Spoke Membership FAQ

Thank you for your interest in the Investor Catalyst Hub. If your question is not addressed below, please use the form on our Contact page to reach out to us.

Application Questions

What companies, funds, institutions, or organizations are eligible to be spokes for the Investor Catalyst Hub?

The opportunity to apply to become a “spoke” is open to any company, fund, institution, or organization. There is no cost to becoming a spoke. You can find out more information about applying to become a spoke on the Spoke Network web page.

What are the benefits of becoming a spoke?

Investor Catalyst spokes receive many benefits, including eligibility to apply for funding to support Investor Catalyst activities, projects, immersive experiences, and initiatives. Spokes are able to use flexible contracting vehicles resulting in award execution significantly faster than traditional government contracts. Spoke membership also provides networking opportunities with consortium members (industry, academia, nonprofits, and other health ecosystem stakeholders), government (Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) and other federal agencies), and other strategic stakeholders at annual membership meetings, conferences, and forums. Spokes have opportunities to provide feedback and input into ARPA-H challenge areas, problem identification, and priorities. Spokes will also be able to access and contribute to an open library of resources and public goods that draw on the insights from ARPANET-H activities.

What does the registration and selection process for becoming a spoke entail?

To become a spoke, each member must submit an application that can be found on the Spoke Network web page. Consideration for membership as an Investor Catalyst spoke will be given to all companies and organizations that (1) meet the membership obligation criteria, (2) have relevant interests in ARPA-H programs/activities, and (3) could reasonably participate in Investor Catalyst and ARPA-H activities. All members must be approved by ARPA-H.

Hub Questions

How does this hub differ from the other hubs?

The Investor Catalyst Hub is based in the Greater Boston Area (Cambridge, Massachusetts). To ensure viability, the Investor Catalyst Hub is dedicated to markets: understanding investor interests, analyzing the competitive landscape, and developing robust business models to bring innovations online. This network will use a commercial lens to develop solutions that all Americans can afford and access. Moreover, it ensures that new ARPA-H technologies can navigate the complexities of the business, transition, and regulatory landscapes.

The Customer Experience Hub is based in Dallas, Texas. The Customer Experience Hub is focused on end-user desirability and is dedicated to the needs of people: listening to, learning from, and building trust with communities to enable access to critical health innovations for all Americans.

What are examples of the types of services that ARPA-H would want from spokes?
The following table provides some use cases for each hub that spokes may be involved in depending on their areas of expertise.

Are the ARPA-H programs that are already in place associated with a specific hub? Or are they completely separate?

The ARPANET-H hub and spoke network is available to all ARPA-H programs to utilize as a resource for program development and outcomes. Programs may use the network as needed to draw on the expertise of spokes in bringing their innovations to market.

Membership Questions

Is spoke membership tied to a specific program within a given hub (Investor Catalyst Hub or Customer Experience Hub)? Or is it more general?

No, spoke membership is not tied to a specific program. Membership in either or both hubs gives spokes access to all resources, events, funding opportunities, etc., offered by the hub(s) as they are announced and executed over time.

Did ARPA-H already pick spokes they wanted ahead of application time?

No. ARPANET-H was created through an open and competitive process, during which the hub managers collected letters of intent from organizations that wanted to join as spokes should the hub be selected. Now that the hubs have been awarded, any organization may apply to become a spoke. Organizations that signed letters of intent must also apply for membership, because signing a letter of intent did not constitute formal acceptance into ARPANET-H.

One school/department at our institution is already a spoke; do we have to apply again to add another department? If your academic campus is a part of a larger university system, should the overarching university system apply as a spoke, or is there a benefit for the individual campuses to apply separately?

Depending on the size and level of communication within a university system, prospective spokes may choose to apply as the overarching university system or individually as schools/departments. The only benefit to applying as an individual school/department would be the ability to name multiple points of contact that could receive and disseminate news about the network. If applying as a university system, be sure to list all relevant capabilities related to ARPA-H so that all areas of expertise are captured for targeted engagement, when applicable.

