WORCESTER, MA — Auxilium and Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI) today announced a joint life sciences accelerator cohort in Worcester designed to attract and support founders developing the next generation of healthcare and life sciences technologies. Founders selected for the cohort will receive mentorship from seasoned life sciences leaders, access to MBI’s facilities, workshops on sector-specific topics, complimentary workspace, and a $250,000 investment.
The three-month program combines MBI’s deep experience incubating and mentoring life sciences companies with Auxilium’s accelerator platform, founder coaching, and access to capital. Together, the organizations will deliver a hands-on, sector-specific program embedded in Worcester’s expanding life sciences ecosystem.
Participants will be required to operate on-site in Worcester during the program, working from Auxilium’s downtown offices. The cohort will support lifescience companies across the field, from digital health, med tech, and diagnostics to medical devices, AI-enabled healthcare, and advanced life science tools.
“This joint cohort is designed to give founders focused, hands-on support at a critical stage of growth,” said ZakDutton, Executive Director of Auxilium. “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.”
Central Massachusetts is one of the fastest growing destinations in the country for life sciences companies looking to scale. In 2025, Worcester ranked in 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. The Commonwealth recently announced a $5.2 million investment to establish the Central Massachusetts BioHub, a transformative initiative led by Worcester Polytechnic Institute in partnership with MBI and more than 30 regional organizations to power the region’s bioindustrial future.
The area offers founders access to talent and research from institutions including Worcester Polytechnic Institute and UMass Chan Medical School, alongwith more affordable lab, office, and production space than larger metro markets, all within a tightly connected and collaborative ecosystem just an hour from the top life sciences cluster in the world in Boston/Cambridge.
Through the joint cohort, Auxilium and MBI will collaborate on founder selection, program design, and delivery, recruiting promising companies from across Massachusetts and beyond who are ready to scale within a thriving, supportive life sciences environment.
“Right now, something special is happening in Central Massachusetts,” said Jon Weaver, President and CEO of MBI. “The talent is here. The infrastructure is here. The investment is here. We are at a place where founders don’t just participate in an ecosystem, they help shape it. 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. The cohort is an invitation for emerging companies across the country to come build where the future of bioinnovation is rapidly taking shape.”
Applications for the joint Auxilium–MBI life sciences accelerator cohort will open on February 11, 2026 with the cohort launching in June 2026. Click here to learn more about the program.
About Auxilium
Auxilium is a new accelerator and innovation studio located in downtown Worcester, MA, committed to empowering scalable startups through capital, mentorship, and community. Backed by Rucker Investments, Auxilium supports visionary founders working to grow transformative businesses. The organization offers two programs, a 3-month Accelerator for companies ready to scale, and an Innovation Studio that provides up to 12-months of residency and support for earlier-stage founders to focus on building and validating their ideas.
About MBI
MBI is a non-profit focused on building the Central Massachusetts bio-cluster. MBI’s mission is to be a partner for fostering innovation in the life sciences and achieves that goal through its small business incubator system, workforce development efforts, and regional economic development initiatives. It is estimated that since 2000, MBI has assisted over 197 companies that have created over 1,800 jobs resulting in a $2 billion economic impact. Learn more at https://mbi.bio/.
