Based on Impact Frontiers’ Five Dimensions of Impact and customized for ACS’s mission priority areas, we use our Cancer Impact Investment FrameworkTM (CIIF) to assess potential investments, innovation programs, and other opportunities, on the following:
BrightEdge aims to propel pioneering start-up companies and their groundbreaking patient-centric solutions to create measurable impact in a shorter timeframe.
Through our investment process, we identify the most impactful scientific discoveries and emerging companies, participate in ongoing value creation, and generate financial returns that diversify ACS’s funding sources. Our team seeks to accelerate the commercialization of patient-centric innovations across the cancer care continuum by investing in cutting-edge technology-enabled solutions and science-based medicines in prevention, early detection, patient access, affordability, care breakthroughs, and treatment adherence.
Defining and Measuring Impact
Different layers
of outcome
of outcome
Relevance of
outcomes to
patients and other
stakeholders
outcomes to
patients and other
stakeholders
Scale of patient-
level solutions
level solutions
Impact and
commercial risks
commercial risks
Enabling the Next Generation of Cancer-fighting Entrepreneurs and Leaders
BrightEdge offers support and mentorship to entrepreneurs pursuing potential high-impact start-ups. Our innovation programs bridge the innovation gap during the proof-of-concept and start-up formation stages, where cancer research and product development so often stalls.
- BrightEdge Entrepreneurs Program
- Innovation Acceleration Hub
- Project HEALTH
BrightEdge Entrepreneurs Program
The BrightEdge Entrepreneurs (BEE) program is the first cancer-focused, geography-agnostic, early-stage venture accelerator offering access to training, experts, resources, and capital. The program is designed to train and equip first-time entrepreneurs to effectively launch companies that will progress research discoveries for the benefit of patients.
Our 2024 inaugural cohort was generously enabled by a grant from the WoodNext Foundation.
2025 Cohort Applications: Closed (November 2024)
Investing for Three-dimensional Impact
BrightEdge accelerates the commercialization of patient-centric innovations by strategically investing in start-up companies that are addressing unmet needs in prevention, early detection, patient access, affordability, care breakthroughs, and treatment adherence.
Today, our donor-funded ACS Impact Venture Fund (AIVF) invests in for-profit, early-stage companies developing cutting-edge, cancer-focused therapeutics, diagnostics, devices, and technologies to help us end cancer as we know it, for everyone.
