Northwestern Medicine and Founders Factory Partner to Bring European AI Startups to US Healthcare

The collaboration will help UK and EU pre-Series A ventures enter the competitive US health market through access to one of America's top medical institutions.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Northwestern Medicine, one of the premier academic healthcare systems in the US, is partnering with global startup accelerator Founders Factory to bring top AI founders from the UK and Europe to the US health market. The new program will support European startups in testing, deploying, and scaling their solutions with Northwestern Medicine and its ecosystem of partners, aiming to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes.

Why it matters

This collaboration highlights the growing role of AI and emerging technologies in transforming healthcare infrastructure and delivery. By tapping into European talent and innovations, Northwestern Medicine is positioning itself at the forefront of adopting novel approaches to enhance patient care, streamline operations, and accelerate research.

The details

The four-month program led by Founders Factory will focus on helping the selected startups integrate their solutions within Northwestern Medicine, one of America's leading academic health systems. The cohort will also have the opportunity to collaborate with key clinical and commercial teams from the health system during a residential week in Chicago. This cross-border partnership aims to unlock the US market for UK and European pre-Series A ventures in the healthcare technology space.

  • The new accelerator program was announced on February 13, 2026.
  • The four-month program will begin in the spring of 2026.

The players

Northwestern Medicine

One of America's premier, academic healthcare systems, anchored by Northwestern Memorial Hospital, which has been named to the Best Hospital Honor Roll by U.S. News and World Report for 14 consecutive years.

Founders Factory

A global startup accelerator that is partnering with Northwestern Medicine to bring UK and European AI founders to the US health market.

The London Clinic

A UK healthcare partner that will be involved in the collaboration between Northwestern Medicine and Founders Factory.

Doug King

Chief Digital and Information Officer at Northwestern Medicine.

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What’s next

The first cohort of European AI startups is expected to begin the four-month program with Northwestern Medicine and Founders Factory in the spring of 2026.

The takeaway

This partnership highlights the growing importance of cross-border collaboration in driving healthcare innovation. By tapping into European talent and technologies, Northwestern Medicine is positioning itself as a leader in adopting cutting-edge solutions to improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency.