InnoStars Awards 2024: Forty start-ups set to change healthcare in Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe

The 2024 EIT Health InnoStars Awards programme has reached an exciting milestone! Forty of the most promising start-ups from Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe have been selected to compete in this InnoStars flagship accelerator programme. Over the next two months, innovators will engage in intensive bootcamps and unique board simulations designed to accelerate their impact. Their journey will culminate at the EIT Health InnoStars Grand Final on 27 November in Budapest, where the top three teams from each track will secure financial prizes worth €25,000, €15,000 and €10,000, respectively. On top of the prize money, EIT Health will also provide networking opportunities with InnoStars Partners, healthcare providers and investors. 

The InnoStars Awards, which has now supported over 100 start-ups, continues to build on its reputation for fostering success. So far, more than half of the programme’s alumni have brought their innovations to market, offering life-saving solutions and driving significant healthcare advancements. This year’s edition features two tracks: the well-established Validation Track and the newly introduced Investment Track. While the Validation Track focuses on refining MVPs and prototypes, the Investment Track provides to start-ups ready for Seed or Series A funding—opening doors to more extensive capital and scaling opportunities.

With 121 applications submitted and 85 eligible, this year’s finalists represent a dynamic cross-section of innovation. Romania, Italy, and Poland have dominated the applications, but Hungary stands out in 2024 with many entries, signalling the country’s growing prominence in healthcare innovation.

Bootcamps and final competition

Forty selected start-ups are now gearing up for intensive bootcamps to sharpen their business strategies and product development further. The culmination of their journey will take place during the 2024 InnoStars Grand Final, held in Budapest on 27 November 2024. Here, the founders will pitch their ideas to a panel of industry leaders, investors, and experts, who will ultimately decide the winners of both the Validation and Investment Tracks.

“At InnoStars, we believe that innovation is the key to changing healthcare, especially in regions where emerging technologies have the power to make the greatest impact. This year’s finalists demonstrate not only disruptive solutions but also the drive and resilience needed to bring them to market. By connecting start-ups with personalised support and investor networks, we’re accelerating their journey from concept to real-world implementation, ultimately improving patients’ lives across Europe,” – says Tamas Bekasi, RIS Business Creation Lead at EIT Health InnoStars.

List of 20 finalists from Validation track

• Kelvin Health (Bulgaria) was founded in 2020 to bring a smart solution for detecting and monitoring various abnormalities and inflammation processes in different stages and conditions, using AI analysis to mobile-based digital thermal imaging.

• Lightly Technologies (Czechia) is a company that develops a portable device called Catcher to help police units identify counterfeit medicines and track them back to the manufacturer by delivering sample results right on the spot.

• Aisthesis Medical (Greece) is a pioneering medtech start-up transforming acute care through AI-based diagnostic solutions. PRISM is an AI-driven clinical decision support system designed to predict sepsis and multi-organ dysfunction up to 48 hours ahead. By integrating real-time multimodal patient data and explainable AI algorithms, PRISM may significantly improve patient outcomes by enabling proactive diagnostic protocols and preventive treatments, reducing the length of stay and readmissions and thus healthcare costs.

• Innoway R&D Kft (Hungary) designs innovative medical devices, produces treatment approaches, produces prototypes and carries out the necessary validation studies by a multidisciplinary team of medical doctors, engineers and basic sciences.

• Megeni.com (Hungary) is a digital health platform launched in October 2023 that is revolutionising preventive healthcare. The company uses biomarkers, AI, and expert oversight to create personalised health plans that optimise wellness and prevent disease.

• NICOWL Kft (Hungary) started a spinoff company based on research to provide an AI surveillance and behaviour analysis system for professionals in neonatal intensive care units. Their core propositions are supporting the daily routine and education of minimal handling paradigms, increasing quality-adjusted life years of newborns, helping diagnostics by collecting and tracking health indicators over the long term, and enabling child-parental and family bonds in intensive care units.

• Recornea (Italy) pioneers advanced medical solutions for eye diseases, notably with its flagship GROSSO implant—the first-ever nitinol corneal implant designed to treat keratoconus, a blindness-causing condition that deforms the cornea. Transitioning from significant preclinical successes to human clinical trials, it began the First Human Clinical Trial in Spain.

• VoiceMed Italia srl (Italy) turns smartphones into sophisticated health screening tools, using vocal biomarkers to evaluate lung health and fitness. Its AI-driven platform offers remote risk assessment and reduces health management costs, all backed by the most comprehensive dataset available.

• Sepsiscan (Latvia) is a spinoff of the Institute of Atomic Physics and Spectroscopy (IAPS) of the University of Latvia. It offers a software-powered bedside medical imaging device that evaluates tissue perfusion and adjusts treatment to help doctors reduce sepsis-related deaths, long-term disabilities, and hospital costs.

