Dr. Tim Gueramy and Dr. Tracey Haas launched The Walters Physician Incubator last year to help doctors pursue their startups.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Last March, the husband-wife team launched The Walters Physician Incubator, an Austin, Texas, nonprofit that's open only to physicians with a startup idea.

In less than a year, the incubator has grown from five to 56 physicians, ranging from newly minted doctors to seasoned physicians in their late 60s. Their ideas range from innovative medical devices to interactive websites.

"Doctors come to this incubator typically because they have been batting around an idea that could help their patients or change the way medicine is currently being practiced," said Haas. "Very few consider leaving medicine."

Each month, Gueramy and Haas invite lawyers, marketing execs, venture capitalists and business school professors to coach doctors about startup fundamentals like how to craft business plans, pitch ideas, draft patents and fund raise.

Related: They ditched medical school to start a business

"We toyed with the idea of mandatory meetings but haven't done it because we know doctors are very busy," said Haas.

Currently, the doctors decide how long they want to stay in the program, which is free, but that could change.

"As we grow and look for funding, we'll likely tie membership with a commitment to attending 80% of meetings and start charging fees," she said.

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A startup club for doctors only