MSU Research Foundation Launches Two Sector-Based Conquer Accelerator Cohorts Supporting Healthcare and FinTech Startups

EAST LANSING and DETROIT, Mich. (Feb. 5, 2026) — The MSU Research Foundation launched two Conquer Accelerator program cohorts, with a joint orientation held on February 2, 2026.

The Conquer Detroit Healthcare Accelerator, powered by Henry Ford Health + MSU Health Sciences, supports high-potential healthcare startups advancing innovation in clinical care, workforce systems, and medical technology. The Conquer FinTech Accelerator, powered by MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU), focuses on startups building the next generation of financial tools and services for consumers, credit unions, and small businesses. Both programs will run concurrently through spring 2026, providing investment, mentorship, and tailored programming to help founders accelerate growth and prepare for future funding and partnerships.

Detroit Healthcare Cohort

Five startups were selected for the Detroit Healthcare cohort:

• Ankra Health (ankrahealth.com) – Provides a personalized health platform that combines lab data, clinical guidance, and ongoing coaching to help people manage chronic conditions and build lasting healthy habits.
• Ciyfr – Helps hospitals reduce nurse burnout and turnover by using workforce data to predict staffing risks, guide targeted support, and compare performance across peer organizations.
• Luminur – Supports emergency clinicians with decision tools that reduce unnecessary CT scans by embedding evidence-based guidelines into pulmonary embolism workflows.
• ScopeMed (scopemedicine.com) – Developing a nasal cannula system that improves oxygen delivery during endoscopy, helping clinicians enhance patient safety and comfort during procedures.
• Syntheia (syntheiabio.com) – Uses patient-derived stem cells to test existing heart medications against individual biology, enabling more personalized and effective cardiovascular care.

“Detroit is a powerful place to be building the future of healthcare,” said Tom Stewart, Director of Venture Programming at the MSU Research Foundation. “With support from Henry Ford Health + MSU Health Sciences, this cohort gains direct access to clinical expertise, real-world validation, and networks needed to move promising ideas into practice.”

FinTech Cohort

Five startups were selected for the FinTech cohort:

• Crebit (crebitpay.com) – Provides a stablecoin-powered payments platform that helps international students and immigrant families send tuition and remittances faster and at lower cost.
• FinGoal (fingoal.com) – Uses transaction data analytics to help credit unions identify unmet member needs, reduce churn, and deliver more relevant financial products and services.
• Jupid (jupid.com) – Embeds business formation, accounting, tax, and compliance tools into digital banking platforms, helping credit unions better support entrepreneurs and small business owners.
• Sail (savewithsail.com) – Offers a modern HSA/FSA reimbursement platform that allows users to pay with any card and receive automatic reimbursements for eligible expenses.
• SPARE (gotspare.com) – Provides an embedded point-of-sale financial services platform that enables institutions to expand access to banking services without the cost of traditional branch infrastructure.

“MSUFCU is committed to supporting this cohort of innovators who are tackling real challenges in financial services,” said Filip Danielewicz, Innovation Partnerships Manager at MSU Federal Credit Union. “These startups are building member-centered tools that help people manage their finances more effectively, in ways that align with the credit union mission.”

Comprehensive Support for Startups

The Conquer Accelerator program provides each participating startup with:

• A $20,000 initial investment from Red Cedar Ventures, a venture investment subsidiary of the MSU Research Foundation
• Access to an experienced mentor and alumni network, along with corporate and institutional collaborators who offer sector expertise and pilot opportunities.
• Structured programming focused on customer discovery, business development, fundraising strategy, intellectual property, and market entry.
• Collaborative workspace and clear, milestone-based benchmarks to guide progress.

Upon completing the program, cohort companies join the Red Cedar Ventures portfolio, with continued access to coaching, strategic support, and potential follow-on investment as they scale.

To learn more about the Conquer Accelerator program or apply for a future cohort, visit msufoundation.org/conquer-accelerator.