• Diawiser (Lithuania) is a responsive agent for people with diabetes and is designed to help them manage their disease. It is a personalised companion in diabetes disease management trained on extensive curated data.

• SensePilot (Lithuania) is a personalisable accessibility hub that will enable low-mobility users to operate a PC via webcam head tracking, facial gesture control, and other methods without the need for costly additional equipment.

• Diabetic Foot Care (Poland) is a solution which combines advanced ultrasonic technology and personalised care to accelerate wound healing, reduce the risk of complications, and ultimately prevent amputations. The AutoCast system includes a customisable insole that uses high stimulation technology to break down bacterial biofilm and stimulate cellular activity, an offloading orthosis to reduce pressure on the ulcerated area, and a mobile app for continuous monitoring and self-examination.

• WeavAir (Poland) is a leading innovator in health and wellness technology, specialising in predictive AI solutions for remote monitoring of vital signs and environmental factors. Its advanced radar and ultrasonic sensors enable real-time tracking of position, breathing, and heartbeat from a distance, providing early warnings and timely interventions for elderly care.

• FETALIX (Portugal) – a biotech company that provides the first regenerative fetal-inspired biomaterial to treat low back pain (LBP) in a minimally invasive way.

• Medical Softverse, S.R.L. (Romania) is a start-up created in 2022 to develop a new device (“Panc-AI”) using AI computer-assisted detection software intended to aid endoscopists in the real-time detection and identification of pancreatic structures during endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) of the pancreas.

• The Neuro Muss (Slovenia) is an interdisciplinary team consisting of a kinesiologist, engineers, medical doctors, and an experienced leader. They are united to develop a medical device that aims to help people dealing with neurodegenerative disease consequences, such as hand paralysis, spasticity, swelling, and constant pain.

• Atenxia (Spain) is an AI-based platform for improving attentional parameters (ADHD) and dyslexia problems for school-age children.

• Tesai Care SL (Spain) offers the Heecap solution, which activates the respiratory muscles by providing non-invasive electrical stimulation in synchronization with patients’ breathing. It consists of a stimulation device with integrated software that tells when and how to provide the stimulation and a multifield electrode.

• BreathVision (Türkiye) is a pioneering MedTech start-up transforming disease diagnostics. By harnessing the power of nanophotonic and advanced AI, it provides real-time breath analysis for non-invasive, accurate disease detection. Its technology identifies volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath, serving as biomarkers for various conditions.

• Apixmed (Ukraine) is a virtual assistant for personalised treatment and disease prevention. Powered by an advanced AI-driven expert system, Apixmed empowers healthcare professionals to swiftly develop individualised treatment plans by analysing each patient’s unique medical history and genetic background. Seamlessly integrating with existing healthcare IT infrastructure.

List of 20 finalists from Investment track

• Megi Health (Croatia) is a spin-off of a leading cardiovascular disease hospital in Croatia, with over 25 years of experience and more than half a million patients treated. It specialises in digital health solutions focused on hypertension management through its flagship product, Megi. The platform combines clinical expertise with advanced technology to empower both patients and healthcare providers. Designed to enhance patient engagement and improve health outcomes, Megi offers an intuitive interface for effective blood pressure management.

• CoNurse (Estonia) is a guideline adherence platform for improving quality of care and reducing avoidable medical errors. The CoNurse Mobile Application provides step-by-step instructions and makes nursing protocols easily actionable and accessible at the point of care. It allows institution-specific creation and management of procedures. It is designed to reduce burnout, enhance patient outcomes, and optimise resource allocation.

• DokiApp (Hungary) is a telemedicine platform offering comprehensive digital health services, including on-demand video consultations, appointment bookings, and risk analysis. It primarily serves SMEs and MNCs with its Employee Care Program, enhancing employee well-being and productivity through quick, accessible healthcare, even on weekends. Its platform also supports B2C users, providing a seamless online experience mainly in health, psychology, and dietetics.

• NinaCare by Senex srl (Italy) is a pioneering HR Tech platform addressing the critical shortage of healthcare professionals. It streamlines the recruitment process for healthcare organisations such as home care providers, nursing homes, and clinics by connecting them with highly qualified social care workers and nurses. Its innovative technology ensures efficient, accurate, and scalable recruitment solutions.

• Paperbox (Italy) offers Dino, a B2B digital platform that was created to support specialists in the pre-diagnosis of disorders. Inside, Paperbox offers gaming solutions for early identification and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders (medical interventions such as computer-based), substituting paper tests.

