Firefly Innovations: Pioneering Public Health Entrepreneurship

Scaling Solutions. Solving Crises.

Welcome to Firefly Innovations, the nation’s leading platform for public health entrepreneurship, based at the City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) — New York’s top-ranked public school of public health. As the first initiative of its kind in the U.S. at an accredited graduate school of public health, we empower innovators to scale market-driven solutions that tackle the most pressing public health challenges — crises such as an epidemic in chronic diseases costing the U.S. $5.75 trillion annually and out of control healthcare spending threatening economic stability with costs projected to hit $7.7 trillion by 2032.

Click here to learn more about the public health crises we’re working to solve in partnership with our network of innovative startups.

Firefly Innovations fosters a vibrant ecosystem where startups harness cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health technologies to drive impact. By connecting these startups with researchers, industry leaders, and funders, we accelerate innovations that boost healthcare efficiency, cut costs, and expand access to care — potentially saving $1.5–$2.1 trillion annually by 2035 — shaping a healthier, more resilient future.

The CUNY Public Health Innovation Accelerator, our nationally recognized flagship program, and our Firefly Collective online platform propel this mission forward with an unparalleled suite of resources:

Expert-Led Mentorship: Gain direct guidance from industry leaders, seasoned entrepreneurs, and top public health experts.
Equity-Free Support: Access world-class programming, strategic partnerships, and tailored growth opportunities—without giving up ownership.
Direct Pathways to Capital: Connect with funding sources, grant opportunities, and investor networks, unlocking millions in potential financing.
Hands-On Training & Workshops: Develop critical skills in business development, fundraising, regulatory strategy, and public health impact.
A Thriving Network: Join a collaborative community of public health entrepreneurs, researchers, funders, and advocates dedicated to driving change.
Visibility & Credibility: Gain exposure through showcase events, media features, and connections with influential decision-makers.
Ongoing Post-Accelerator Support: Continue growing with exclusive access to expert consulting, investor introductions, and strategic opportunities.
Cutting-Edge Public Health Innovation Resources: Leverage the latest tools, research, and insights to refine and scale your solution effectively.

We don’t just launch startups — we propel them to scale, delivering sustainable, market-ready solutions that redefine public health and economic resilience nationwide.

Academic Excellence Meets Entrepreneurial Impact

Powered by CUNY SPH — A National Leader

Firefly Innovations thrives at CUNY SPH, the #1 ranked public school of public health in New York City, New York State, and the tri-state area for four years running.

As part of CUNY — the world’s largest urban university system, with 25 campuses and 275,000 students — we fuse academic rigor with entrepreneurial ingenuity to solve urgent public health challenges.

What Sets Us Apart:

World-Class Mentorship – Guidance from 100+ leaders in public health, business, and tech.
Powerful Connections – Partnerships with healthcare systems, investors, and policymakers.
Funding Access – Links to venture capital, grants, and institutional support.
Public-Private Collaboration – Scaling startups through innovative alliances.

CUNY Public Health Innovation Accelerator

The Premier Program for AI & Digital Health Startups

Our flagship accelerator is the top program in the United States at an accredited graduate school of public health for scaling public health and digital health ventures.

Comprehensive, Equity-Free Support

The accelerator offers a no-cost, no-equity-required model, delivering:

Expert Mentorship: 1:1 guidance from a network of over 100 public health and industry leaders.
Valuable Resources: Approximately $100,000 in programming and pro bono services per venture in 2025 (up from an estimated $50,000 in prior years).
Funding Pathways: Access to over $2 million in investment opportunities.
Global Network: Instant entry to the Firefly Collective web portal, connecting nearly 9,000 innovators, funders, and experts.
NYC & CUNY Advantage: Unbeatable access to CUNY SPH’s unmatched public health ecosystem in NYC.
Accelerated Growth: Pilot testing and strategic guidance to scale your venture rapidly.
World-Class Programming: Cutting-edge presentations and workshops from global experts to sharpen your skills, accelerate your growth, and enhance your impact.
Comprehensive Support: Learn more about support and expertise provided.

Proven Impact Since 2020

Since launching in 2020, Firefly Innovations has supported 200 entrepreneurs with over 5,000 hours of mentorship and programming. Accelerator-backed startups have:

Secured multimillion-dollar contracts with major healthcare systems.
Raised millions in funding to scale innovative solutions.
Expanded healthcare access, improved outcomes, and reduced costs for communities.
Forged research partnerships with top institutions to advance evidence-based solutions.
Earned national recognition for driving measurable impact in public health.
Pioneered AI-driven and digital health solutions, transformed public health with cutting-edge technology.
Scaled globally from NYC’s hub, expanded solutions across regions and borders, leveraging CUNY SPH’s unmatched ecosystem to go from local to national impact.

