WORCESTER, Mass.— Auxilium and Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI) have announced the launch of a joint life sciences accelerator cohort in Worcester aimed at attracting founders developing the next generation of healthcare and life sciences technologies.
The three-month program will provide selected companies with mentorship from experienced life sciences leaders, access to MBI’s laboratory and incubation facilities, sector-focused workshops, complimentary workspace, and a $250,000 investment. Participants will be required to operate on-site in Worcester during the program, working from Auxilium’s downtown offices.
The cohort combines MBI’s longstanding experience incubating and mentoring life sciences startups with Auxilium’s accelerator platform, founder coaching, and access to capital. Organizers say the program is designed to offer hands-on, sector-specific support embedded within Worcester’s growing life sciences ecosystem.
“This joint cohort is designed to give founders focused, hands-on support at a critical stage of growth,” said Zak Dutton, 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.”
The program will support companies across a range of subsectors, including digital health, medical technology, diagnostics, medical devices, AI-enabled healthcare, and advanced life science tools.
Central Massachusetts has emerged as one of the fastest-growing destinations for life sciences companies. In 2025, Worcester ranked among the top 25 nationally in three categories in the CBRE U.S. Life Sciences Talent and Trends report and was named one of 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, led by Worcester Polytechnic Institute in partnership with MBI and more than 30 regional organizations.
The region offers access to research institutions such as WPI and UMass Chan Medical School, along with comparatively affordable lab and office space and proximity—about an hour—to the Boston/Cambridge life sciences cluster.
Through the new cohort, Auxilium and MBI will collaborate on founder recruitment, program design, and delivery, targeting companies from across Massachusetts and beyond that are ready to scale in a supportive, innovation-driven 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.”
Applications for the Auxilium–MBI life sciences accelerator cohort open February 11, 2026, with the program set to launch in June 2026. More information is available at auxiliumworcester.com/auxilium-mbi-lifesciences-accelerator.
