MassRobotics opens Cohort 5 applications for Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst

MassRobotics today announced it opened a call for applications for Cohort 5 of its Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst Program. The five-month, non-equity initiative is designed to help robotics and automation teams accelerate clinical readiness, technical validation, and go-to-market in healthcare and life sciences.

Applications are open now and will close on Dec. 1, 2025. The cohort will run January through May 2026, concluding with company showcases at the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston.

“The Catalyst Program has been a truly pivotal part of our journey,” said Saumik Biswas, CEO of Tenomix, a member of Cohort 4. “When you’re building a first-in-class AI-enabled robotic platform in healthcare, you need creative thinking, honest feedback, and a community that pushes you forward. MassRobotics delivered exactly that.”

“From mentors who guided us on everything from refining technical components to exploring innovative pricing models like robotics as a service [RaaS], to a network of clinicians, engineers, and investors who became long-term collaborators, we gained the insights and support we needed to make the right decisions at the right time,” he added. “Those decisions led us to successfully demo our pre-commercial robot at the Robotics Summit and Expo, where the response was incredible.”

“Beyond the program, the Boston community around MassRobotics is something special,” said Biswas. “We’ve built lifelong connections that are already helping us in our current investment round. If you’re working on healthcare robotics, I can’t recommend this program enough: you have to apply.”

MassRobotics adds advisors for catalyst Cohort 5

MassRobotics is expanding its Medical Advisory Board for Cohort 5 with additional advisors from Mass General Brigham and others, adding depth in perioperative care, patient safety, and clinical workflow integration. The expanded board brings system-level innovation expertise and perioperative insight to help founders design viable pilots and clinical evidence plans.

The Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst Program connects selected startups with senior mentors from Festo, Novanta, Mitsubishi Electric Automation, MITRE, and yaxxoo, along with practicing clinicians and leading organizations in the medical field. Companies work toward practical milestones such as proof-of-concept builds, pilot design, regulatory planning, or systems integration, supported by organizational/technical support and biweekly mentor cadence.

“Having supported the MassRobotics Healthcare Catalyst Program for three years, I’m proud of the journey we at Festo have taken, from founding member to seeing standout startups like Tenomix thrive,” stated Johannes Linzbach, head of Research Hub Boston at Festo. “I’m excited to continue empowering startups to scale with Cohort 5 and shape the future of healthcare robotics.”

More details about the program

Revimo, part of the fourth cohort, creates a lift and transfer device for those with mobility issues. | Source: MassRobotics

Startups building robotics or automation for healthcare and biotech are encouraged to apply. This includes but is not limited to laboratory and pharmacy automation, diagnostics and imaging workflows, and hospital logistics.

It also includes startups in rehabilitation and assistive devices, surgical and interventional robotics, and enabling technologies such as sensing, precision motion, and cybersecurity for medical devices. The program is open to global teams.

MassRobotics encouraged both earlier teams and more mature companies, including those at seed funding through Series C rounds, to apply.

Participants will receive:

Tailored mentorship with senior experts from leading automation providers
Clinical perspective through the Medical Advisory Board
Structured onboarding, goal setting, and biweekly mentor working sessions
Custom workshops based on cohort needs on regulatory strategy, cybersecurity, software bills of materials (SBOMs), clinical workflow, pilot design, and more
Visibility through MassRobotics channels and the Robotics Summit showcase in May 2026

Applicants are evaluated on technical maturity, clinical relevance, feasibility of near-term milestones, program fit, and mentor alignment. Teams able to pursue a proof of concept during the five-month program are especially encouraged to apply.

Key dates include:

Applications open: Sept. 30 to Dec. 1
Evaluation and interviews: Dec. 1 to 15, 2025
Cohort announcement: Jan. 5, 2026
Program period: January to May 2026

Connect with MassRobotics at RoboBusiness

MassRobotics will also take part in RoboBusiness 2025, which will be on Oct. 15 and 16 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. The organization will be running its Startup Boot Camp, a two-part session that will cover the challenges of growing and scaling a robotics startup.

Speakers from MassRobotics will include Joyce Sidopoulos, co-founder and chief of operations, and Marita McGinn, director at the MassRobotics Accelerator. The organization will also host the Women in Robotics Lunch and a session on the evolution of sensors for agricultural robotics.

RoboBusiness is the premier event for developers and suppliers of commercial robots. It will also feature more than 60 speakers and the annual Pitchfire competition. In addition, there will be numerous networking opportunities and over 100 exhibitors on the show floor.

Registration is now open.