Health Wildcatters, a mentorship-driven healthcare seed accelerator, announced that its second class of startups has collectively raised $4.5 million since the program ended in late November. The fundraising results from this class are similar to those from Health Wildcatters’ first class, which raised $4.6 million within six months of the program.
Health Wildcatters provides mentorship, seed funding and other business resources to the 10-15 healthcare-focused startups that participate in the 12-week accelerator, which takes place each fall.
Jeff Hamilton, CEO of EasyEye, a startup from the 2014 class that is developing a system to provide consumers with customizable reading glasses in a retail setting, saw immense value in the program: “In just 12 weeks at Health Wildcatters we were able to refine our business model, develop a much improved prototype of our product, make invaluable connections and establish strategic partnerships that will fuel our growth.”
The EasyEye team comes from Southern California but decided to remain in Dallas after the program to stay close to Health Wildcatters and the resources it provides.
“Health Wildcatters put our company on the fast-track to funding,” said Oscar Atkinson, CEO of Silicone Arts Laboratories, makers of a synthetic skin called Dermaflage and 2014 Health Wildcatters graduate. “The program not only helped us develop our medical strategy, but also gave us access to a network of healthcare professionals, enabling us to extend our product line to dermatologists.”
Silicone Arts Labs announced closing a $1.5 million round of funding last month.
The collective fundraising report from the accelerator program’s 2014 class comes just ahead of Health Wildcatters’ annual investor meeting, which takes place next week.
The program is currently accepting applications for the 2015 class, which will be selected in July.
