NEMIC (New England Medical Innovation Center)

What NEMIC (New England Medical Innovation Center) does

NEMIC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 and headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, operating as a regional healthcare innovation hub and startup accelerator. The organization functions as a neutral convenor that connects entrepreneurs, early-stage healthtech startups, industry leaders, academic institutions (notably Brown Health and RISD), healthcare organizations, and government partners to help innovators navigate the path from concept to market. Its core offerings include the Health Innovator Pathways Program, the NEMIC Accelerator, the EMPOWER program for minority and women-owned businesses, the MedTech Leadership Program, the NEMIC Virtual Classroom, and Expert Advising services covering clinical validation, regulatory/quality assurance, intellectual property, and startup operations.

NEMIC's platform is service-oriented rather than technology-based: it curates individually tailored accelerator engagements, matches founders with domain-specific advisors, and facilitates connections across the regional healthtech ecosystem. The organization has mentored 470+ companies, delivered 10,000+ advisory hours, and its Fellows have collectively raised $114.6M, with downstream companies reaching 244,000+ patients/customers. NEMIC does not develop proprietary technology itself; its value derives from convening and orchestrating expertise held by its advisor network and institutional partners.

The business model combines three revenue streams: (1) grant funding from charitable foundations such as the van Beuren Charitable Foundation, the Rhode Island Foundation, and state sources like the RI Life Science Hub, (2) program fees from accelerator participants, advisory engagements, and educational programs including the Virtual Classroom, and (3) donations supporting innovation and entrepreneurial development in healthcare. As a regional player, NEMIC's geographic footprint is concentrated in Rhode Island, with a recent expansion onto Aquidneck Island in 2024-2025. Leadership transitioned in November 2025 with the appointment of Jennifer Hoffman as Executive Director, succeeding or complementing co-founders Aidan Petrie and Lydia Shin.

Name

NEMIC (New England Medical Innovation Center)

Legal name

New England Medical Innovation Center

Website

https://nemicenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NEMIC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit healthcare innovation hub in Providence, Rhode Island that runs accelerator programs, expert advisory services, and educational offerings to help early-stage medtech and healthtech startups move from concept to market across New England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medtech Innovation and Commercialization Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAGAJ

Health Informatics & Digital Health Programs

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Medical & Health Sciences Universities

SECONDARYBPADANAJ

Health, Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Regulatory Cooperation

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Standards, Policy & Regulatory Cooperation

SECONDARYHLAFAMAL

Clinical Research & Trial Central Laboratories

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Clinical Laboratories

Keywords

• Medtech accelerator programs
• Healthcare innovation hub
• Medical device commercialization
• Health tech advisory services
• Healthcare startup incubation

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, NEMIC receives grant funding from charitable foundations to support health and medtech innovation initiatives.
2. Program Fees: Revenue generated through accelerator programs, advisory services, and educational programs including the Virtual Classroom.
3. Donations: NEMIC accepts donations to support innovation and entrepreneurial development in the healthcare sector.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NEMIC operates a healthcare innovation hub that supports medical technology entrepreneurs and startups through accelerator cohorts, expert advisory engagements, structured commercialization programs, and educational offerings. The organization connects founders with seasoned medtech professionals, clinicians, and industry mentors to advance innovations from concept through regulatory and market entry. It also serves as a neutral convener linking healthcare providers, academic institutions, industry partners, and government stakeholders in the Rhode Island and New England medtech ecosystem.

Product overview

NEMIC operates as a platform-plus-programs organization providing a comprehensive suite of healthcare innovation services. The core offerings include the Health Innovator Pathways Program for guiding innovators, the NEMIC Accelerator for accelerating startup development, the EMPOWER program for MBEs and WBEs, the NEMIC Virtual Classroom for online education, and the MedTech Leadership Program. These programs are supported by expert advising services and community-building initiatives. Together, these services form an integrated ecosystem that helps entrepreneurs navigate the path from concept to market through accelerator programs, expert advisory services, commercialization support, industry events, and strategic partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NEMIC Accelerator A cohort-based accelerator program that supports medical device and digital health startups through structured commercialization guidance, mentorship, and milestone-driven progression. Designed for early-stage medtech founders seeking to advance innovations from concept toward market entry.
• Health Innovator Pathways Program A structured commercialization pathway program guiding healthcare innovators through defined stages of medtech product development, regulatory preparation, and go-to-market planning. Built for founders who want a clear progression framework rather than ad-hoc advising.
• EMPOWER Program A dedicated program supporting minority- and women-owned medtech ventures and underrepresented healthcare innovators with mentoring, cohort learning, and access to NEMIC's advisor network. Aims to broaden participation in the regional medtech commercialization pipeline.
• Expert Advising Engagements 1:1 and small-group advisory engagements connecting medtech founders with seasoned industry professionals, clinicians, and regulatory experts to address specific commercialization questions. Offered as a standalone service or paired with accelerator participation.
• Virtual Classroom Online educational programming that delivers NEMIC's medtech commercialization curriculum to remote learners, students, and early-career professionals. Covers foundational topics such as regulatory pathways, reimbursement, IP, clinical study design, and entrepreneurship.
• MedTech Leadership Program A leadership-oriented educational offering designed for clinicians, researchers, and aspiring medtech entrepreneurs seeking to develop the business and commercialization skills required to lead healthcare ventures.