Can entrepreneurs apply in an individual capacity? Seems like the application is geared toward organizations.

Only organizations may join ARPANET-H as spokes. Entrepreneurs may apply to join on behalf of their company, but personal LLCs may be rejected if they cannot be sufficiently verified as a legitimate business with the capability of meaningfully engaging in ARPANET-H. This said, individuals are welcomed to participate in certain aspects of ARPANET-H (such as responding to Network Activations) and may sign up for ARPANET-H’s newsletter to stay informed of developments and opportunities. Note: This does not preclude startups, which are encouraged to apply to be members of ARPANET-H.

How is ARPA-H choosing spokes right now? What are the criteria? How are applications reviewed for membership acceptance? When is our membership application going to be approved? How long will it take to hear back about the status of our application?

Applications are submitted through the Investor Catalyst Hub website. Each hub performs an initial vetting of the applicant, including a review of organizational legitimacy and relevance to the hub objectives, and ARPA-H provides final approval. Consideration for spoke membership will be given to all companies and organizations that (1) meet the membership obligation criteria outlined in the Consortium Membership Agreement, which can be found on each hub’s website, (2) have relevant interests in ARPA-H programs/activities, and (3) could reasonably participate in hub and ARPA-H activities.

Our application was rejected. Can we resubmit?

You may reach out to investorcatalyst@venturewell.org to discuss the rejection of your application.

Does being a spoke member conflict with being a member of other Health and Human Services (HHS) hubs, such as the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program?

No, there is no conflict with membership in the ARPANET-H hubs relative to other hubs and consortia.

Can our organization have involvement with the other hub(s) and still be eligible to be a spoke?

Yes, an organization may be involved with either or both hubs if they (1) meet the membership obligation criteria outlined in the Consortium Membership Agreement, which can be found on each hub’s website, (2) have relevant interests in ARPA-H programs/activities, and (3) could reasonably participate in hub and ARPA-H activities.

How long does membership last?

Spoke membership does not expire. If the need arises, spokes may be asked to sign updated Consortium Membership Agreements with updated terms.

Can a drug development biotech join? Are for-profit small companies eligible to join?

Yes, membership is open to all organizations meeting the eligibility criteria of the hub they are applying to.

Is ARPA-H interested in mental health being part of the Hub?
Yes! ARPA-H is interested in health innovations across all health sectors.

Our organization is very small and local. Can we still be considered for membership?

Yes, consideration for spoke membership will be given to all companies and organizations that (1) meet the membership obligation criteria outlined in the Consortium Membership Agreement, which can be found on each hub’s website, (2) have relevant interests in ARPA-H programs/activities, and (3) could reasonably participate in hub and ARPA-H activities. We welcome applications from smaller organizations, including for-profits and nonprofits, startups, small businesses, etc.

Can our organization have foreign involvement and still be eligible to be a spoke?

Yes, membership eligibility will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Foreign instrumentalities that are substantially owned, controlled, sponsored, commanded, managed, or dominated by a foreign government will not be eligible for membership unless directed by ARPA-H.

How many spokes can be in one city or state? Is there a limit?

There is no limit to the number of spokes in a city or state.

Is there an application deadline?

No, applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Engagement Questions

We were accepted as a spoke. What can we do in the meantime to prepare until ARPA-H calls on us for something? We were just accepted as a spoke; when can we start working with ARPA-H? Who is going to decide when we get to start engaging with ARPA-H? What do we do in the meantime?

You can review the ARPANET-H website and the Investor Catalyst Hub website to get an idea of the capabilities and mission of the hub and spoke network. You can also sign up to receive the hubs’ newsletters, which will keep you informed about the network and forthcoming engagement opportunities (Investor Catalyst Hub mailing list). Also, you can view each hub’s Events page to stay informed and learn more about current offerings (Investor Catalyst Hub Events).

