Unlocking Europe’s healthtech potential: Insights from Samantha Jerusalmy

The European healthtech and life sciences landscape is undergoing a transformation, with cutting-edge innovations reshaping the future of medicine, diagnostics, and patient care. Samantha Jerusalmy, Partner at Elaia, a leading European venture capital firm specialising in tech and deep tech investments, shares her insights on the importance of identifying and supporting high-potential ventures early.

The role of EIT Health’s Catapult programme in advancing healthtech

The EIT Health Catapult programme, now in its 9th edition, continues to spotlight the most promising healthtech and life science innovations in Europe. By providing a highly curated selection of start-ups, the programme helps investors connect with groundbreaking technologies and emerging industry leaders. With early-stage funding becoming increasingly selective, the role of investors in supporting these ventures is critical.

As a jury member in this and two previous editions of our Catapult programme, Jerusalmy has witnessed firsthand the evolution of European healthtech start-ups. “Over the years, I have seen an increase in the quality, maturity, and global ambition of participating start-ups. There has been a shift from early-stage concepts to more advanced, clinically validated solutions with strong go-to-market (GTM) and business models,” she says.

She emphasises that investors today are more selective and data-driven, seeking clear clinical validation, regulatory readiness, and solid GTM strategies. “Many start-ups underestimate regulatory hurdles and time-to-market constraints. Another common mistake is raising too little or too much at the wrong stage, which can either leave them underfunded or dilute their equity prematurely,” Jerusalmy explains.

Investing in healthtech comes with inherent risks, and finding the right start-up can be a challenge. The EIT Health Catapult programme helps mitigate these risks by offering:

• Derisking – Pre-screened, high-calibre start-ups with validated business models.
• Curated pitches – Direct access to companies shaping the future of healthcare.
• Strategic networking opportunities – Engage with fellow investors, industry leaders, and visionary entrepreneurs.

According to Samantha, engaging early in the investment cycle is key. “EIT Health Catapult provides a curated selection of Europe’s best emerging lifesciences and healthtech start-ups, significantly reducing the noise for investors. It allows us to see early signals of high-growth potential, engage with founders at an earlier stage, and evaluate how they respond to feedback and challenges.”

Emerging investment trends in healthtech

From AI-powered drug discovery to precision medicine and biotech innovation, the European healthtech sector is undergoing a paradigm shift. “The convergence of AI, big data, and biology is driving unprecedented innovation in drug discovery, diagnostics, and clinical trials. We are seeing a strong push towards precision medicine and AI-driven clinical decision support systems enabling truly tailored treatments,” Jerusalmy notes. “Additionally, there is growing interest in TechBio – a space where biotechnology and AI intersect to accelerate drug development and bio-manufacturing.”

Despite these advancements, she highlights commercialisation as a critical challenge for European start-ups: “While the science is often exceptional, European start-ups need better support in scaling beyond their home markets and accessing global commercialisation pathways.”

To help address these challenges and streamline the investment process, the Catapult Video on Demand (VoD) platform provides a unique tool for investors. Through the VoD platform, investors can filter ventures by geography, investment needed, and specific keywords, making it an efficient way to discover and evaluate high-potential start-ups. The platform is active until 28 February. Investors are encouraged to register now to benefit from this resource before it closes.

“I would highly encourage investors to participate,” Jerusalmy advises. “It’s a rare opportunity to get early access to high-quality deal flow while contributing to Europe’s innovation ecosystem. Beyond investment opportunities, it provides valuable insights into emerging trends, scientific advancements, and evolving market dynamics.”

Looking ahead, Jerusalmy believes the next decade will be shaped by AI-native biotech, automation in life sciences, and the fusion of biology and computation. “We’re also seeing a shift towards more patient-centric and outcome-driven business models, where technology isn’t just about efficiency but also about improving real-world health outcomes,” she says.

For investors looking to stay ahead of trends and make informed decisions, early engagement, strategic filtering, and proactive networking are key.

How investors can get involved

1. Register on EIT Health Catapult’s VOD platform and get exclusive access to the semifinalists’ pitches.
2. Attend the exclusive Catapult get together in Cambridge on 28 April, hosted by Catapult programme sponsor egtechnology. Attend the event to meet fellow investors and key stakeholders, as well as meet the 29 semifinalists and get to know who the nine finalists will be. You can secure your invitation here.
3. Maximise your travel by attending the LSX World Conference in London, 28 – 30 April.
4. Stay engaged with our social channels to follow the journey of the nine finalists, where the winner will be announced on 17 June in Amsterdam at HLTH.

By participating, investors not only discover high-potential startups but also contribute to shaping the future of healthcare innovation in Europe.