing the health and well-being of its members, aiming to make a significant impact on their lives through its services. As a subsidiary of CareSource Management Group Company, it focuses on delivering quality care and support to its communities.

Help at Home is a home care agency dedicated to improving the quality of life for seniors and individuals with disabilities. The company specializes in providing personalized care services, enabling clients to maintain independence and dignity in their own homes. Help at Home is committed to being a quality employer, offering competitive compensation and benefits to attract and retain the best staff. Their services provide a viable alternative to living in a nursing home or long-term care facility.

Novartis is a global healthcare company based in Switzerland, providing innovative medicines and solutions to address evolving patient needs worldwide. With over 100,000 employees across 140 countries, they focus on discovering new treatments in areas such as oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and cardiovascular diseases.

Echo Health Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in healthcare companies, health technology, insurance technology and digital health in the United States. Based in Seattle with offices in Durham and Portland, the firm is stage-agnostic and aims to accelerate healthcare innovations to scale nationally by offering strategic guidance in addition to capital. Echo Health Ventures focuses on building deep, high-value relationships with portfolio companies to support growth and clinical impact, partnering with startups to advance patient care, improve care delivery, and broaden access to digital health tools.