Here are a few funding and engagement avenues to look into:

• See here for more details on ARPA-H programs to learn if your ideas align with programs at ARPA-H, which are the driving force for our R&D efforts. More info on the ARPA-H research model is here, and we welcome applications for new Program Managers who can propose their new ideas as well.
• If interested in pursuing ARPA-H funding for research aiming to improve health outcomes across patient populations, communities, diseases, and health conditions that does not align with an existing ARPA-H program, you can apply for an agency-wide Mission Office-specific Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO).
• ARPA-H also provides funding for research proposals from small businesses. While the solicitation is not currently open, you can see here for more information and updates once it is available.

Will spoke members be able to provide input/feedback for potential new programs?

Yes, spokes may pitch new programs to ARPA-H in the following ways:

• See here for more details on ARPA-H programs to learn if your ideas align with programs at ARPA-H, which are the driving force for our R&D efforts. More info on the ARPA-H research model is here, and we welcome applications for new Program Managers who can propose their new ideas as well.
• If interested in pursuing ARPA-H funding for research aiming to improve health outcomes across patient populations, communities, diseases, and health conditions that does not align with an existing ARPA-H program, you can apply for an agency-wide Mission Office-specific Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO).
• ARPA-H also provides funding for research proposals from small businesses. While the solicitation is not currently open, you can see here for more information and updates once it is available.

If we want to offer an immersive experience, do we have to pay for it?

No, but ARPA-H does not expect organizations that host immersive experiences to incur significant costs. ARPA-H will cover all costs associated with attendees, including: airfare, lodging, food, transportation, etc. Recognizing financial burdens facing small and nonprofit organizations, ARPA-H may reimburse organizations for the labor associated with hosting an immersive experience. If this is a concern, please reach out to the hub representatives, who will gladly assist you.

The hubs will maintain a list of proposed immersive experiences. If you would like to propose an experience, please reach out to the hub, who will help develop it and add it to the list. Periodically the hub will also reach out to spokes asking if they will be willing to host an experience related to specific ARPA-H interests.

What kind of access do we have to the other spokes in this network?

Members will have access to a list of other spokes in the network that includes contact information for their designated point of contact (POC) and a brief description of their interest in ARPANET-H and their capabilities. There will also be a variety of opportunities to meet other spokes at ARPANET-H hosted events and meetups hosted in different cities as part of ARPA-H visits or established industry conferences. If opportunities to collaborate are identified, the hubs may also introduce spokes to each other to foster teaming.

Will there be a conference for us to convene regularly?

The hubs will host various events throughout the year to engage the spoke network. These will include monthly virtual meetings, an annual all-hand meeting, listening sessions, conference meetups, and regional meetups that accompany ARPA-H visits. There will also be events specific to ARPA-H programs, including Proposers’ Days, Industry Days, Pitch Days, and Demo Days.
You can view each hub’s events page to stay informed and learn more about current offerings (Investor Catalyst Hub Events, Customer Experience Hub Events).

How exactly will venture capitalist (VC) investors engage?

VC investors will be invited to attend demo days and pitch sessions where ARPA-H performers and other spokes pitch their capabilities. They will also be able to network with other investors and access spokes that could be potential consumers for companies they have invested in. VCs will also have opportunities to act as formal or informal advisors to ARPA-H and ARPA-H-funded companies.

What will entrepreneurial support organizations do as part of the hub?

Entrepreneurial support organizations can be contracted for services, act as advisors, or benefit from tools and techniques developed by the hub. They may be directly engaged by the hub to provide support services to ARPA-H performers and/or other spokes. This will be done through an open competitive process. They may also operate in an advisory function, helping ARPA-H prioritize entrepreneurship investments to maximize returns and best practices to incorporate and teach. ARPA-H intends to share the resources/guides that it creates as well as the lessons learned through these efforts. These can be accessed by entrepreneurial support organizations who will benefit from ARPA-H’s investment. Lastly, you will be able to network with other like-minded organizations and have access to cutting-edge startups.

