Vertical Velocity ‘26
// Dates
July 28, 2026
Applications deadline
September 17 – 22, 2026
Program duration
2 week
US Immersion (including 1 week at AIBoomi Caravan)
// Venue
Bay Area
// Entry Fees
Founder Pass : $1600
Founder + Co-founder : $2100
// Format
In-person
// About
What is Vertical Velocity?
Vertical Velocity is a cross-border immersion program for AI-first Indian startups building in the US healthcare market. It combines hands-on Bay Area access, sessions with US healthcare operators and investors, and a tight founder cohort — all in two intensive weeks.
In our inaugural cohort, 12 founders flew to the Bay Area, spent two weeks in rooms that usually take months of cold outreach to get into, and came back with a clarity about the US market that’s hard to get any other way. The cohort group is still active. The connections are still paying off.
Our doors are now open to Cohort 2.
What makes it different?
- Vertical depth. Every session, every speaker, every conversation is specific to healthcare AI — not generic startup advice.
- US-first mindset. You’re not learning about the US market from India. You’re inside it, for a week.
- Real access. Operators, investors, and buyers who’ve built and scaled in US healthcare. No fluff.
- A founder tribe. A cohort of founders with the same market, the same challenges, and skin in the game.
Duration: 2 weeks US immersion (including 1 week at AIBoomi Caravan)
// Impact
Call volume
3K → 500K calls/month
From 3,000 calls a month in October to half a million calls last month.
User growth
7M users, doubled
7 million users now, doubled since October.
Revenue & customers
3× growth
Revenue and customers served have both tripled since we last met.
Recurring revenue
$1.1M ARR
Hit $1.1M ARR in a few months, aided by learnings from Vertical Velocity.
Fundraising
$100K ARR + $900K raised
From pre-revenue to $100K+ contracted ARR, and $900K raised from US investors.
Positioning
Direction clarity unlocked
Sharper pitch, generated pipeline, investor interest, and a Gartner feature.
// 12 startups. 1 room. Still building together.
// Speakers & Mentors from Cohort 1
See all Speakers
Abhishek Jha
Co-founder & CEO, Elucidata
Ajay Gupta
Member of Board of Directors , Vizient Inc
Ashish Gupta
Partner, MFV Partners
Brent Lang
Chair of the Board of Directors, Eko Health
Brijraj Bhuptani
Co-founder & CEO, SPRY
Chetan Kulkarni
Advisor, FortyTwo.VC
Dushyant Mishra
Founder & CEO, RapidClaims
Ganesh Shanker
Co-founder & CEO, Responsive
Kanav Hasija
Co-founder & CEO, MeltPlan
Maya Capur
GTM Expert
Melindah Sharma
Managing Director, Manatt Health
Mohit Daswani
Chief Financial Officer, Simple Practice
Rashmi Gopinath
Co-founder & Managing Partner, BAM Corner Point
Robin Singhvi
Head of AI Programs, OneDigital
Samir Palnitkar
Founder, Growth Oxygen
Shashank ND
Founder & CEO, Practo
Vaibhav Agarwal
Founder, ODDBIRD VC
Vijay Anand
Advisor to CEO, NourishedRx
The speakers of Cohort 2 will be announced soon.
// What to expect
Access to investors, partners, and customers
You’ll be in the same room as US healthcare operators, investors, and buyers — in conversations that take months of cold outreach to get from 9,000 miles away.
A foolproof vertical playbook for the US market
Sessions, workshops, and unfiltered conversations from people who’ve navigated US healthcare sales, clinical workflows, compliance, and fundraising. All specific to your vertical — not generic SaaS growth advice.
A founder tribe for the long run
A tight cohort of AI founders building in the same space that stays active — introductions, late-night problem-solving, and collaborations that starts at a session and turns into actual business.
// Who should apply
Built for founders who are serious about the US market
Full-time, committed founders
Building AI-first products for the US healthcare market
US visa ready [B1/B2, H1B, or equivalent]
Open to travel and spending 1–2 weeks in the Bay Area
Apply for Cohort 2
We’re curating carefully. If you’re building in US healthcare AI and you’re ready to be in the market — this is your program.
// Testimonials
100
NPS
All promoters.
Zero detractors.
100%
Expectations Met
60% said it went
way beyond.
100%
Networking Success
Every founder made
meaningful connections.
// Read More
The story of Cohort 1, in their own words
// Volunteers
// Our Ecosystem Partners
Platinum
Gold
Financing Partner
Silver
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a funding program?
No. Fundraising may happen organically through the connections and access the program creates, but the focus is on US traction and product-market fit.
Is the US trip funded?
There is a subsidised program fee per founder that covers core program experiences including workshops, group meals, social events, and investor mixers. Travel and accommodation are the founder's own responsibility.
When will I need to travel to the US?
Not required. The program involves 1–2 weeks in the Bay Area for the immersion.
Do I need to relocate to the US?
Not required. The program involves 1–2 weeks in the Bay Area for the immersion.