Proxima Clinical Research Launching Medtech Accelerator Program

Proxima Clinical Research is starting a medtech accelerator program this spring for early-stage medical device companies. 

M1 MedTech will initially help firms develop Class II and Class III medical devices. But as the program grows, M1 MedTech plans to develop an offshot incubator specifically for Class III products.  

“M1 will be a place where startups can go to receive concrete resources to further their development. The participant success is our sole focus, and the ultimate goal is to have a substantial impact on the ideation-to-market process for Class II and Class III medical devices,” said Isabella Schmitt, director of regulatory affairs at Proxima and a principal at M1. “Proxima’s specific expertise alongside our M1 partners will provide resources for all key areas of a medical device entrepreneur’s journey to market and beyond.”

Proxima, a contract research organization (CRO) based out of the Texas Medical Center, has raised funds for the accelerator program’s launch and investment in several new companies.
 
“Our goal is to move these companies substantially forward in a short amount of time,” said Kevin Coker, CEO of Proxima. “Proxima is in a unique position to leverage our experienced team of regulatory, quality, and clinical experts. We won’t be working at arm’s length from these companies. We will be a big part of what they do every day.”
 
M1 MedTech will assist a limited number of companies in each cohort and offer a hands-on approach to helping founders advance their companies and technologies. The coaching process will include a curated educational program, interactive workshops where participants can continually build out specific company deliverables, and one-on-one mentoring.
 
“This will be a unique experience for all parties involved, as Proxima is also a young, yet established, company that is now creating a program to assist companies at an earlier stage,” said Larry Lawson, co-founder of Proxima. “Our experience in the CRO realm and ability to provide coaching in clinical, regulatory, quality, and go-to-market strategies will only strengthen M1 MedTech’s ability to support the success of emerging companies and provide more life-saving technology to the public.”
 
Applications for the M1 MedTech accelerator program will be available this spring. 
 
“We don’t view M1 as competitive to other accelerators, rather we believe it will offer a different experience. Our team will strive to create a personalized program where companies have a dedicated touch point throughout the process,” said Sean Bittner, director of programs at M1 MedTech. “We will also provide specific, tailored connections and resources vetted by our team through professional partnerships, not just a general list of industry contacts.”