In a strategic move to boost health care innovation and better support local startups, Yoo & Co. Accelerators (YCA) is now co-locating with the Arizona WearTech Applied Research Center, located in Park Central at 3110 N. Central Ave, in Midtown Phoenix within the Phoenix Medical Quarter. Being in the same space allows for YCA, a leading Arizona-based business accelerator for early-stage bioscience-based technology startups, and the Arizona WearTech Center to foster organic collaborations between their respective models.
The Arizona WearTech Center and YCA both provide funding and support for local start-up companies to develop their products. The two organizations have helped nearly 3 dozen companies to-date bring their technology into the market, whether it be moving through the WearTech Center’s applied research model or leveraging YCA’s entrepreneur and business assistance services.
“Co-locating with the WearTech Center is a deliberate move for us. We’ve been actively engaged with startups requiring access to clinical partners and talent in the medical research community,” said Chris Yoo, Ph.D., Founder of Yoo & Co. Accelerators. “Our two respective organizations are aligned in the mission to help Arizona innovators build successful startups, bring technologies to market at an accelerated pace, and that help people live healthier lives”
The Arizona WearTech Applied Research Center is located at Park Central which is part of the Phoenix Medical Quarter, a ‘bioscience hub’ that includes bioscience, health care and education organizations such as Creighton University, Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center Campus, RadNet, Alliant School of Nursing, WCUI Smith Chason and DMG Children’s Rehabilitative Services. The proximity to these current and potential partners allows for greater collaboration. The bioscience advancements happening in the area is further accelerated by the Medical Device Manufacturing Multiplier Strategy Development Consortium grant awarded to the Greater Phoenix Economic Council as part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration’s Tech Hubs program.
“Welcoming Yoo & Co. Accelerators to our space is a testament to our commitment to driving innovation in Arizona’s biomedical landscape,” said Wes Gullet, Director of Operations at the Arizona WearTech Center. “This move will amplify our impact and help Arizona continue to lead the charge for transformative healthcare solutions providing healthcare access, equity, and economic security.”
