MATTER launches accelerator focused on reducing maternal mortality in the U.S.

MATTER, the premier healthcare incubator and innovation hub, has opened applications for the second 51 Labs, an accelerator focused on women’s health. This year’s program focuses on preventing maternal mortality in the U.S. before, during and after birth and receives support from Health Care Service Corporation, Laerdal Million Lives Fund, BayCare, Parkview Health, University of Chicago Medicine, Organon and Stryker.

Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report showing that the maternal mortality rate in the U.S. worsened by 40 percent from 2020 to 2021.1 The maternal mortality rate is now the highest in the U.S. since 1965 and is far worse than other industrialized nations.

While all ages and races saw an increase in maternal mortality in 2021, many inequities still exist due to a variety of factors, including but not limited to access to quality care, socioeconomic status, race and education level. For example, Black women are three times as likely to die from pregnancy or pregnancy-related causes as white women in the U.S.2

“51 Labs is designed to address gaps in investment and innovation in women’s health,” said Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER. “We are pleased to partner with seven key industry stakeholders to help a cohort of startups advance solutions to help address the maternal mortality crisis in the U.S.”

The Laerdal Million Lives Fund, a global venture capital fund dedicated to transformative technologies that can help save lives, will serve as a capital partner for this cohort of 51 Labs companies. “Many maternal deaths are preventable. By investing in enabling technologies and digital solutions that can drive early interventions with high life saving potential and quality improvement initiatives, we can help scale companies working in this critical area,” said Becca Shmukler, principal of Laerdal Million Lives Fund.

The second cohort of the 51 Labs accelerator will address the question:

How can we prevent maternal mortality in the U.S. before, during and after birth?

The program will have three tracks: 1) supporting access to regular prenatal care to identify and mitigate potential risk factors earlier; 2) lowering the incidence of maternal health complications; and 3) supporting mothers during the 12 months after giving birth.

“It’s critically important to support innovative solutions to help moms and babies thrive,” said Dr. Monica Berner, chief clinical officer for Health Care Service Corporation. “Earlier this year, HCSC launched an expanded maternal and infant health initiative to improve health outcomes by increasing access to care, reducing care gaps, and educating and engaging residents on a community level. This 51 Labs program is another way we can help support other innovators who are seeking to tackle this critical issue.”

Applications for the 12-week accelerator are now open. Participating startups will benefit from one-on-one mentoring with industry experts, workshops, interactive roundtable discussions, forums and more. Additionally, each of the selected companies will receive an investment of $125,000, including $100,000 cash from the Laerdal Million Lives Fund and $25,000 of services from MATTER.

The program will culminate with a final showcase in May 2024.

If you’re interested in getting involved, please email 51labs@matter.health.