Waypoints Program
Together, bold ideas can become reality.
The Berg Innovation Exchange Waypoints Program is our signature initiative designed to identify and support healthcare innovators with strong potential for strategic collaboration with Mayo Clinic. Structured as a time-bound engagement, the program helps selected companies advance their solutions through curated support, milestone-oriented planning, and strategic access to Mayo Clinic expertise and resources.
The Waypoints Program is not one-size-fits-all. It is designed to align each company’s innovation with real-world clinical priorities and connect them with the right experts, at the right time, to accelerate progress toward meaningful outcomes.
The Model
What’s Included:
- Thorough Evaluation of Your Innovation – Gain clarity on your current stage, gaps, and opportunities for advancement.
- Tailored Insight Into Your Journey – Understand where you are and how to navigate the path forward effectively.
- Connection to a World-Class Ecosystem – Engage with Mayo Clinic’s global network of experts, resources, and strategic partners.
- Strategic Alignment for Impact – Identify and pursue the right pathways for validation, collaboration, and implementation within Mayo Clinic and beyond.
Thanks to philanthropic support and strategic collaborations, we offer scholarships to participants for the program's core components. If collaboration progresses into areas such as co-development agreements, clinical trials, or other specialized arrangements, there may be incremental cost considerations.
Dates
Innovators may apply at any time. Applications are reviewed quarterly to identify innovators with active needs who can benefit from high-touch, milestone-based support.
Upcoming dates to know:
| Application Deadline | Selections Announced | End of Engagement |
|---|---|---|
| March 22, 2026 | March 30, 2026 | June 26, 2026 |
| June 21, 2026 | June 29, 2026 | September 25, 2026 |
| September 20, 2026 | October 5, 2026 | December 18, 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Waypoints Program for?
The program is best suited for companies in the life sciences—biotech, medtech, diagnostics, digital health, etc.—that are beyond the idea stage and have early evidence of feasibility or validation. We support innovations across the healthcare spectrum, from rare diseases to large-scale care delivery solutions.
What are the key selection criteria?
To be considered, companies should:
- Be grounded in life sciences with a clear tie to clinical impact.
- Demonstrate preliminary validation (e.g., pilot data or prototype).
- Articulate a realistic, stage-appropriate approach to resourcing formal collaboration with the Berg Innovation Exchange ecosystem, recognizing that resourcing needs, structures, and consideration (cash and/or non-cash) will vary based on the types of collaboration the company is seeking (e.g., consulting, technology transfer, accelerator participation, clinical validation). Companies should be able to outline reasonable, market-informed estimates aligned with their strategic willingness.
- Have a strong, experienced team with awareness of development and regulatory pathways.
- Exhibit clear differentiation and address unmet clinical needs.
What support is provided?
Participants receive structured support, including:
- Dedicated relationship management
- Customized programming based on strategic needs
- Guidance on de-risking, regulatory planning, and partnership pathways
- Guidance through the administrative processes needed to realize collaboration opportunities
- Facilitated connections to Mayo Clinic experts and navigation on engaging meaningful benefit
What is the expected time commitment for companies?
Selected companies begin with a 30-minute onboarding meeting with a Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange representative to clarify goals and identify potential avenues for collaboration. Based on this discussion, our team will initiate outreach to relevant Mayo Clinic collaborators—including clinicians, researchers, and subject matter experts—and coordinate 30-minute introductory meetings with those expressing interest.
Companies will also have the opportunity to schedule 30-minute presentation review sessions ahead of these introductions. Additional Mayo innovation support staff may be engaged, as needed, to provide targeted feedback aligned with each company’s focus area. Overall, participants should anticipate several brief but high-value engagements spaced over the three-month engagement period.
What is the cost of the program?
The cost of participation is covered through the generosity of our benefactors and strategic partners. This enables us to offer high-touch support without direct fees to participants.
Is access to Mayo Clinic experts guaranteed?
Participants may be connected to stakeholders based on alignment, fit, and readiness. We don’t guarantee access to specific individuals, but we work intentionally to create the right introductions to support meaningful outcomes.
What happens after the program?
Graduated participants—our Waypoints Alumni—join a growing network of companies positioned for further engagement with Mayo Clinic, strategic partners, or advancement to implementation and commercialization.