Linda and Mike Mussallem [Photo courtesy of the Linda and Mike Mussallem Foundation]
The 14-week virtual program will offer workshops, executive mentoring, investor readiness preparation, curated introductions to strategic partners and advisors, and the opportunity to pitch at Octane’s Cardiovascular Tech Forum in September.
The 2026 MDO Medtech Startups Special Report: Technical tips and actionable advice for device startups
The program is funded with a legacy gift from the Linda and Mike Mussallem Foundation, launched by the longtime Edwards Lifesciences leader and his wife after he retired from the structural heart device developer.
“We are strong believers in the transformative impact that innovation can have on patients and families facing cardiovascular disease and we are proud to support the entrepreneurs and emerging companies working to develop the next generation of cardiovascular technologies,” the couple said in a news release. “Through the Octane Mussallem Cardiovascular Accelerator, we hope to provide a pathway for promising founders to access the mentorship, industry expertise, and connections they need to bring meaningful solutions to patients around the world while improving outcomes for future generations.”
Previously: What Mike Mussallem learned from his first (and maybe worst) jobs after engineering school
Startups can learn more and apply for Octane’s Mussallem Cardiovascular Accelerator here by July 13, 2026.
Finalists will be interviewed from July 20 through Aug. 7 via Zoom and be notified of a final decision on Aug. 10.
“If you’re building the next generation of cardiovascular innovation, this program is designed for you,” Octane says at its website. “Accelerate commercialization, strengthen fundraising readiness, navigate regulatory pathways, and connect with the people and organizations who can help scale your company. Breakthrough cardiovascular innovations deserve a pathway to patients. If you’re ready to accelerate growth, expand your network, and position your company for investment and commercialization, we encourage you to apply.”
In a Medical Design & Outsourcing interview for our January 2025 Leadership in Medtech issue, Mussallem offered a preview of his philanthropic efforts focused on innovation in health care, whole-person health, improving quality of life and care for people with Down syndrome, and better treatment of pediatric heart defects.
In September 2025, his foundation launched the Mussallem CHD Alliance congenital heart defect initiative. In October, his foundation funded the first Fogarty Innovation Prize, won by the Farapulse/Boston Scientific team behind the development and commercialization of the Farapulse pulsed-field ablation (PFA) system.
Previously: What Edwards Lifesciences CEO Bernard Zovighian learned from Mike Mussallem
