Early Entrepreneurs Program 

We are pleased to announce the second annual (and rebranded!) Early Entrepreneurs Program to support novice innovators! This initiative offers three months of entrepreneurial training and bespoke mentorship for innovators from academic/medical institutions or startups. Our goal is to empower individuals with early-stage neurotech ideas and reduce the barriers to commercialization. The Early Entrepreneurs program encourages inclusivity and community building for like-minded individuals with a passion for impact. 

At Neurotech Harbor (NTH), we believe that welcoming and encouraging aspiring innovators enhances our community and strengthens the relevance of innovation within our industry. Our goal is to drive progress and creativity in medical technology. We are excited to offer this training program for its second year. Our mission aligns with the goals of the National Institutes of Health in cultivating a strong ecosystem in neurotechnology innovation. The participants in the program’s first year represented a wide breadth of technological domains (wearables, diagnostics, devices, imaging) and at various stages of technology development. 

We invite aspiring innovators, including faculty, medical fellows, and startup entrepreneurs, to apply. If accepted into the program, the training is free of charge. Our approach will be dynamic and cross-disciplinary, moving beyond didactic lectures. A dedicated mentor will be assigned to develop a personalized program for each participant and “meet them where they are”. We believe in the importance of ongoing active engagement and relationship-building beyond the training period. 

This program will run for three months starting in late January/early February 2026. The first two days of in-person training will be followed by 11 weeks of virtual webinars, workshops and hands-on engagement by experts in the field of neurotechnology and medical device development. Participants are expected to conduct customer discovery with stakeholders and validate their early-stage ideas. Ultimately, the tools provided will help participants reframe how they approach their current (and future) innovations and position them to more effectively translate their research. 

Program Objectives 

• Enhance Knowledge: Increase participant understanding of the innovation process for neurotechnology medical device design and development. 
• Advance Innovations: Advance early-stage innovation ideas into actionable next steps, such as building a team, or developing a plan for continued funding support through the Blueprint MedTech program or other sources. 
• Build a Network: Develop a peer network of aspiring innovators and mentors who can serve as ambassadors and build a community. 

Program Design: Crash course in translation and commercialization   

• Two days in-person session introducing foundational principles of medical device innovation and translation (late January/early February). 
• Topical webinars/lectures and independent work (dates TBD).
• Virtual meeting/graduation to present program findings; similar to Capstone presentation (early May).

Eligibility: Current medical professionals (MD’s), residents, university faculty and startup entrepreneurs (non-academic affiliation)  

Deadlines: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until December 12. Top prospective candidates will be interviewed (30 min) prior to December 20. Notification of program acceptance will be made by December 23. 

Needed documents for the application:

1. Personal Statement
   1. Current experience and training, career goals and expected learning outcomes during this program (maximum one-page).
   2. Proposed Idea including technology description, targeted unmet need/ potential impact (maximum one-page). 
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. A letter of reference from a mentor/major advisor, superior or administrative contact documenting personal commitment and availability for 12 weeks. Letter is due by 12/31/2025. 

Application Process: Complete this application form and include the above documents as PdF attachments in an email to nth@jhu.edu.

Expectations: Attend the in-person two-day kickoff event in Washington DC in late January or early February, 2026 in Washington DC. A minimum $500 travel stipend will be provided. Attend the weekly or biweekly virtual Zoom calls and mentoring meetings (times TBD). The program is expected to last 11 weeks after kickoff. 

We look forward to welcoming you to the Early Entrepreneurs Program and supporting your journey in innovation!