Startup PitchFest at HIMSS23 Europe Showcases Digital Health Innovators

The inaugural Startup PitchFest, a competition identifying promising early-stage startups solving healthcare’s toughest challenges, will launch at the HIMSS23 European Health Conference & Exhibition in Lisbon, Portugal.

Startup PitchFest will take place 8 June, matching innovations and solutions with real-world healthcare problems. Attendees of HIMSS23 can witness Startup PitchFest, learn about cutting-edge healthcare solutions and connect with healthcare insiders and entrepreneurs from across Europe. Registration is open to attend the HIMSS23 Europe and Startup PitchFest, with flexible options for healthcare professionals. 

Nominations for PitchFest were open to pre-Series A startups that could demonstrate impact on at least one of the quintuple aims of healthcare, which include improving population health, enhancing the care experience, reducing costs, addressing clinician burn-out and advancing health equity.

Six finalists have been selected from the list of nominees — three in the category of most promising startups (very early stage), and three in the category of most likely to scale (closer to Series A).

Most Promising Startups — Category 1

1. Clynx |Portugal | CEO Joana Pinto
2. Doctomatic | Spain | CEO Carmen Rios Benton
3. Mindaffect | Netherlands | CEO Jennifer Goodall

Most Likely to Scale — Category 2 

1. XWave | Ireland |CEO Mitchell O’Gorman
2. Rehand | Spain | Co-Founder Alejandro Suero Pineda
3. Direct Diagnostics | Netherlands | CEO Elsemieke Hackenitz

Each of the finalists will have the opportunity to pitch their products and solutions and answer questions from an expert panel of judges. Startup PitchFest winners – one from each category – will be awarded by EIT Health, GSD Health, Mayo Clinic Innovation, Silverbuck, Tech Canal and Vita Health. Winners will receive a platform and publicity by HIMSS and offered support and mentorship as they develop their solution.

"We’re thrilled to launch the inaugural Startup PitchFest at HIMSS23 Europe, which is set to be a game-changer for digital health innovation,” said Lisa Thomlinson, HIMSS senior director of content and programming for EMEA. “Our aim is to match early-stage startups with real-world problems in healthcare and to help them co-create and deliver solutions that have the potential to make a real difference. We’ve been impressed by the quality of the nominations received and look forward to hearing from the six finalists in Lisbon."

Startup PitchFest presents a unique opportunity for new businesses to showcase their products and receive support and guidance from healthcare insiders from the outset. Through the contest, HIMSS aims to accelerate innovation in healthcare and support the growth of promising startups with solutions to validated problems in the industry.