WorldUpstart Newsletter (Q1 2026): Expanding Our Global Footprint Through Partnerships, Innovation, and Growth
The last few months have reinforced something we see every day: commercialization is no longer local.
The strongest life sciences and MedTech companies are thinking globally earlier — not because it sounds ambitious, but because clinical development, manufacturing, fundraising, partnerships, and market access are increasingly connected across regions.
This newsletter highlights how WorldUpstart is growing to meet that moment: supporting international companies entering the U.S., expanding our work with partners across Asia, launching a new Asia Soft Landing Program, and continuing to support our alumni as they build relationships across leading healthcare ecosystems.
Recognized Among Top 10 Accelerators for 2nd Year
We are proud to share that WorldUpstart’s U.S. Market Gateway Accelerator has been recognized for the second consecutive year among the Top 10 Global Accelerators by Startup Savant.
This recognition reflects the work of a growing global community of founders, mentors, partners, investors, healthcare leaders, and public sector collaborators who are helping international life sciences, MedTech, and digital health companies enter and scale in the U.S. market.
Over the past five years, WorldUpstart has supported nearly 100 global life sciences and MedTech companies. Today, 43% of our alumni have entered the U.S. market and continue to scale — more than double the typical success rate for international market entry. Together, our alumni have raised more than $548 million, earned 11 FDA approvals, and achieved four exits.
An independent alumni survey also found that 86% of participants reported being very satisfied with the program experience.
We are deeply grateful to our 50+ mentors and our many partners across healthcare, investment, industry, government, and economic development who make this work possible.
See our recognitions here: https://www.worldupstart.com/recognitions
Global Expansion with Asia
Coming in 2027: The Asia Gateway Program
We are excited to announce the upcoming launch of the WorldUpstart Asia Soft Landing Program, a new initiative for advanced therapeutics companies looking to accelerate clinical development, strengthen valuation, and build a more strategic path to global commercialization.
In today’s fundraising environment, many companies are being asked to show more clinical, manufacturing, and operational progress before their next round. Asia offers a powerful opportunity to reach those milestones faster and more efficiently — not as a replacement for U.S. or EU plans, but as a way to strengthen them.
The program will help companies explore clinical development, manufacturing validation, financing opportunities, and strategic partnerships across Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and other relevant Asian markets. It will include virtual preparation, individual mentoring, and an in-person Singapore and regional bootcamp.
The inaugural cohort will be small and highly focused, with tailored mentoring and targeted introductions to the right regional stakeholders.
Click to learn more and apply: https://www.worldupstart.com/asia-gateway
Building Stronger Bridges Between Asia and the U.S. Healthcare Markets
WorldUpstart’s work with Asian innovation ecosystems continues to grow through partnerships that help life sciences companies prepare for global expansion.
We were honored to join the Kansai Life Science Accelerator Program (KLSAP) as a U.S. advisory partner for its Acceleration Phase, working alongside the Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe (FBRI), Celltrion, and other KLSAP partners to support Japanese and South Korean life sciences companies preparing to engage with U.S. investors and strategic partners.
Through the program, participating companies received mentorship to refine their U.S. market strategy, strengthen investor positioning, and prepare for global-facing opportunities, including engagement around the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.
This work builds on WorldUpstart’s broader efforts to connect Asian companies with the U.S. healthcare and investment ecosystem. In January, we also welcomed a delegation of South Korean life sciences startups to Philadelphia for a customized U.S. market immersion program, delivered in partnership with Korea Innovation Foundation (INNOPOLIS), SID Partners, and TMGx Global. The companies pitched to investors, met with public and private sector leaders, and explored Philadelphia’s life sciences ecosystem as they considered pathways for U.S. expansion.
Together, these programs reflect a larger direction for WorldUpstart: building practical bridges between Asian innovation ecosystems and the U.S. market through structured preparation, trusted partnerships, and meaningful ecosystem engagement.
Growing Global Footprint, Doubling Our Team
We’re excited to double our leadership team:
Vered Nohi, Head of Business Development & Partnerships
Brianna Amato, Communications & Program Lead
Vered brings more than 25 years of experience building partnerships across the U.S., Israel, and Asia, including in life sciences, MedTech, women’s health, and emerging technologies. Her extensive background bridging international partners and boosting market adoption will accelerate WorldUpstart's growth and impact.
Brianna, a former WorldUpstart intern, joins after supporting international researchers relocating to Philadelphia at Fox Chase Cancer Center. She brings strong communications, program development, and community-building skills which are vital to WorldUpstart’s critical growth stage.
A company is only as strong as the people behind it, and we're grateful for the growing team.
Read more about our team here: https://www.worldupstart.com/team
Alumni Growth & Milestones
Building Partnerships in Minnesota's Healthcare Ecosystem
In March, WorldUpstart brought 10 alumni companies to Minnesota for a two-day immersion into one of the nation's leading healthcare and life sciences ecosystems. Throughout the visit, founders connected with leaders from Mayo Clinic, Medtronic, Medical Alley, the University of Minnesota, HealthcareMN, Solventum, Allina Health, and HealthPartners where they had real conversations to advance clinical validation and explore strategic partnerships.
We're grateful to our partners and hosts, including GREATER MSP Partnership and Destination Medical Center (DMC), for opening their doors to our companies.
Congratulations to the participating alumni:
MYNERVA, REGEnLIFE, Vera Healthcare, EFM, Hi-D Imaging, Math Biology, PREVIA MEDICAL, WittGen Biotechnologies, WPD Pharmaceuticals, and Wide Therapy.
Cohort Half Full: Recruiting for Fall 2026 Accelerator
Calling life sciences or MedTech companies ready to expand into the U.S., applications are now open for the WorldUpstart Fall 2026 Cohort, running September 8 – October 29, 2026.
Participants receive:
Personalized mentorship tailored to their growth stage
Expert-led sessions covering U.S. market entry strategy, IP, regulatory, legal, hiring, taxation, and commercialization
Access to a network of 50+ healthcare and industry mentors
Investor and ecosystem connections
Apply here: https://www.worldupstart.com/apply
