Not yet announced · Not yet announced
Paratus is a federally funded digital health accelerator that MATTER operates in Chicago as the Digital Health Hub of the BARDA Accelerator Network. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority selected MATTER for this role in September 2024, alongside peer hubs run by BioTools Innovator, Children’s National Hospital, University Lab Partners and Start2 Group, each covering a different medical countermeasure category. Paratus runs a 10-week, fully virtual accelerator for entrepreneurs building digital tools that improve preparedness for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, pandemic influenza, and emerging infectious diseases, at no cost to participants, ending in a virtual showcase where top companies win cash prizes. Separately, Paratus offers application-based, non-dilutive funding of $50,000 to $200,000 for digital health development and validation projects, and a dedicated $500,000 to $2,000,000 track for traumatic brain injury assessment tools. Three cohorts have run since the program launched in September 2024, together selecting nearly 20 startups.
Frequency
2x/year
Duration
10 weeks
Investment
None from the accelerator itself; separate non-dilutive funding of $50,000-$200,000 (or $500,000-$2,000,000 for traumatic brain injury projects) is available by application
Equity
None — equity-free program
Program fees
None — free to participants
Where
USA
Sectors
Biotech, HealthTech, Security
Stages
Pre-Seed, Seed
Eligibility
• Solutions addressing chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats, pandemic influenza, or emerging infectious diseases; later cohorts also welcomed AI tools for medical countermeasure development and wearable IoT for continuous disease monitoring
• An established proof of concept, evidence of product-market fit, and business model potential
• Open globally; this is a worldwide call for solutions, not limited to U.S.-based companies
• Non-dilutive funding tracks are application-based and open to startups and university-backed projects; the traumatic brain injury track specifically addresses assessment of injury from nuclear detonation or other blast events
• Gain-of-function research, or research manipulating pathogens to potentially gain function, is not eligible for funding
Selection process
• Submissions evaluated on alignment with BARDA’s mission and the cohort’s focus areas, quality/feasibility/scalability of the proposed solution, competitive differentiation, and the team’s capability to execute
• Up to 7 finalists notified and invited to join the 10-week accelerator
• Program concludes with a virtual showcase, where top companies may win cash awards
Benefits
• Coaching to refine value propositions, pitches and go-to-market narratives
• Direct exposure to BARDA and relevant industry leaders
• Networking with peers, fellow founders and leading influencers across the cohort
• Access to the broader MATTER community and its resources
• The opportunity to present to potential investors, partners and clients
• Participation in a final virtual showcase, where top-performing companies win cash awards ($20,000 each to three winners in the first two cohorts)
• Separately, eligibility to apply for non-dilutive funding of $50,000-$200,000 (or $500,000-$2,000,000 for traumatic brain injury assessment projects) to support development, evaluation or validation work
Network
Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (program funder). Sibling hubs in the BARDA Accelerator Network: BioTools Innovator (Enabling Technologies), Children’s National Hospital (Special Populations), University Lab Partners (Diagnostics & Medical Devices), and Start2 Group (Therapeutics & Vaccines). Operated by parent organization MATTER, tracked as a separate entry, which contributes its broader mentor network, Venture Acceleration team and community platform.
Portfolio
12 startups selected across the first two cohorts; up to 7 more in a third cohort for 2026
Funds raised
Unreported — no aggregate alumni-raised total available; 3 startups have each won a $20,000 showcase award
🕐 Sep 2026
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