Won’t program managers just pick the spokes that they already wanted to work with? How is that fair or equitable?

No. ARPANET-H uses a competitive process. Proposers are evaluated against consistent criteria, and the proposals with the best value will be selected. ARPANET-H actually creates a larger playing field by eliminating barriers that typically prevent small and non-traditional businesses from doing business with the government.

Can you provide an example of how the hub-spoke mechanism might work for a specific innovation?

ARPA-H’s Advancing Clinical Trial Readiness (ACTR) project aims to establish a robust clinical trial infrastructure. Its ambitious goal is to stand up clinical trials within days and to build the capacity to reach 90% or more of all Americans within 30 minutes of their homes. To draw on the wisdom of crowds and give partners and communities across the country an opportunity to shape the future of health innovations in this space, ARPANET-H issued a Network Activation Call through the Customer Experience Hub. Unlike in traditional requests for information (RFIs), ARPA-H is proactively engaging with communities across the country and asking for their input on important questions that will shape ACTR’s deliverables, including novel consent processes, decentralized trial models, and computational methods to develop data platforms with real-world applications. Feedback from the community will inform future ARPA-H next steps and investments in this space and possible funding opportunities.

Funding Questions

Is there going to be support provided for us to interact with other spokes (travel)?

This will be determined at a future date. The hub will host a variety of virtual events that spokes will be able to attend and interact with other spokes. If a spoke applies to a project/initiative and is selected, some travel costs may be included in their budget.

Will ARPA-H create awards specifically for spokes? Will there be projects created with specific spokes in mind?

Awards for projects and initiatives launched through ARPANET-H will only be made to organizations that have been approved as a spoke. Organizations that are not already members may submit a proposal, but its review and selection is contingent upon being approved for membership in ARPANET-H.

Competition will be used to select the best performers.

Will this be non-dilutive funding?

Funding is non-dilutive. ARPA-H will not take equity in any company.

ARPA-H Questions

How many Program Managers will there be? Will there be a target total number of ARPA-H programs that they hope to launch?

There will be approximately 100 Program Managers. Each Program Manager has a term of three years and is expected to launch one program a year. Programs will have varying durations but will span multiple years and are very likely to continue beyond the term of the Program Manager that launched them.

How can I apply to become a Program Manager?

We welcome applications for new Program Managers who can propose their new ideas.

When can we talk to an ARPA-H Program Manager?

Program Managers (PMs) are available through a variety of ways.

• PMs will be accessible at Proposers’ Days which are focused on a specific program being launched.
• Industry days hosted by ARPA-H and the mission offices.
• PMs are often found at industry or academic conferences.
• Info Sessions for Network Activations or ARPANET-H activities.
• Monthly webinars may sometimes feature a relevant PM.
• Assorted PMs will attend the annual all-hub meeting.
• Fill out the Hubspot form to request that a PM attend a conference or event.
• If you want to send ARPA-H a proposal for your technology, submit it to the Mission Office-specific Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO).

What are the most important areas that ARPA-H would like to target?

To learn more about ARPA-H research interests, please see here.

How is ARPA-H choosing Program Managers? Are the projects limited to what they’re interested in?

Information on becoming a Program Manager and the selection process can be found here.

ARPA-H’s programs are initiated by Program Managers. Typically, a new ISO or solicitation will be issued when a new program is launched by a PM. Companies may submit abstracts to the Mission Office-specific Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO), but their projects will only proceed if a PM decides to sponsor the project.

Will any projects be announced related to pain, memory loss, development, aging, or other neuroscience-related areas?
We expect projects to include a wide domain of technical and scientific areas. We anticipate initiatives related to these areas but will not comment on any specific opportunities.