The Partnership for Economic Innovation (PEI) secured $600,000 from the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) to support six Arizona health technology startups. The funding launches the fifth cohort of PEI’s Applied Research Centers. The program helps move medical innovations from the lab to the marketplace. State funding also matches private and other non-state investments from industry partners.

The new cohort includes six companies developing solutions for major healthcare challenges:

• Cortalis Neuro: Clinical software that helps physicians optimize deep brain stimulation for drug-resistant epilepsy.
• MiiCare: A remote health platform that helps older adults remain independent. Its MiiCube device tracks health data, monitors behavior, measures vital signs, and alerts caregivers through a virtual assistant—without cameras.
• Prickly Pear Health: An AI-powered app that supports women’s brain health with voice journaling, mood tracking, and personalized insights during perimenopause and hormonal changes.
• ScripGuard™: A reusable smart medication dispenser that delivers prescriptions on schedule and helps prevent misuse.
• Serenity Neurotechnologies: A non-invasive, ultrasound-powered wearable device designed to treat chronic migraines.
• UnityCare: A lightweight wristband and adhesive patch that monitor heart activity, movement, and stress to detect cardiac events, including arrhythmias.

Since 2019, PEI’s Applied Research Centers have supported more than 35 health technology projects. The program guides startups from early concepts through FDA pathways and commercialization. Its engineering lab at Phoenix Medical Quarter’s Park Central campus provides research support, prototyping resources, and strategic partnerships that help companies reach the market faster.

Each Cohort 5 company also partners with leading Arizona research institutions, including Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, and Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Arizona. These partnerships give startups access to researchers and technical expertise that speed product development and commercialization.

The Partnership for Economic Innovation (PEI) is an Arizona-based nonprofit organization that brings together business, academic, civic, and government leaders to accelerate innovation-driven economic growth. Its mission is to help transform Arizona into a leading global innovation economy by moving new technologies from research labs into commercial products and high-quality jobs.

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state’s leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create – attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries.