HealthTech|X Accelerator
Backed By:
Join the HealthTech|X
Accelerator
The HealthTech|X Accelerator is a ground breaking and exclusive dual-region program for promising healthcare technology startups at the Seed and Series A that are ready to scale. The 2026 cohort is focused on behavioral health and addiction, two of the fastest-moving categories in healthtech and areas of critical need for the United States. The program is run in partnership with Nashville, TN, alongside ecosystem partners including Tampa General Hospital, Baycare, USF Health, Moffitt, The Tampa Medical Research District, and more.
Capital
Receive warm introductions to Change to 600+ members of investor network, 250+ mentors.
Connections
Attend networking events and receive strategic introductions to business prospects, government, and community leaders.
Community
Connect with cohort startup peers and engage in a range of community events and networking opportunities.
Mentor
Get coaching and mentorship from our well-vetted community of 220+ subject matter experts.
Exposure
Take advantage of Wave’s robust media and social presence. Showcase your startup at Wave’s Pitch Night community event.
Perks
Gain exclusive annual savings of $100,000+ on startup resources through Morrow and other affiliate partnerships.
A Program Specifically for
Behavioral Health and Addiction
Backed by Vanderbilt Health Leveraging the Nashville and Florida Ecosystems
A Program Specifically for
Behavioral Health and Addiction
Leveraging the Nashville and Florida Ecosystems
Why Behavioral Health & Addiction, Why Now
Clinical credibility, measurable outcomes, and urgent, growing need — backed by real integration into existing care systems.
Why the Brock Innovation Center and Vanderbilt Health
Brock Innovation Center and Vanderbilt Health and its medical center are actively building new behavioral health and addiction-focused care and research models — a partner with real clinical throughput, not just a name. Add in Nashville’s dense ecosystem of investors, providers, and partners, and the value compounds for both the program and its portfolio companies
What Founders Get
Direct access to Vanderbilt researchers, clinicians, informaticists, and health-system leaders — plus pathways to clinical research partnerships, tech transfer, and licensing of Vanderbilt technologies. Relationships that de-risk and validate, not just network.
Why Tampa + Nashville
Two thriving startup and healthcare ecosystems, paired with a world-class accelerator, top academic institutions, investors, and health systems
Criteria For Consideration
- Startup companies built with proprietary technology to create the next generation of behavioral health and addiction technology solutions
- Management team of at least two full-time positions
- Mandatory travel to both Tampa, FL and Nashville, TN for 4 in-person session weeks throughout the program (plus virtual session/remote engagement)
- Demonstration of market validation
- Investable, scalable business model
- Viable business plan
- Financial runway of at least 6-12 months
Join the HealthTech|X Accelerator
Accelerator Applications Are Currently Closed
Thank you for your interest in our Accelerator Program. While applications are currently closed, we’d love to keep you updated. Sign up below, and we’ll notify you as soon as the next application period opens.
Key Dates
check back for future dates
August 21, 2026
Applications Open
Sept 14, 2026
Application Due
Session Week 1 (Tampa)
Oct 26–28, 2026
Welcome Reception
Oct 28, 2026
Session Week 2 (Nashville)
Nov 2–4, 2026
Welcome Reception
Nov 4, 2026
Session Week 3 (Tampa)
Jan 12–14, 2027
Pitch Night
Jan 14, 2027
Session Week 4 (Nashville)
Jan 19–21, 2027
Pitch Night
Jan 21, 2027
Behavioral Health and Addiction Summit
Jan 21, 2027
Virtual Demo Day (Remote)
Jan 27, 2027
Advisory Council
Craig Anderson
Vice President & Innovation at Baycare Health System
Michael Bloom, PhD
Founding Director and
Clinical Associate
Professor at Loyola
University Parkinson
School, Center for Health
Innovation and
Entrepreneurship
Alice Crisci
CEO and Co-Founder at Ovum Health
Matt Durski
Health Strategist at Accenture
Rachel Feinman
VP Innovation (TGH InnoVentures)
Christy Fernandez-Cull, PhD, MBA
CEO and Founder at Simplified
Tatiana Fofonova, PhD
CEO and Co-Founder at Koda Health
Darren Hay
Vice President, Business Development at Hypertec / Medioh Global Healthcare
Lauren Key
Vice President, Innovation Ecosystem and Emerging Technologies
Thomas Knox
CEO and Founder at VitVio
Nate Lacktman
Equity Partner at Foley & Lardner
Corinne Leach, PhD
Acting Director Digital Innovation Research & Services at Moffit Cancer Center
Lian Le, MD, MBA
VP Hospital Medicine/Associate Chief Medical Officer at Tampa General Hospital
Brian Model
Managing Partner at Topmark Partners
Santosh Mohan
Vice President, Digital (Former Moffit Cancer Center)
Chris Molaro
Founder & CEO at NeuroFlow
Carey Officer
President of PERSOWN / ex-Nemours
Haru Okuda MD, FACEP, FSSH
Executive Director, USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation - CAMLS
Derek Pupello, MBA
Founder & CEO, FIVE Labs
Demi Radeva
Chief Strategist & Payer Expert at Akros Advisory
Edmondo Robinson, MD, MBA
Founder & CEO at Downeast Digital
Ryan Smith
Partner at Brown Rudnick LLP
Indra Sandal, PhD, MBA
Chief of Innovation for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Jared Saul, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Commercial Healthcare and Life Sciences at Amazon Web Services
David Seo, MD
Senior VP & Chief Digital and Information Officer Nicklaus Children's Hosptial
Shalen de Silva
Managing Partner AT Slayer Consulting
Jerett Smith
Vice President at Ballast Point Ventures
Kevin Sneed, MD
Dean (USF College of Pharmacy) & Senior Associate Vice President (USF Health)
Kim Stebbings
Chief Commercial Officer at UC-CARE
Brendan Sullivan
Head of Partnerships at Candid Health
Dan Vukmer, JD
Chief Strategy Officer at USF Health
David Williams
COO & Managing Partner at Levo Health
Startup Spotlight
Andrea Ippolito
CEO of Simplified
“Tampa Bay Wave was the ultimate connector: they connected me to investors for our upcoming fundraise, connected me to enterprise customers to fuel our growth, and connected me to mentors to ensure our business was an engine of operational and financial excellence. Some of our top customers and pipeline came from introductions from the Wave. Also the culture and cohort was exactly what I needed to surround myself with a supportive community to learn from and excel with!
