The partnership connects the American Heart Association’s EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator with HealthStack’s network of clinicians and health executives, and invites six selected grantees into the HealthStack Roundtable at AfroTech Conference.
HealthStack, the leading health tech platform for clinicians and health leaders driving equitable innovation, is teaming up with the American Heart Association to support and amplify its EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator.
The collaboration positions HealthStack as the program’s supporter, extending the accelerator’s reach across HealthStack’s network of physicians, CMOs, healthcare executives, and health technology innovators.
The EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator is the American Heart Association’s flagship program investing in founders and organizations building scalable, evidence-based solutions to close systemic health disparities in underserved communities. The 2026 national cohort will select 10 to 12 founders in two tracks, Collegiate and Health-Tech Enabled Products and Services, for up to $150,000 in grant funding and an eight-week curriculum covering design thinking, market positioning, clinical adoption strategy, and fundraising. Applications are open through April 27, 2026.
The relationship extends the accelerator program into a high-impact clinical setting. Six American Heart Association supported grantees will be selected to participate in the HealthStack Executive Roundtable during AfroTech Conference, a closed-door convening of senior leaders from healthcare, technology, policy, and investment. The roundtable is designed to surface clinically credible solutions, facilitate real-world feedback from decision-makers, and accelerate pathways to adoption and investment for health equity innovators.
“HealthStack was built to give clinicians and health leaders the credible platform they deserve, and to make sure the innovations solving the hardest problems in health equity get in front of the executives who can move them forward. Teaming up with the American Heart Association to identify and elevate those founders, and then connecting them with our clinical and executive community at AfroTech, is exactly how that work gets done.”
— Morgan DeBaun, CEO and Founder, Blavity Inc.
“At the American Heart Association, we are committed to investing in solutions that advance equitable health outcomes and strengthen communities. The EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator supports founders building innovative, scalable approaches to address health disparities. Through this collaboration with HealthStack, we’re expanding access to the networks, expertise and visibility needed to help these solutions grow and create lasting impact.”
— Arika Cason, National Senior Program Lead
The program is open to founders and CEOs of U.S.-based nonprofits or pre-seed, seed, or Series A startups whose innovations demonstrably advance equitable health outcomes. Applications are open now at empoweredtoserve.org through April 27, 2026.
About HealthStack
HealthStack is the leading B2B platform reaching clinicians and health decision-makers through credible content, professional education, and high-impact events focused on equity. Powered by AfroTech and Blavity Inc., HealthStack delivers evidence-based reporting, CME-aligned programming, and executive convenings that accelerate innovation and equitable outcomes across the healthcare landscape. Learn more at blavityinc.com.
About the American Heart AssociationThe American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. The AHA’s EmPOWERED to Serve platform supports entrepreneurs and organizations driving health justice in underserved communities through grant funding, training, and access to national health innovation networks. Learn more at heart.org.
