The 2026 gBETA Charlotte Health cohort from left, Conner McCraw, Erin Martin, Margaret Kocherga and Gregory Roberts are pictured at the Connect Labs by Wexford at The Pearl. Image: Charlotte Business Journal

Charlotte's first startup pre-accelerator for health-focused ventures is halfway through, and participants are under pressure to prove their companies are worth backing.

Five founders selected for the inaugural gBETA Charlotte Health pre-accelerator are four weeks into a seven-week crash course on investor readiness. The program runs out of Connect Labs by Wexford inside The Pearl, an estimated $1.5 billion innovation district by Atrium Health and Wexford Health & Science in midtown. It culminates in a public pitch showcase set for May 28.