MassRobotics recently hosted a dedicated week for startups in Robotics and Physical AI in the Healthcare Industry. The week brought together healthcare-focused residents and startups from the Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst program for an in-person experience aimed at accelerating innovation at the convergence of robotics and healthcare.

Designed to provide founders with strategic guidance, industry exposure, and meaningful connections, the week brought together mentors, healthcare stakeholders, and investors to help startups refine their technologies and prepare for real-world deployment.

Day 1: Kicking Off with Founder Pitches & Mentorship

The week began with startup pitches presented to MassRobotics leadership and sponsors with a healthcare interest, setting the stage for thoughtful feedback and discussion. A panel of Catalyst sponsors and mentors followed, sharing insights on what drives success in the program and highlighting standout examples from past cohorts. Participants included FESTO, Mitsubishi Electric Automation, and Novanta.

In the afternoon, startups participated in focused working sessions with their lead healthcare robotics mentors in the Catalyst Program and the day concluded with a residents and healthcare networking event at MassRobotics.

Day 2: Deep Dives with Industry Experts

The second day featured curated one-on-one meetings with members of the Healthcare Catalyst Medical Advisory Board and industry experts. These tailored sessions allowed each startup to dive deeper into their specific challenges, gaining actionable feedback across technical, clinical, and commercial areas. The experts covered critical topics including intellectual property strategy, customer discovery, go-to-market planning, and supply chain considerations, equipping founders with the tools needed to scale effectively.

Signature Series: Robotics and Physical AI for Healthcare Innovation

Later that day, startups took part in MassRobotics’ Signature Series event, Robotics and Physical AI for Healthcare Innovation, hosted at BASE–X in Boston and sponsored by Medtronic. The event convened hospital stakeholders, healthcare providers, researchers, and investors for a lively discussion on real-world challenges and emerging solutions.

The afternoon kicked off with a session on Stakeholder Challenges and Needs, featuring:

• Paolo Bonato, Director of the Motion Analysis Laboratory at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
• Yonatan Keschner, Co-Director of the Healthtech Hub @ARC/Mass General Brigham and Emergency Medicine Physician at Harvard Medical School
• Danielle Duplin, CEO of AgeTech Boston and Freewinds Productions

Each speaker showcased practical examples of how robotics and AI are currently transforming their respective fields, from advanced rehabilitation to emergency medicine and aging-in-place technologies.

The momentum continued with a candid Investor Panel moderated by Bill Piene, VP of Surgical Research & Technology at Medtronic. He was joined by Erich Scheller, Executive Director of TechAtlas at RA Capital Management, and Shannon Bean, Principal at CEI Ventures. The trio dove deep into the mechanics of medtech funding, debating whether they prioritize seasoned founders over raw technology and how they evaluate true market need versus academic innovation. Erich specifically highlighted the importance of the “Elephant Slide”, a clear visual mapping of cash balance, spend, and data readouts, as a vital tool for founders to prove their runway leads to a credible next financing point.

Shifting toward long-term growth, Christina Park from Novanta Inc.’s Corporate Development team provided an expert look into M&A and Corporate Strategy. She shared insights on how Novanta evaluates acquisition opportunities that strengthen core technology solutions across medical and advanced manufacturing portfolios.

The event  highlighted startups in  Rapid-Fire Pitches. A cohort of startups from MassRobotics residents and the Healthcare Catalyst program showcased cutting-edge applications aimed at improving clinical efficiency, patient safety, mobility, and recovery. The evening concluded with impactful networking, sparking new connections and collaboration opportunities between the presenters and the Boston innovation ecosystem.

Startups that pitched: ATDev, Ava Robotics, Enchanted Tools, Hesy Tech Corp., Humotech, HyperSpectral, Inception Robotics , Prosperous Robotics Inc, Ras Labs, Inc., Revolve Surgical, Tenomix Inc., Whelix, Zeus Robotics

Day 3: Hands-On Workshop for Technical Founders

Startups participated in an interactive workshop led by manufacturing expert Peter Russo. The session introduced a new tool designed specifically for technical founders, helping teams pressure-test assumptions, refine their business strategies, and strengthen their product development approach.

Investor Demo Day

A highlight of the week was the Investor Demo Day, where startups shared live demonstrations to a room of potential partners and investors. This session created valuable opportunities for introductions, pilot discussions, and early-stage investment conversations, bringing many startups one step closer to commercialization.

Startups that showcased: ATDev, Ava Robotics, Enchanted Tools, Hesy Tech Corp., Humotech, HyperSpectral, Inception Robotics , Lupa Robotics, Prosperous Robotics Inc, Ras Labs, Inc., Revolve Surgical, Tenomix Inc., Whelix, Zeus Robotics

Day 4: Real-World Exposure Through Site Visits

The week concluded with curated industry and clinical site visits, offering startups firsthand exposure to the environments where their technologies could be deployed. Participants engaged with leading industry partners such as Festo and Novanta, as well as healthcare providers including Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Sanofi, and Mass General Brinham..

These visits provided critical insights into real-world operational needs, helping startups validate use cases and identify pathways for collaboration, pilot programs, and future deployment.

Thank you to FESTO, Mitsubishi Electric Automation, and Novanta for your continued support of our healthcare program and all of the mentors and experts who joined us during the week.