Six Ireland-UK start-ups secure places in Catapult 2022-23 semi-finals

Six high-potential Ireland-UK start-ups will join 36 others from across Europe at the semi-finals of the EIT Health Catapult pitching competition 2022-23. Each year, the competition showcases Europe’s most promising biotech, medtech and digital health start-ups to leading experts and investors. Many participants of the competition have gone on to achieve significant growth.

Catapult success stories

In 2021, two winners from the 2020 competition celebrated major acquisitions. Second place in the biotech category, PhagoMed, was acquired by BioNTech and the third-place finalist in digital health, Patchai, was acquired by US-based Alira Health. SparingVision, a 2019 Catapult winner, raised €44.5 million to accelerate the development of their breakthrough treatment tackling chronic ocular diseases in 2020.

The Ireland-UK 2021-22 Catapult finalists included Luminate Medical, SolasCure, Brightlobe, all of which pitched at the EIT Health Summit in Stockholm last month. Luminate Medical has since closed a €5M investment round.

How were the Catapult 2022-23 semi-finalists selected?

Each of the six start-ups selected to progress to the European semi-finals in the 2022-23 competition, passed a comprehensive pre-selection process during the regional finals. Having competed against other top quality biotech, medtech and digital health start-ups, they now have the opportunity to receive individualised training to prepare them for the semi-finals where they will join 36 start-ups from 14 other countries.

Meet the Ireland-UK semi-finalists

Biotech category

Súil Pharma (Ireland) is a new treatment option for diabetic retinopathy that restores vision, independence, quality of life and mental wellbeing for millions of people with diabetes.

MediSieve (UK) is developing a revolutionary platform therapy that physically removes specific substances from the bloodstream of patients.

Medtech category

FabRx (UK) is the world’s first pharmaceutical 3D printer for personalised medicines.

QV Bioelectronics (UK) has developed an electric field therapy device to treat brain tumours.

Digital Health category

electronRx (UK) develops low-cost, scalable chronic disease management and prevention tools that accurately measure and monitor cardiovascular and respiratory function just through patients holding their smartphones.

Waire Health (UK) is a Medical Grade ECG in a 4G modem device and 20 other bio diagnostics.

What happens at the European semi-finals?

During the semi-finals this year, 14 start-ups from each category will present their solutions to a public audience of healthcare professionals, industry experts, investors and many more. The winners of the semi-finals will receive prizes from sponsors, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), AstraZeneca, eg technology, Lusíadas Saúde, McDermott Will and Emery, and Merck.

The top three start-ups from each of the categories will be selected and invited to pitch during the finals at a major healthcare event. They will go head-to-head for their share of the €210,000 cash prize as well as the Audience Award, whose logo will be displayed on the New York Nasdaq Tower.

Learn more about EIT Health Catapult, a programme which fast-tracks Europe’s best health start-ups.

Meet the rest of the European semi-finalists.