EIT Health rewards societal impact at Pitch Contest

Amparo, a German start-up that aims to revolutionise prosthetics with their ‘Confidence Socket’, has taken first place at the EIT Health-supported MedtecLIVE Pitch Contest by focusing on societal impact.

The judges voted unanimously to award Amparo the top spot after the team highlighted how they ground their work in a deep understanding of unmet needs, concentrating on outcomes that matter to patients and co-creating with them.

This year, the competition’s judging panel included a layperson advisor on citizens and patients (Ania Henley) for the first time, in recognition of the importance that EIT Health places on the meaningful involvement of citizens and patients in the health innovation pathway.

Speaking about the competition, Ms Henley, who sits on the Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI) and High-Value Care boards at EIT Health, said:

“I was really honoured to be part of the judging panel at MedtecLIVE. I was very impressed by the variety of projects, from medical components and technology, digital diagnostic tools to AI software and algorithm to assist in stroke diagnosis, but I thought Amparo was a fabulous project!

By consulting with amputees from international and ethnically diverse groups, involving them throughout the development of their solution, Amparo showed the greatest potential in developing innovation that will deliver benefits that really matter to patients resulting in improvements for society, and therefore focusing on societal impact. In addition, it is a great example of a project which by involving the people it is intended to serve, has used the opportunity to create influencers for their innovation.”

Hosted by EIT Health’s Director of Business Creation, Kurt Höller, the competition saw 8 top start-ups pitch in front of a jury and live audience. Among their prizes, Amparo took home €15k from EIT Health, a free booth at MedtecLIVE in 2022, an individualized Roadshow by Medical Valley and regulatory support as well as office space in Paris for 6 months hosted by Voisin Consulting Life Sciences.

Dr. Höller added: “It was very encouraging to see that a startup with clear focus on societal impact has also demonstrated a very strong business model to ensure sustainable help to patients not only in Europe or USA but also in developing countries. Having already sold thousands of devices proofs Amparo’s success and potential.”

Previous EIT Health Catapult winner, Methinks AI, who have developed an AI software for assisting in stroke diagnosis and providing decision support for life-saving treatment, took second place. They also won a free booth at MedtecLIVE in 2022, the roadshow, regulatory support and €5k from EIT Health.

Kumovis GmbH took the third prize, a free booth at MedtecLIVE in 2021, a voucher for one individualised company roadshow provided by Medical Valley, a two-hour mentoring session and six-month free access to Voisin Consulting’s Paris office.

The Audience Award with a free booth at MedtecLIVE in 2021 and an EIT Health Mentoring and Couching voucher went to Visseiro who have developed a smart seat cushion for elderly-care at home.

MedtecLIVE is a trade exhibition and a leading event for Europe’s medtech industry. The exhibition’s offering covers the full process chain in the production of medical engineering equipment, from prototypes to ready-for-market products.