The program will focus on addressing health disparities in Los Angeles, with new challenge areas tailored to community needs
February 12, 2025 – 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Los Angeles, CA.—Larta Institute, a nonprofit organization accelerating innovation and entrepreneurship, has opened a call for applicants to its 2025 Heal.LA Accelerator. This year, the program will focus on addressing health disparities faced by low-income communities in Los Angeles and introduce new impact and challenge areas driven by local needs. Applications are now open and accepting all U.S.-based entrepreneurs through March 2025.
“At the heart of Los Angeles lies a story of resilience, but also continuing healthcare concerns that impact many vulnerable communities with effects on other communities throughout the region,” said Rohit Shukla, Founder and CEO of Larta Institute. “Heal.LA is about private sector driven innovation: empowering local entrepreneurs to create solutions that transform lives.”
The program aims to ensure that health and healthcare in communities across the region and the country will benefit from ingenuity, pursuit of innovative new ways to address continuing and new challenges to health and wellness.
New Challenge Areas for 2025
The Heal.LA Accelerator will tackle three new challenge areas designed to address critical health needs in Los Angeles:
- Female Health: Solutions improving maternal and infant health outcomes, addressing conditions like PCOS, fibroids, and breast cancer, with a focus on low-income communities.
- Mental and Cognitive Health: Culturally responsive interventions for conditions such as depression, PTSD, and Alzheimer’s, with tailored support for low-income populations, including the housing insecure.
- Chronic Diseases: Innovations in prevention, early detection, and management of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic respiratory illnesses in local populations.
Program Highlights & Benefits
- No cost, no equity support to develop community-based healthcare solutions.
- Eligibility (with restrictions) to apply for Innovation Awards of up to $100,000 in cash.
- Access to 1:1 mentoring, group sessions, and a cohort-based learning hub for commercialization of your innovation.
- Expert-led sessions on regulatory compliance and market entry strategies.
- Support to help develop minimum viable products and/or pilot projects in Los Angeles.
- Guidance to secure non-dilutive funding and connections to investors and partners through Larta’s Ecosystem Action Network (EAN).
Dr. Mandana Semnani, co-founder of Sigma Healthsense and 2024 Heal.LA cohort member, shared: “The Heal.LA program has been instrumental in refining our business strategy and connecting us with valuable resources in the healthcare ecosystem. The program’s mentorship and strategic guidance have helped us navigate the complex healthcare landscape while accelerating our path to market.”
Support for the Heal.LA accelerator is provided in part by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Gilead Sciences.
Learn more and apply at Larta.org/Heal-LA
About Larta Institute
Larta Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, accelerates science and technology innovation for a sustainable planet. Since 1993, Larta has supported over 6,500 startups, helping them secure more than $7 billion in external funding. Visit Larta.org to learn more.
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