Applications Open for Cohort Two of the Innovate UK and Medical Research Council Funded Accelerating FemTech Programme

Today, the Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London has opened applications for the second cohort of Accelerating FemTech to further support the issues raised within the Women’s Health Strategy.

Funded by Innovate UK and the Medical Research Council, the national ten-week programme helps 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 accelerator aims to support 20 innovators, with representation from both academic and commercial backgrounds.

The vision for the Biomedical Catalyst is to support early stage businesses to grow by translating their ideas into innovative products and services that can improve patients’ lives and boost UK economic growth. We are pleased to be able to build on the success of last year’s accelerators, working in collaboration with the Medical Research Council, to inspire new spinouts and start-ups, and create a pathway to commercialisation from our excellent research base.

Dr Samana Brannigan
Head of Health Technologies at Innovate UK

We are delighted to partner with Innovate UK and the HIN on the Accelerating FemTech programme to build on the success of the first round. We look forward to seeing the novel ideas that come forward and how those develop through the programme to create a pipeline of both academic-led and business-led innovations, which are then able to progress towards societal and economic benefit through accessing funding opportunities from Medical Research Council, Innovate UK or the wider innovation ecosystem.

Laura Dickens
Associate Director of Industry Partnerships at Medical Research Council

Building upon the expertise gained from running the award-winning DigitalHealth.London Accelerator, Accelerating FemTech is a specialised programme dedicated to advancing women’s health innovations. It offers bespoke support, targeted workshops, and mentoring to enhance product development, entrepreneurship skills, and stakeholder engagement across the NHS and academia. The programme will also support participants in preparing for a special closed-call feasibility funding opportunity through the Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst.

The Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London is excited to be running the Accelerating FemTech programme for a second consecutive year. Supported by Innovate UK’s Biomedical Catalyst (BMC) in partnership with the Medical Research Council, this programme underscores the critical importance of collective expertise and collaboration in advancing innovations in women’s health. I look forward to collaborating with health and care leaders across the UK to help close the gender gap in the industry and drive meaningful progress in women’s health.

Rishi Das-Gupta
Chief Executive at Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London

Women’s health is an area with vast opportunities for innovation. From female-specific areas like maternal health, fertility, gynaecological cancers, and menopause, to conditions that disproportionately or uniquely impact women, such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, we have designed Accelerating FemTech to inspire and empower innovators to address these critical challenges, providing them with the knowledge and support they need to advance work within this space.

Anna King
Commercial Director at Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London

The delivery of Accelerating FemTech is led by the HIN in collaboration with partners across the UK, including: DigitalHealth.London, CW Innovation, Health Innovation West of England, Health Innovation East Midlands, Health Innovation West Midlands, Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber, Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria, Health Innovation North West Coast, the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) Scotland, Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI) and others.

Scotland’s Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) is delighted to partner with the Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London in the delivery of this exciting Innovate UK funded FemTech Accelerator, helping companies to develop customer-focused solutions that address unmet needs in women’s healthcare.

Abigail Lyons
Senior Business Innovation Manager at Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) Scotland

In 2023, I was a Business Coach for the inaugural cohort of Accelerating FemTech. It was great to see such a diverse selection of companies and products advancing along the innovation pathway. This year, I’m excited to reprise my role and collaborate with even more companies, helping to accelerate their progress. Being involved in the early stages of product and company development is incredibly rewarding, as it offers a unique opportunity to see the tangible results of everyone’s hard work firsthand.

Iain Taylor
Programme Manager at Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria

Ten companies from the inaugural cohort of Accelerating FemTech were awarded a share of over £1 million through the Biomedical Catalyst. Their successful projects focus on a range of women’s health problems, including menstruation management, maternity and neonatal safety, as well as cervical screening.

Among the successful companies is IBEX Innovations Ltd, whose innovative detection software, IBEX Bone Health, can be integrated into routine breast cancer screening programmes, facilitating early detection and diagnosis of osteoporosis. Another winning company is Joii Ltd, who are empowering people who menstruate to track their period symptoms and utilise the latest scientific insights to enhance their understanding of gynaecological health.

One thing I took away from Accelerating FemTech was the importance of a strong evidence generation plan, when testing and piloting your innovation. This will help you demonstrate its value compared to the current pathway. I also really loved connecting and being part of a group of deeply inspiring entrepreneurs, many of whom I have seen since the programme.

Dupe Burgess
Founder of Bloomful (Accelerating FemTech – Cohort 1)

The support provided was invaluable, particularly around understanding the information governance requirements in the women’s health sector. I also made some excellent connections. I’m still in touch with my coach and mentor, and benefitting from their advice almost a year on from the programme.

Sandra Nwokeoha
Founder of Ellescope (Accelerating FemTech – Cohort 1)

Applications open on Monday 9 September 2024 and close midnight on Sunday 13 October 2024.

For additional information, please visit the Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London website: https://healthinnovationnetwork.com/projects/accelerating-femtech/

Application form: https://healthinnovationhub.smapply.io/prog/2024_accelerating_femtech_programme

Accelerating FemTech FAQs: https://healthinnovationnetwork.com/accelerating-femtech-faqs/

The HIN will also be holding a 101 Webinar to provide interested parties with a chance to engage with members of the programme delivery team and some of the companies who have been supported previously on Tuesday, 1 October from 12:30PM to 1:30PM: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/949640770107?aff=oddtdtcreator