Proud to support Accelerating FemTech
Posted: 11th September 2024
We are proud to support the Accelerating FemTech programme. Accelerating FemTech helps UK-based, early-stage companies, university spinouts and entrepreneurial-minded academics focused on women’s health to gain the commercial and funding momentum they need for long-term success.
The programme utilises Innovate UK funding as part of the Biomedical Catalyst, in collaboration with the Medical Research Council. It builds upon the experience of running the award-winning DigitalHealth.London, Propel@YH and other innovator support programmes from the health innovation networks.
The first cohort ran from May 2023 to January 2024. Alumni were awarded more than £1million in funding through a special closed-call feasibility funding opportunity through the Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst.
Dr Sean Clarkson, Head of Strategic Operations at Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, said: “We are proud to support initiatives such as Accelerating FemTech that can make a real difference in improving women’s health and wellbeing.
There are many cutting-edge innovations tailored to address specific challenges in women’s health, from maternal health, fertility, gynaecological cancers and menopause, to conditions that can affect women differently, including osteoporosis or cardiovascular disease. Accelerating FemTech aims to support innovators in boosting the development of solutions that tackle these challenges”.
The second cohort will run between November 2024 and March 2025.
Applications are open until midnight on 13 October 2024.
Accelerate your FemTech innovation
The programme supports early-stage companies, university spinouts and entrepreneurial-minded academics from across the UK, who are looking to take their early-stage innovation to the next level. These innovations should address current challenges in women’s health, including menstruation management, chronic pelvic pain, maternity and neonatal safety, cervical screening and more.
Building on the HIN’s experience of running the award-winning DigitalHealth.London Accelerator, at the heart of Accelerating FemTech is a 10 week programme of learning, networking and collaboration. The learning programme helps innovators with targeted workshops, peer learning and tailored mentoring, which are lead by subject matter experts, business coaches and the Health Innovation Network team. This element of Accelerating FemTech aims to enhance product development, entrepreneurship skills and stakeholder engagement across the NHS and academia.
Beyond this, participants will also be supported by the HIN team to prepare for a special closed-call feasibility funding opportunity through the Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst. The Biomedical Catalyst is Innovate UK’s flagship grant funding mechanism. It enables small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) to test and develop innovative health and care solutions across life sciences, including therapeutics, medical devices and digital health. In 2023, Accelerating FemTech alumni were awarded more than £1m in funding through the Biomedical Catalyst.
Accelerating FemTech is funded for by Innovate UK funding as part of the Biomedical Catalyst, in collaboration with the Medical Research Council.
- Insightful workshops from subject experts on regulation, marketing, pitching and more
Individual support to navigate the NHS and engage with key stakeholders - Meetings with mentors and business coaches to help champion the important work taking place at your university or company
- Opportunities to network and collaborate with peers from across the FemTech industry
- Tailored support to prepare for Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst, with funding to develop your innovation
Accelerating FemTech is open to up to 20 early-stage companies, university spinouts and academic entrepreneurs that meet the following criteria:
Early-stage companies, university spinouts and academic entrepreneurs
This year, we’re broadening our Accelerating FemTech programme to support and champion innovations from early-stage companies, university spinouts and academic entrepreneurs.
You can apply for Accelerating FemTech without forming a company. As part of the programme, we support innovators to prepare for Innovate UK’s Biomedical Catalyst, in collaboration with Medical Research Council. In order to be eligible for this funding, you must form a company.
FemTech innovators
Accelerating FemTech is tailored especially for innovators addressing urgent challenges in women’s health. We’re looking for innovators who have developed a FemTech solution and are looking to take it to the next level.
UK based
Accelerating FemTech utilises funding from Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst, in collaboration with the Medical Research Council. This means only UK based academics, university spin-outs and SMEs can apply for Accelerating FemTech.
In addition, to apply for the subsequent Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst funding for a project, all of the project work must be carried out in the UK and intend to exploit the results from or in the UK.
