MassRobotics Opens Applications for Healthcare Robotics Catalyst Program Cohort 6, Presented by Festo, Mitsubishi Electric US, Novanta and Intel
Quick Answer
MassRobotics is accepting applications for its Healthcare Robotics Catalyst Program Cohort 6, running from February to June 2027.
Quick Take
The program offers mentorship from industry leaders like Intel and Festo, aiming to accelerate startups in healthcare robotics and automation, with applications closing on December 31, 2026.
Key Points
- Cohort 6 applications are open until December 31, 2026.
- Selected startups receive mentorship from Festo, Intel, and others.
- The program focuses on clinical readiness and technical validation.
- Since 2021, 35 startups have participated, raising over $180 million.
- Participants will showcase their work at the Robotics Summit in June.
DeepSignal Analysis
What happened
MassRobotics has opened applications for the sixth cohort of its Healthcare Robotics Catalyst Program, which will run from February to June 2027. The program aims to assist early- to growth-stage startups in healthcare robotics through mentorship from industry leaders, including Intel and Festo. Applications will be accepted until December 31, 2026.
Key evidence
- The Catalyst Program is a four-month, non-equity initiative designed to help robotics teams achieve clinical readiness and technical validation in healthcare.
- Since its inception in 2021, the program has mentored 35 startups, which have collectively raised over $180 million in funding.
- Participants will receive tailored mentorship from senior experts and structured support, including workshops on regulatory strategy and clinical workflows.
Why it matters
This program represents a significant opportunity for startups in the healthcare robotics sector to gain access to valuable resources and mentorship. The involvement of major industry players like Intel and Festo indicates a growing interest in the intersection of robotics and healthcare. The program's track record of supporting startups to achieve market readiness and secure funding highlights its potential impact on innovation in this field.
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~4 min readMassRobotics Opens Applications for Healthcare Robotics Catalyst Program Cohort 6, Presented by Festo, Mitsubishi Electric US, Novanta and Intel
The Healthcare Robotics Catalyst Program pairs early- to growth-stage startups with industry mentors
MassRobotics announces the call for applicants for Cohort 6 of its Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst Program, a four-month, non-equity initiative that helps robotics and automation teams accelerate clinical readiness, technical validation, and go-to-market in healthcare and life sciences. Applications open today and close on December 31, 2026. The cohort will run February through June 2027, concluding with company showcases at the Robotics Summit and Expo in Boston.
This year, MassRobotics welcomes Intel to the Catalyst Program's steering committee, joining founding partners Festo, Novanta, and Mitsubishi Electric US. Intel's Health and Life Sciences team brings mentorship and technical depth in edge AI and on-device compute for surgical and procedure-enabling robotics and OR automation, an area of growing interest across the cohort.
The Catalyst Program connects selected startups with senior mentors from Festo, Novanta, Mitsubishi Electric US, Intel, and yaxxoo, along with practicing clinicians and leading organizations in the medical field. Companies work toward practical milestones such as proof-of-concept builds, pilot design, regulatory planning, or systems integration, supported by organizational/technical support and biweekly mentor cadence.
Since 2021, the Catalyst Program has mentored 35 startups spanning pre-seed through Series A, with teams headquartered from Boston, Toronto, and Paris to Barcelona, Sydney, and beyond. Alumni have gone on to complete a public listing, advance multiple proof-of-concept deployments, and collectively disclose more than $180 million in funding raised, a reflection of the program's track record guiding healthcare robotics ventures from early prototypes to market-ready platforms.
"Having supported the MassRobotics Healthcare Catalyst Program for three years, I'm proud of the journey we at Festo have taken — from founding member to seeing standout startups like Tenomix thrive. What I love most is discovering the people behind the technology: their ambition, their ideas, and what drives them. At Festo, we're excited to support Cohort 6 with our experience and connections across the ecosystem as they turn those ideas into solutions that can scale." Johannes Linzbach, Head of Research Hub Boston, Festo
"The MassRobotics Healthcare Catalyst Program gave us exactly what a deep-tech startup needs: direct access to people who have experienced similar problems before. The technical support from Festo and Mitsubishi Electric US, combined with mentorship across technical development, business strategy, go-to-market, and product feedback, helped us make sharper decisions faster. We are grateful to the MassRobotics team and the mentors who invested their time in Whelix, and we encourage other robotics startups in healthcare and life science to apply." Bingda Li, CEO of Whelix.
Who Should Apply
Startups building robotics or automation for healthcare and biotech, including but not limited to: lab and pharma automation, diagnostics and imaging workflows, hospital logistics and OR automation, rehabilitation and assistive devices, surgical and interventional robotics, and enabling technologies such as sensing, precision motion, edge AI/on-device compute, and cybersecurity for medical devices are eligible. The program is open to robotics startups from around the world, and both early-stage and more mature companies, including those at Seed through Series C, are encouraged to apply.
What Participants Receive
Tailored mentorship with senior experts from Festo, Mitsubishi Electric US, Novanta, Intel, and yaxxoo
Clinical perspective through the Medical Advisory Board
Structured onboarding, goal setting, and biweekly mentor working sessions
Custom workshops based on cohort needs on regulatory strategy, cybersecurity and SBOMs, clinical workflow, pilot design and more
Visibility through MassRobotics channels and the Robotics Summit showcase in June
Selection Criteria
Applicants are evaluated on technical maturity, clinical relevance, feasibility of near-term milestones, program fit, and mentor alignment. Teams able to pursue a proof-of-concept during the four-month program are especially encouraged to apply.
Key Dates
Applications open October 15, 2026 and close December 31, 2026
Evaluation and interviews: January 1 to January 20, 2027
Cohort announcement: January 29, 2027
Program period: February to June 2027
— Originally published at roboticstomorrow.com
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