EIT Health selects startups for Headstart 2020
Eighty-nine startups from across Europe have been selected to take part in the annual EIT Health Headstart programme.
The selected startups will have access to mentoring and business support, and financial support of up to EUR 50 000, and will make valuable contacts within the health innovation ecosystem via EIT Health’s vast network.
The EIT Health Headstart programme provides emerging companies with mentorship and funding opportunities to accelerate the development and time-to-market of innovative products and services to improve the lives of European patients and citizens. Mentored by EIT Health’s regional teams of Business Creation Managers, the programme offers support to the companies as they navigate the steps required to bring their solution to market including, crucially, verification of the clinical, patient or system need for the product or service. They are also supported with skills development and contacts so that they can go on to attract further financial support from private investors.
Addressing a number of significant health challenges facing European’s today, the startups will develop products and services in areas such as cancer, geriatrics, ophthalmology, wound care, women’s health, genetic and neurological conditions, cardiology and digital tools to assist healthcare services in the management of patients as well as research and development. New for this year, EIT Health expanded the scope of Headstart to assist in the immediate need for solutions to combat COVID-19, and has selected 21 startups that will develop products and services that will help Europe to contain, treat and manage the disease.
Dr. Kurt Höller, Director of Business Creation at EIT Health said: ''We are thrilled to support the startups selected this year through the Headstart programme. Each one presented an incredibly strong proposition for the development of solutions to improve the lives of European patients and citizens in areas of high unmet need. I am also proud to see the speed at which our applicants were able to respond to our call for COVID-19 solutions – it is truly a demonstration of the agility and astuteness that lies within the start-up community we have here in Europe.''
See the entire list of selected start-ups here.
Interviews.
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[Interview] Ramanjeet Singh, CEO, Woosper, USA
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