Quantifiable outcome

• 470+ companies mentored
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Venture Cafe ProvidencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenture Cafe Providence is a key ecosystem partner that supports innovation and entrepreneurship in the Providence area. NEMIC collaborates with Venture Cafe to bring entrepreneurs together and foster community-based initiatives.
• Kahn LitwincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKahn Litwin is a professional services firm that provides accounting and business advisory services. The partnership supports NEMIC's startup ecosystem with professional expertise.
• Rhode Island CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRhode Island Commerce is the state's economic development organization. They partner with NEMIC to support business growth and regional competitiveness in the healthcare sector.
• Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRISD is an academic institution that brings design expertise to healthcare innovation. The partnership enables interdisciplinary collaboration between design and healthtech.
• Brown HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrown Health is a healthcare system that provides clinical expertise and healthcare industry connections. They collaborate with NEMIC to bridge academic medicine and innovation.
• Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLT is a government partner that supports workforce development initiatives. The partnership helps NEMIC create pathways to high-value careers in healthcare and life sciences.
• RI BiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRI Bio is the region's life sciences industry organization. They collaborate with NEMIC to strengthen the healthcare and life sciences ecosystems in Rhode Island.
• XiMedicacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerXiMedica is a medical device development company that provides technical expertise and industry connections to NEMIC's startup ecosystem.
• Rhode Island Hub (RI Hub)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRI Hub supports entrepreneurship and innovation in Rhode Island. The partnership helps connect NEMIC with additional resources and ecosystem participants.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MassChallenge: Global nonprofit startup accelerator with a strong healthtech/life sciences vertical in Boston. Directly comparable as a nonprofit innovation hub serving healthcare startups with accelerator programs, mentor networks, and commercialization support.
• Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS: Healthcare-focused incubator network offering lab space, mentorship, and resources to early-stage healthtech and biotech startups. Directly comparable as a healthcare startup accelerator with deep industry expertise.
• MATTER: Chicago-based healthcare innovation hub and incubator that brings together entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and healthcare organizations. Directly comparable as a nonprofit healthcare innovation center with accelerator programs and community-building focus.
• Rock Health: Digital health-focused venture fund and advisory firm that supports early-stage healthcare startups. Comparable as a healthtech accelerator with strong focus on digital health innovation and founder support.
• Blueprint Health: Healthtech accelerator providing mentorship, resources, and investor connections to healthcare startups. Directly comparable as a healthcare-focused accelerator targeting early-stage companies.
• Biolabs: Membership-based coworking and lab space network for life sciences startups. Comparable as an innovation hub providing infrastructure, community, and networking for early-stage biotech and medtech companies.
• Cedars-Sinai Accelerator: Hospital-affiliated healthcare technology accelerator affiliated with a major academic medical center. Directly comparable as a healthcare innovation program combining clinical expertise with startup acceleration.
• MedTech Innovator: Industry-supported medical device accelerator and competition. Comparable as a medtech-focused accelerator providing mentorship, visibility, and commercialization support to medical device startups.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Global accelerator network with a healthcare/life sciences vertical among many industry programs. Comparable as a large-scale accelerator offering structured programs, mentor networks, and seed funding to early-stage startups.

Regional players

• RI Bio (Rhode Island Bio): Regional life sciences industry organization in Rhode Island that partners with NEMIC. Comparable as a regional ecosystem player strengthening the healthcare and life sciences industry in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nemicenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nemicenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NEMIC (New England Medical Innovation Center)