DigitalHealth.London and MassChallenge partner to support international adoption of US and UK’s best health tech

The DigitalHealth.London Accelerator today announces a new transatlantic partnership with MassChallenge, one of the world’s top accelerator programmes, to support high-potential companies working to improve digital health in the US and UK.

The partnership will utilise the deep healthcare knowledge and networks held by each organisation, to support companies who have taken part in the respective accelerator programmes, giving them the tools to navigate a new global market. The companies will be given the opportunity to network with their global peers, learn from experts in the new market, showcase their products/services to key international stakeholders and attend webinars on the differing healthcare systems. Ultimately, the partnership means patients and healthcare staff in both the UK and US should benefit quicker from health tech innovations.

Jenny Thomas, Programme Director, DigitalHealth.London, said, “We recently held a conversation about digital health with groups from across the health and care sector, and one of the key opportunities identified was international collaboration. It was clear that now is the time to go global, both looking for solutions to the challenges of the health and care system, and for our innovators to target global opportunities. As such, we are delighted to be partnering with MassChallenge to accelerate the adoption of the best healthcare solutions across the Atlantic.”

Cait Reimers Brumme, Senior Vice President, MassChallenge, said,“MassChallenge couldn’t be happier to partner with DigitialHealth.London. Each of our organizations are dedicated to improving health systems and outcomes for patients through the support and promotion of impactful, high potential startups. Combining our efforts lengthens our reach, creates additional opportunity for startups, and ultimately, delivers value for partners and patients. We look forward to working together and can’t wait to see the results.”

In DigitalHealth.London’s recent publication ‘Driving digital: Insights and foresights from the health and care ecosystem’ Theo Blackwell MBE, Chief Digital Officer for London, said, “London is one of the most exciting digital health and care hubs in the world. We are also an international city, and our worldwide connections allow us to bring in expertise from other countries, source innovations from across the globe and, perhaps most importantly, share the fantastic developments we’ve made in the digital health space for the rest of the world to learn from and adopt.”

DigitalHealth.London’s Accelerator aims to speed up the adoption of technology in London’s NHS, relieving high pressure on services and empowering patients to manage their health. It works with up to 20 SMEs over a 12-month period, giving bespoke support and advice, a programme of expert-led workshops and events and brokering meaningful connections between innovators and NHS organisations with specific challenges.  The NHS delivered programme, funded in part by the European Regional Development Fund, has supported some of the biggest and most effective digital innovations now being used by the NHS in London. Companies including LIVI, Oxehealth, Patchwork Health, Echo, Sweatcoin, and Health Navigator  have all been through the DigitalHealth.London Accelerator programme. To date the Accelerator has supported 122 innovative digital health companies, with 411 additional contracts signed by those companies during Accelerator support. For every £1 spent on the programme it is estimated over £14 is saved for the NHS*.

MassChallenge is the global network for innovators. Headquartered in the United States with seven locations worldwide, MassChallenge equips bold entrepreneurs to disrupt the status quo and to create meaningful change. Since launching in 2009, more than 2,900 MassChallenge alumni have raised $8.6B in funding, generated $3.6B in revenue, and created more than 186,000 total jobs. Learn more about MassChallenge here.

Last month DigitalHealth.London announced a separate partnership with Cedars-Sinai, another top accelerator based in Los Angeles. Find out more here.

Notes to editors

• Interviews and further information

For more information, including interviews, statements and images, please contact Megan Truman, DigitalHealth.London Accelerator, Communications Lead on 07794276022 or megan.truman@nhs.net.

• DigitalHealth.London Accelerator

The DigitalHealth.London Accelerator was the first programme of DigitalHealth.London. It is aimed at digital health companies that would benefit from better engagement with the NHS and the wider health sector, in order to refine and develop products and services that meet the needs of the system.

The DigitalHealth.London Accelerator is run by a consortium of founding partners comprising of two of London’s Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) – the Health Innovation Network and UCLPartners – as well as CW+ and MedCity. The programme is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme.

*DigitalHealth.London Accelerator Interim Evaluation report available to download here: digitalhealth.london/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Digital-Health-Accelerator_Interim-Report_v1-2.pdf

• European Regional Development Fund

The project is receiving up to £3.8 million of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community.

For more information visit gov.uk/european-growth-funding