WORCESTER—A new life sciences accelerator set to launch in Worcester this summer aims to draw early-stage health and biotech companies to the city — and keep them there.
Auxilium, a downtown Worcester accelerator and innovation studio, and Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI) announced this week that they are partnering on a three-month cohort program designed to support founders developing healthcare and life sciences technologies. Companies selected for the program receive mentorship, access to MBI’s laboratory facilities, sector-specific workshops, complimentary workspace and a $250,000 investment, according to the announcement.
Anyone taking part is required to operate on-site in Worcester during the program, working from Auxilium’s downtown offices.
The cohort supports companies in areas including digital health, medical technology, diagnostics, medical devices, AI-enabled healthcare and advanced life sciences tools. Organizers said the program will combine MBI’s experience incubating life sciences startups with Auxilium’s accelerator platform and access to capital.
“This joint cohort is designed to give founders focused, hands-on support at a critical stage of growth,” Zak Dutton, executive director of Auxilium, said in the announcement. “From the start, it has been a priority for Auxilium to align with organizations that are already making an impact in Worcester, and MBI is a clear example. By bringing our resources together, we can move the needle and further strengthen the city’s life sciences sector.”
The launch comes as Central Massachusetts continues to promote itself as a growing hub for biotechnology and related industries. In 2025, Worcester ranked among the top 25 nationally in three categories in the CBRE U.S. Life Sciences Talent and Trends report and was named among the top 10 mid-sized metros for STEM jobs by CoworkingCafe, according to the release.
The state also announced a $5.2 million investment to establish the Central Massachusetts BioHub, led by Worcester Polytechnic Institute in partnership with MBI and other regional organizations.
MBI President and CEO Jon Weaver said in the announcement that the region is positioned for further growth. “Right now, something special is happening in Central Massachusetts,” Weaver said. “The talent is here. The infrastructure is here. The investment is here.”
He added, “This cohort is an open door to innovators across the country who want to grow their companies in a region that is deeply committed to their success. This is more than an accelerator.”
Applications for the joint Auxilium–MBI cohort opened Feb. 11, with the program scheduled to begin in June.
Auxilium is backed by Rucker Investments and offers both a three-month accelerator and a longer-term innovation studio for earlier-stage founders. MBI, a nonprofit focused on growing the region’s bio-cluster, operates a small business incubator and workforce development initiatives and estimates it has assisted nearly 200 companies since 2000.
