Key Takeaways
- • Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFU) and Xcellerant Ventures signed a memorandum of understanding on October 23, 2026, creating a formal partnership announced October 26, 2026.
- • The partnership gives eligible RFU ventures a structured pathway to be introduced and reviewed for "first look" potential investment by the Jetstream Venture Fund, which Xcellerant Ventures manages.
- • The collaboration covers venture readiness, company formation, capital strategy and investor pitch preparation for RFU students, faculty, researchers and alumni, and extends to companies in RFU's Helix 51 biomedical incubator.
- • The initiative was conceived through discussions between RFU leadership and John Shufeldt, MD, JD, MBA, founder of Xcellerant Ventures and a healthcare entrepreneur with prior exits including NextCare Urgent Care and MeMD.
Summary
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFU) and Xcellerant Ventures announced on October 26, 2026 a new partnership intended to expand entrepreneurship education and move healthcare innovations from research toward commercial application in the Chicago region. According to the company's press release distributed via PR Newswire, the formal partnership was signed October 23 through a memorandum of understanding between RFU and the Jetstream Venture Fund, which is managed by Xcellerant Ventures.
The collaboration will offer programming in venture readiness, company formation, capital strategy and investor pitch preparation for RFU students, faculty, researchers and alumni. It will also support companies within RFU's Helix 51 biomedical incubator and explore opportunities for venture capital growth. The partnership establishes a structured process for eligible ventures to be introduced to the Jetstream Venture Fund and reviewed for potential "first look" investment.
The initiative originated in conversations between university leadership and John Shufeldt, MD, JD, MBA, a Chicago Medical School graduate at RFU and founder of Xcellerant Ventures. Dr. Shufeldt, a physician, attorney and venture capitalist, previously grew NextCare Urgent Care to 58 clinics before exiting in 2010, and his MeMD telehealth platform was acquired by Walmart in 2021. He is also associated with VivaMed BioPharma, an AI-enabled drug development company. The release describes Xcellerant's focus on healthcare technology, medical technology and biotechnology.
RFU President Aron Sousa, MD, said the partnership brings together researchers' expertise and entrepreneurs' experience in turning promising ideas into practical solutions. Kristin Wiisanen, PharmD, dean of RFU's College of Pharmacy and chair of the university's Student Entrepreneurial Task Force, said exposure to entrepreneurship and emerging technologies will broaden student and faculty understanding of how discoveries become practical solutions. Dr. Shufeldt said the gap between scientific knowledge and patient delivery often comes down to execution, and that pairing researchers with entrepreneurs early can shorten the path from idea to impact.
The release frames the partnership as addressing the capital and commercialization gap that research institutions face, particularly in the Chicago region's growing life sciences ecosystem. No financial terms, fund sizes or investment commitments were disclosed in the announcement.
The collaboration will offer programming in venture readiness, company formation, capital strategy and investor pitch preparation for RFU students, faculty, researchers and alumni. It will also support companies within RFU's Helix 51 biomedical incubator and explore opportunities for venture capital growth. The partnership establishes a structured process for eligible ventures to be introduced to the Jetstream Venture Fund and reviewed for potential "first look" investment.
The initiative originated in conversations between university leadership and John Shufeldt, MD, JD, MBA, a Chicago Medical School graduate at RFU and founder of Xcellerant Ventures. Dr. Shufeldt, a physician, attorney and venture capitalist, previously grew NextCare Urgent Care to 58 clinics before exiting in 2010, and his MeMD telehealth platform was acquired by Walmart in 2021. He is also associated with VivaMed BioPharma, an AI-enabled drug development company. The release describes Xcellerant's focus on healthcare technology, medical technology and biotechnology.
RFU President Aron Sousa, MD, said the partnership brings together researchers' expertise and entrepreneurs' experience in turning promising ideas into practical solutions. Kristin Wiisanen, PharmD, dean of RFU's College of Pharmacy and chair of the university's Student Entrepreneurial Task Force, said exposure to entrepreneurship and emerging technologies will broaden student and faculty understanding of how discoveries become practical solutions. Dr. Shufeldt said the gap between scientific knowledge and patient delivery often comes down to execution, and that pairing researchers with entrepreneurs early can shorten the path from idea to impact.
The release frames the partnership as addressing the capital and commercialization gap that research institutions face, particularly in the Chicago region's growing life sciences ecosystem. No financial terms, fund sizes or investment commitments were disclosed in the announcement.
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