CareQuest Innovation Partners, a leading company based in Boston, MA, focused on improving oral health solutions, has teamed up with MATTER, a healthcare incubator and innovation hub based in Chicago, IL.

Together, they’ve launched the 2025 SMILE Health Accelerator program, designed to help early-stage health tech startups make a significant impact on oral health care.

What SMILE Health Offers This Year

This year’s cohort will receive a range of benefits aimed at accelerating their innovations in the oral health space.

The program includes:

Non-Dilutive Cash Stipend: A $15,000 cash stipend (up from $10,000 in previous years), allowing startups to receive financial support without having to give up any equity.
Expert-Led Validation Studies: Participants will gain access to curated industry data, including CareQuest’s new Startup Data Hub, which allows startups to perform self-service validation studies to strengthen their business cases.
One-to-One Mentorship: Industry veterans will offer personalized guidance, helping startups refine their strategies and scale their solutions.
Custom Curriculum: Participants will benefit from tailored workshops designed to support health innovators and help them navigate challenges in their development stages.

Industry Partners Joining the Accelerator

This year’s program will also see the continued involvement of major industry partners such as Colgate-Palmolive Company, Henry Schein, Sun Life Dental, DentaQuest, and Cigna Healthcare.

These organizations will lead specific program tracks, working closely with the startups to drive validation studies and provide strategic insight.

Virtual Events for Prospective Applicants

As the application deadline of May 4, 2025, approaches, SMILE Health will host two virtual events in April to engage prospective applicants and give them the opportunity to connect with industry leaders:

Connecting Chronic Care with Oral Health: This session will feature leaders from Cigna Healthcare, Henry Schein, and 7wire Ventures. It will take place on April 23, from 2–3 p.m. ET.
Engaging People in Their Oral Health: Leaders from Colgate-Palmolive, Sun Life Dental, and the Dental Innovation Alliance will host this session on April 28, from 12–1 p.m. ET.

Startups interested in applying for the program can learn more, register for these virtual events, and submit their applications on the CareQuest Innovation website at https://carequestinnovation.com/smile-health.

This accelerator program is an exciting opportunity for early-stage innovators looking to make a real impact on oral health care delivery.