WORCESTER, MA — Auxilium will welcome the first group of founders to its newly launched Innovation Studio located at 311 Main Street, Worcester on Nov. 20, providing an initial investment, residency, and community-driven support.
The five Central Massachusetts based startups selected for the program are developing innovations in MedTech, SaaS, Aviation, Edtech and Sports technology. Each investment is backed by Rucker Investments, founded by Cliff Rucker.
The Auxilium Innovation Studio offers milestone-based funding of up to $100,000, along with coworking space, personalized mentorship, and tailored business support as part of the program. The Innovation Studio operates on a flexible, rolling admission model, allowing founders to join as they are ready to advance their ideas.
“Early-stage founders often face a critical gap; they have promising ideas, but they need a runway, structure, and community to turn those ideas into viable companies,” said Zachary Dutton, Executive Director of Auxilium. “With the Innovation Studio, we have designed a program that gives entrepreneurs the time, resources, and network they need to focus, iterate, and grow and we’re inviting founders near and far to bring their vision here.”
Partnering with the Venture Forum
Auxilium has partnered with Worcester-based nonprofit, The Venture Forum to construct and implement Innovation Studio structure, including workshop development, mentorship framework, and founder support systems.
“The collaboration between Auxilium and The Venture Forum shows how our entrepreneurial ecosystem can come together to support founders,” said Venture Forum Executive Director, Greg Dalle-Molle. “By combining our networks and expertise, we are creating a seamless continuum of support, from early exploration and validation at The Venture Forum to structured, milestone-based growth at Auxilium. It’s exactly the kind of compatibility that allows startups to take the next step with confidence as they scale.”
In a previous role, Dalle-Molle served as Director of Operations at Northeastern University’s Center for Entrepreneurship Education, where he helped design and implement new venture programs and mentored student-led studios and clinics supporting entrepreneurship.
About the Innovation Studio
The Auxilium Innovation Studio is more than a workspace; it’s a community built around shared learning and collaboration. Through workshops, peer sessions, and networking events, Auxilium fosters an environment where entrepreneurs, mentors, and partners connect, learn from each other, and work together to strengthen the region’s innovation landscape.
“Our programs are built on the idea that entrepreneurship doesn’t happen in isolation,” said Dutton. “When mentors, educators, and founders grow together, the entire ecosystem becomes stronger.”
Founders, mentors, and partners interested in being part of Auxilium’s growing innovation community can learn more or apply at auxiliumworcester.com
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 The Venture Forum
The Venture Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring and accelerating the growth of high-potential startups across Central Massachusetts. With a mission to strengthen the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, The Venture Forum connects startups with the resources, networks, and partnerships they need to build and scale their ventures. Its vision is to help position Worcester among the next generation of globally competitive startup hubs where entrepreneurs can access mentorship, capital, and talent at every stage of their growth.
For more information, visit www.ventureforum.org
