Listen to this articleThe basics:
- Tech Council Ventures becomes lead partner for Healthcare Innovation Engine at SciTech Scity
- Provides $250K+ annually, strategic guidance to NJ digital health startups
- Engine accelerates pilots in cardiovascular, oncology, maternal health & more
- Helps startups move beyond pilots into real-world, scalable solutions
New Jersey-based early-stage venture fund Tech Council Ventures has signed on as Venture Capital Innovation Lead Partner for the Healthcare Innovation Engine at Liberty Science Center‘s SciTech Scity in Jersey City.
Under the partnership, TCV will provide strategic guidance to startups supported by the Engine. It will also invest more than $250,000 annually in one or more participating companies.
The Healthcare Innovation Engine marks a first-of-its-kind statewide platform designed to accelerate the adoption of digital-first health care solutions through real-world pilot programs. Current initiatives include initiatives focused on uninsured patients in cardiovascular health, oncology, post-ER care, maternal health and adolescent mental health.
“By combining SciTech Scity’s ecosystem of hospitals, universities, companies, and government partners with TCV’s investment expertise, this partnership is poised to create lasting impact for patients and communities,” said Liberty Science Center President and CEO Paul Hoffman. “Startups supported by the Engine will not only gain the capital and validation they need to thrive but will also deliver innovations that expand access to care, reduce disparities, and improve outcomes for the most vulnerable.”
Support to scale
“We were drawn to the Healthcare Innovation Engine because it solves one of the biggest challenges startups face, which is moving beyond pilots to real market adoption,” said Mark Kolb, partner, TCV. “Too often, promising companies stall before they can demonstrate sustainable impact.
“This platform provides not only access to leading health systems and corporate partners but also serves as a pathway to reimbursement and scale.”
He added it presents an opportunity for TCV to invest in companies that can both thrive commercially as well as deliver meaningful improvements in care.
Hoffman said the Engine is building a model for how states can harness public-private partnerships to make digital health more equitable, affordable and effective. It also positions New Jersey as a national leader in health care transformation.
“The addition of TCV’s partnership to the Engine’s platform will help early-stage companies move beyond pilots, validate their business models, and scale into sustainable solutions that transform healthcare delivery and equity,” said Hoffman.
Big picture
The SciTech Scity Healthcare Innovation Engine launched in February 2024. It marks the flagship initiative of the 30-acre innovation campus under development from Liberty Science Center.
The broader SciTech Scity project aims to nurture companies that use science and technology for public good. Additional partners include RWJBarnabas Health, Bristol Myers Squibb, EY, Princeton University, Nokia Bell Labs, New Jersey Innovation Institute, and multiple state and local agencies.
The collaboration between TCV and SciTech Scity marks a significant milestone for New Jersey’s innovation ecosystem. It comes as the Healthcare Innovation Engine just received the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Public-Private Collaboration Award.
“At a time when healthcare systems are under pressure to deliver more with fewer resources, and policy makers are raising the bar on equity and innovation, our partnership with Tech Council Ventures is ensuring that the most promising digital health startups don’t just pilot in New Jersey–they scale here,” said Alex Richter, executive director and head of the SciTech Innovation Hub.