Strengthening Health Systems and Communities

By driving efficiency, reducing costs, and improving outcomes, our ventures build resilient communities and economies while addressing the impacts of public health crises — on public resources, economic growth, and national security. With Firefly’s expertise, comprehensive programming, and robust funding pathways, we’re accelerating solutions that save lives, strengthen systems, and fuel prosperity — one innovation at a time.

Fueling Innovation at Scale: From Record-Breaking Growth to Bold Expansion

As Firefly Innovations prepares for the 2025 accelerator, the organization builds on a transformative 2024 that highlighted both record growth and also unmet demand.

With support from principal sponsor and global consulting leader KPMG, Firefly Innovations leveraged AI, automation, and digital solutions to slash program operating costs by 30% while fueling unprecedented growth.

Key milestones included:

A 50% increase in cohort size (12 ventures selected).
A 190% increase in supported entrepreneurs (29 total).
A 70% increase in pro bono professional service hours (over 600 total).
A 171% increase in programming provided to participants.
The 2024 Firefly Showcase, the accelerator’s capstone event, drew 3,219 live viewers—a 3,000% jump from prior years—connecting startups with funders, health systems, and collaborators focused on scaling cost-saving, high-impact public health solutions.

Despite this record expansion, demand outpaced the accelerator’s capacity — only 9% of 321 applicants from 35 countries, representing 133 public health startups, secured spots in the 2024 cohort. To address this gap, Firefly Innovations launched the Firefly Collective web portal in late 2024 as a National Public Health Startup Hub connecting nearly 9,000 public health practitioners, entrepreneurs, startups, academics, researchers, organizations, and students worldwide.

Building on this foundation, Firefly Innovations plans a bold step for 2025: every accelerator applicant, regardless of selection for the cohort, will gain access to Firefly Collective. This initiative will provide resources, networking, and programming to help all applicants scale solutions, secure funding, and drive measurable impact.

By removing barriers and fostering long-term collaboration, this unique and innovative model extends the accelerator’s reach beyond select cohorts, ensuring all innovators receive support at every stage — paving the way for Firefly Collective, the Public Health Startup Hub, to drive innovative solutions at an unprecedented scale that expand access to care, improve health outcomes, lower costs, boost efficiency, and address systemic challenges for a healthier, stronger, and more prosperous nation.

How We Compare: CUNY Accelerator vs. Other Programs

Wondering what sets the CUNY Public Health Innovation Accelerator apart? The following chart highlights how our program’s no-cost, no-equity-required model, comprehensive support, and unparalleled access to NYC’s public health ecosystem distinguish us from other accelerators, empowering entrepreneurs to maximize impact.

Firefly Collective: The #1 Public Health Startup Hub

Unlike traditional accelerators, Firefly Collective is a dynamic online platform and global community offering continuous support for public health innovators.

Launched in late 2024, it now connects nearly 9,000 members worldwide, providing a thriving space for collaboration, resources, and growth.

In 2025, every accelerator applicant — whether selected for the annual cohort or not — gains access, ensuring all innovators can scale their solutions.

Join our Community:

Public Health Professionals – Engage with cutting-edge ideas and thought leaders.
Entrepreneurs & Startups – Access investors, mentors, and scaling tools.
Faculty, Researchers & Students – Turn research into real-world solutions.
Service Providers – Share expertise and connect with high-growth ventures.
Funders & Investors – Tap into a vetted pipeline of impactful startups.

Membership Perks:

Expert-Led Mentorship: Learn from industry trailblazers, investors, and top public health leaders.
High-Value Resources: Access exclusive funding insights, investment trends, and workshop series.
Global Networking: Connect with innovators, funders, and decision-makers driving public health change.
Exclusive Firefly Friday Events: Join virtual workshops, panels, and interactive discussions.
Access to Capital: Tap into a curated network of grants, venture funding, and non-dilutive financing opportunities.
Community Showcase & Recognition: Get featured in spotlights, success stories, and media opportunities.
Collaboration Opportunities: Find co-founders, team members, and strategic partners.
Job & Talent Matching: Discover career opportunities and connect with top-tier talent.
Insights & Market Trends: Stay ahead with data-driven reports and public health innovation forecasts.
Peer-to-Peer Learning: Share experiences, challenges, and solutions with like-minded professionals.
Early Access to Accelerator Benefits: Highly engaged members receive priority consideration for Firefly programs.
Curated Opportunities & RFPs: Get notified about exclusive grants, partnerships, and pilot programs.
Recognition & Badging System: Earn credibility and visibility through engagement-based badges and achievements.

Uniting Communities for Collective Impact:

Firefly Collective also incorporates the communities from NYU-CUNY Prevention Research Center (PRC) and the CUNY Center for Systems and Community Design (CSCD). By connecting these communities through Firefly Collective, Firefly Innovations solidifies its position as a global leader in public health innovation, ensuring that breakthrough research and solutions are rapidly scaled and deployed. This fosters a vibrant ecosystem where academia, public health, and entrepreneurship unite to shape the future of global health.

