Key Features
Commercial help and funding for early-stage companies, university spinouts and entrepreneurial-minded academics focused on women’s health.
Programme: Innovate UK
Award: Share of up to £100,000
Opens: 9th Sep 2024
Closes: 13th Oct 2024
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 is delivered by the Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London and partners across the UK. It 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 and other innovator support programmes from the health innovation networks. Accelerating FemTech is equity-free and cost-free.
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.
We would like the programme to be inclusive of innovations for trans women, and we would encourage any innovators creating products in this space to apply to the programme.
FemTech also includes general health conditions that affect women disproportionally or differently, such as orthopaedic knee injuries, cardiovascular disease or osteoporosis.
The first cohort ran from May 2023 to January 2024. Alumni were awarded more than £1million in total funding through a special closed-call feasibility funding opportunity through the Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst.
The second cohort will run between November 2024 and March 2025. Applications are open until midnight on 13 October 2024.
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.
We welcome founders of all genders who have a product in this space.
The second cohort will run between November 2024 and March 2025.
The 10 week programme will require you to commit to spend at least one days per week on average in order to benefit from the programme.
The programme will require physical attendance to some events, with dates to be confirmed. For example, during the 10 week Accelerating FemTech learning programme, two days of your time will be required.
The 10 week programme will require you to commit to spend at least one day per week on average from 18th November to the end of March 2025 to benefit from the programme.
The programme will require physical attendance at three events. These are Tuesday 19 November 2024 and Wednesday 20 November 2024, Wednesday 22 January 2025 and Thursday 23 January 2025, and Thursday 6 March 2025.
Workshops from subject experts, mentors and business coaches; opportunities to network and collaborate; tailored support to prepare for Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst, with closed cohort funding of up to £100,000 to develop your innovation.
Book an appointment to speak to one of our advisors to discuss your eligibility to apply for this Grant Funding opportunity.
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