• Robota Srl (Italy) is a company specializing in robot-based automation for surgical instrument reprocessing and producer of the first automatic complete sterilization on the market, STER. The team boasts a strong background in robotic automation, with direct experience in concrete projects that demonstrate their expertise and know-how, not limited only to healthcare.

• Sensosan BCorp (Italy) is at the forefront of air enhancement technology, focusing on improving mental and physical health and well-being through a sophisticated platform. The cutting-edge technology platform combines and works in symbiosis with air intelligence, air nebulisers, and air pods, which are designed to create an optimal indoor environment, managing various aspects from experience to safety to functional effects. This innovative approach aims to positively impact the brain and body, contributing to overall health and wellness.

• SurgiQ srl (Italy) uses AI to help hospitals create better plans to deliver better care to more people. The team solves problems in seconds, which previously required hours of manual work, such as planning and scheduling hospital staff, spaces, equipment, and various other resources and assets. SurgiQ brings real-time capacity planning to hospitals.

• LINLINE Medical Systems (Latvia) revolutionises wound care with RecoSMA laser technology, offering a comprehensive solution for diabetic foot ulcers and chronic wounds. The device combines laser wound debridement and bio-stimulation to remove non-viable tissues and promote rapid tissue regeneration without anaesthesia or costly consumables. With over 20 years of R&D and validated through clinical trials, RecoSMA improves healing times and reduces amputations, transforming wound care for better patient outcomes worldwide.

• Diabetis JSC (Lithuania) is a pioneering company in the field of algorithmic analysis of infrared thermography medical data. Utilising a combination of unique algorithms and image analysis collected by a patented thermal device, the company aims to establish standards and become a world leader in home monitoring of chronic inflammatory diseases, preventing painful and debilitating complications for millions of patients worldwide.

• Wellhero (Poland) is revolutionizing digital health with an app that analyses heart metrics and autonomic nervous system activity to deliver personalized health insights. The platform offers real-time monitoring and tailored recommendations to help users proactively manage their health while ensuring data security and user privacy.

• Glooma (Portugal) is revolutionising women’s healthcare with the SenseGlove, an innovative device that enables early detection of breast abnormalities from the comfort of home. Its cutting-edge technology combines pressure sensors and AI-driven analysis to provide accurate, actionable insights, empowering women to take charge of their health.

• Calmly (Romania) is a team that helps isolated people who are going through emotional times find the right psychotherapist through a very friendly and reassuring online platform. During and after therapy, they give them the context to form meaningful connections with other people in our therapist-facilitated online community.

• SC ELPIDA RESEARCH INC (Romania) develops a revolutionary breakthrough nano-vaccine, using AI and QSAR technology, designed to treat and prevent common diseases. It is a fast and effective vaccine solution, with low cost, a more sustainable product that treats and protects specific diseases of plants, animals and humans in just 3 doses, with vaccine rappel after 21 days.

• ITOTEM DIGITAL SIGNAGE SRL (Romania) is a company specialising in creating custom digital signage solutions that engage and interact with customers. Its flagship product, Market-r, is a comprehensive solution designed to replace many tasks of a human promoter. Market-r combines an interactive display with various sensors and AI capabilities to provide in-depth engagement and demographic insights.

• Neofunction d.o.o. (Serbia) is a cutting-edge start-up revolutionising oral hygiene with Neo Pill, an innovative device designed for patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. Utilising advanced electrolysis technology, Neo Pill effectively targets and eliminates bacteria in hard-to-reach areas, ensuring optimal dental health.

• NION Neuroscience (Slovakia) is a MedTech company specialising in enhancing focus, learning and attention by stimulating neural activity.

• Skilled Skin (Spain) redefines chronic skin care with Clinicgram, an AI-powered, smartphone-enabled solution. Clinicgram leverages advanced visual and thermal imaging to aid healthcare professionals in the early diagnosis and management of conditions like diabetic foot ulcers and chronic inflammatory skin diseases.

• Nevasoft (Türkiye) is the AI-powered Blood Analysis Software is a decision support system designed to aid haematology and oncology doctors in diagnosing blood cancers, including leukaemia, lymphoma, and other haematological disorders. The software is designed to minimise diagnostic time, reduce physician workload, and decrease the likelihood of misdiagnosis. It utilises advanced AI techniques to automatically analyse and interpret medical reports and results from blood samples, assessing their correlation with the disease.

• CheckEye (Ukraine) is an AI-driven platform revolutionising preventive healthcare with mass screenings for over 40 chronic diseases, including Diabetic Retinopathy and Arterial Hypertension. Its advanced AI algorithms make screenings accessible and affordable, whether at optic retailers, pharmacies, or from home via mobile phones.