The Prevention Research Centers (PRC) Program, established by Congress in 1984, funds 26 academic research centers across the United States, each committed to reducing health disparities by studying how communities can prevent or counter the risks of chronic illnesses, including HIV, heart disease, obesity, and cancer. The PRC network develops and evaluates practical, community-based public health interventions and disseminates findings broadly across affected communities. This collaboration strengthens our shared mission by ensuring that innovative, research-based solutions are rapidly deployed where they are needed most.
CUNY Center for Systems and Community Design (CSCD) brings its expertise in systems thinking and public health innovation, with a track record that speaks for itself: since 2016, under the leadership of Dr. Terry Huang, CUNY CSCD has produced over 330 publications and secured more than $20 million in grant funding. The Center’s focus on applying systems science and design methodologies to public health challenges enhances the ability to address complex, structural issues at both the community and population levels.

Firefly Fridays: Webinar Series

Evolving from the Public Health Entrepreneurship Speaker Series, Firefly Fridays offers a virtual event series fostering collaboration among public health entrepreneurs and innovators.

What to Expect:

Powerhouse Sessions – Insights from leaders addressing public health crises.
Interactive Workshops – Actionable strategies for scaling ventures.
Community Buzz – Opportunities to connect with peers and spark ideas.

Purpose: The series provides insights to accelerate solutions — from AI-driven diagnostics to tele-health breakthroughs — building a community reshaping U.S. public health one innovation at a time.

Public Health Entrepreneurship Courses

Learn to Lead the Charge

Offered at CUNY SPH, these pioneering courses equip students to address public health challenges with entrepreneurial approaches.

Public Health Entrepreneurship
- Overview: A hands-on studio where teams identify pain points, prototype solutions, and pitch ventures.
- Benefits: Real-world skills from academic and industry experts, culminating in a high-stakes pitch competition.
- Impact: Ideas transformed into market-ready solutions that save lives and reduce costs.
Design Thinking: Creative Problem Solving
- Overview: A 3-week immersive course in design thinking—empathy-driven innovation for complex challenges.
- Benefits: Tools to craft sustainable solutions with measurable outcomes.
- Impact: Mastery of a framework powering Firefly startups.

Value: These courses combine CUNY SPH’s academic rigor with Firefly Innovations’ entrepreneurial edge, preparing students to launch transformative public health ventures.

Firefly Designathons

Firefly Designathons bring entrepreneurs and experts together in high-energy events to co-create cutting-edge public health solutions in real time.

How It Works:

Thematic Sprints – Focus on urgent issues like mental health or HIV prevention.
Team Power – Collaboration with diverse innovators to refine ideas.
Pitch Showdown – Presentations to judges for ongoing Firefly support.

Recent Wins:

2020 (with MIT Solve) – Seven teams with 70 participants revolutionized mental health solutions.
2021 – Eight teams with 25 innovators advanced biomedical HIV prevention.

Purpose: Designathons spark creativity and accelerate impact, with top ideas receiving Firefly backing to scale across the U.S., turning concepts into real-world change.

Take the Lead. Drive Impact.

Power the Future of Public Health Entrepreneurship

Firefly Innovations isn’t just a community—it’s a movement. A global network of entrepreneurs, experts, and visionaries tackling the most pressing public health challenges. By partnering with Firefly, you fuel the next wave of groundbreaking solutions, driving impact where it matters most.

Ways to Partner with Firefly:

We offer three tailored partnership opportunities—choose the one that aligns with your goals and leave your mark on the future of public health.

Financial Partners

What You Do: Fund our accelerator, mentorship, and community initiatives, empowering startups to scale.
What You Get: Premium brand placement in campaigns, events, and communications—plus the ROI of fueling global health solutions.
Why It Matters: Your investment unlocks the potential of visionary entrepreneurs solving critical challenges.

In-Kind Partners

What You Do: Provide services like legal support, marketing, or tech expertise to help startups grow.
What You Get: Direct engagement with future clients or partners, boosting your network and influence.
Why It Matters: Your tools bridge the gap between ideas and impact, positioning you as a key player in health innovation.

Media Partners

What You Do: Amplify our story and startups’ breakthroughs through your channels.
What You Get: Co-branded campaigns linking your audience to cutting-edge innovation.
Why It Matters: Elevate your platform while spotlighting solutions to global health challenges.

More Ways to Get Involved:

✔ Speaker: Share your expertise and inspire the next generation of innovators.
✔ Mentor: Provide hands-on guidance to startups, accelerating their success.
✔ Investor: Back high-impact ventures tackling urgent health challenges.
✔ Pipeline Partner: Offer growth opportunities to scale-ready ventures.

Contact Firefly’s Director W. Michael Short at walter.short@sph.cuny.edu to explore opportunities to fuel innovation that transforms lives — one solution at a time.

Firefly Innovations: Leading the Charge for Healthier Communities