Ten Weeks, One Stage: MedCycle Network at the 2026 AbbVie Foundation Health Equity Accelerator
A Second Selection, and a Rare One
On May 12, 2026, MedCycle Network walked into MATTER’s Chicago office for the first time, one of just six organizations selected nationally, and the only California-based organization, for the 2026 AbbVie Foundation Health Equity Accelerator. The selection landed within the same two weeks MedCycle Network was also chosen for Tech to the Rescue’s AI Impact Scaling Program, a rare double signal, from two different philanthropic programs, that the model MedCycle Network's co-founders built was ready for a bigger stage.
“The AbbVie Foundation Health Equity Accelerator is designed to help turn bold, community-led ideas into scalable solutions that address the root causes of health disparities and improve health outcomes.” - Keya Milla, President, AbbVie Foundation
Ten Weeks, Five Fellow Health Equity Organizations
For the next ten weeks, MedCycle Network worked alongside five other community-led organizations chosen for the same cohort: Grassroots Health (school-based health education), Black Heart Association (community cardiovascular screenings), Health Justice Initiative (medical-legal advocacy), The Community Grocer (food-as-medicine), and SPEAK - Supportive Place for Empowering Asian Americans and Kin, (focused on Asian American mental health).
“From culturally responsive mental health support and community-based cardiovascular screenings to food-as-medicine, youth health education, medical-legal advocacy and sustainable healthcare access, this cohort is tackling some of the most pressing barriers to health equity.” - Katie Kosko, Senior Partnerships Manager, MATTER
A Mentor Who Spoke the Same Language
Most of the program ran virtually, five to seven hours a week of mentorship, workshops, and strategy sessions, anchored by lead mentor Laura Starr, Executive Director of the Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics.
“I've had the pleasure of spending the last ten weeks immersed in MedCycle Network's brilliant project,” Starr wrote after the program's close. “What an inspiring cohort. They all blew me away, truly.”
The Showcase, and What Came of It
The cohort reconvened in Chicago on August 5, 2026, for the program's final Showcase, where MedCycle Network presented (click here to view a video of the slides) alongside leaders from every organization in the cohort: Jane Wallis of Grassroots Health, Eli Moraru of The Community Grocer, Fredrick Robinson of Black Heart Association, Natalie Moulton-Levy, MD, JD of Health Justice Initiative, and Teresa Hsu, Ph.D. of SPEAK.
“It was an honor to present MedCycle Network and share the stage with amazing leaders representing these impactful organizations.” - Eric Talbert, CEO and Co-Founder, MedCycle Network
What Comes Next
Two things are next. First, MedCycle Network is building out its Southern California partnerships, using the same source-to-recipient matching model that has worked in Northern California, as well as starting a pilot in Central California. All part of the statewide growth plan to increase health equity.
Second, the team is developing ReadyMedAI, its AI-powered platform for matching hospital surplus to clinic needs faster and across California. The ten weeks with the AbbVie Foundation and MATTER sharpened how MedCycle Network will execute both.
MedCycle Network heads into that next chapter with momentum, more than $5.5 million in medical surplus already moved to over 30 partner organizations, reaching an estimated 500,000 patients, and now, a national network of mentors and peer organizations to help take it further.
None of it happens without the AbbVie Foundation and MATTER teams who built and ran the program, mentor Laura Starr, and co-founders Andy Pines and Ernesto Olivares, who gave their time alongside Eric throughout the ten weeks.
Join the Movement
Whether you're a hospital with medical surplus to donate, a clinic with request for a free delivery, or a donor ready to make a positive impact, your support helps transform medical surplus into health access so more people receive care.
Donate or partner with MedCycle Network today. Together, we're delivering hope, one partnership, one community at a time.