The Parc Taulí Research and Innovation Institute (I3PT), a leading innovation hub in Spain, organized a forum as part of the Entrepreneurship Week, aimed at showcasing different funding models and crowdfunding opportunities for start-ups. During this event, experts discussed the current investment mechanisms in the market, emphasizing the importance of private funding for the consolidation of spin-offs from Parc Taulí in the market.
This collaboration underscores the significant role that private investment plays in the growth and success of start-ups within the healthcare and medical technology sectors. It also highlighted how these spin-offs, supported by Parc Taulí's innovation capabilities, can bridge the gap between the healthcare sector and the market.
How to Seek Funding for Start-Ups
The event featured a roundtable with five industry experts, including Iolanda Repullo (Head of Business Support at Economic Promotion), Arnau Bonada (President of the Onion Network), Ismael Ávila (Innovation Project Manager at I3PT), Josep Lluís Falcó (Founder and CEO of Genesis Biomed), and Gemma Hernández (Senior Project Manager at CIMTI). They discussed various ways for start-ups to secure funding and attract investors.
One key takeaway from the discussion was the importance of approaching private investors and the need for spin-offs to leverage the value added by their hospital origins. Josep Lluís Falcó emphasized that projects born at Parc Taulí benefit from the inherent credibility of a hospital setting, making them highly applicable in the real world.
Moreover, Arnau Bonada proposed connecting medical start-ups to the local community through crowdfunding campaigns. He suggested that people in Sabadell, even if not professional investors, might be willing to invest in these innovations.
Another important point raised was the territorial competitiveness project (PECT), a local initiative designed to help increase the visibility of Parc Taulí's spin-offs among investors. Glòria Palomar from I3PT highlighted the importance of knowing why a start-up needs funding and the competition they will face in the market. Ismael Ávila shared insights on the challenges start-ups face when seeking investors, noting that often they cannot even register the company without securing initial investments.
Presenting the Spin-Offs: A Window into Medical Start-Ups
After the roundtable, representatives from four of the hospital's prominent spin-offs took the stage to present their companies and explore funding opportunities. These spin-offs include Better Care, Tailor Surgery, Anais Medical, and Heecap.
The start-ups were evaluated by five experts: Jordi Ferrer, Investment Director at Ship2B, Berta Tenas, Consultant at Genesis Biomed, Giacomo de Simone, Director of Investments at Clave Capital, Náyade Navarro, Board Member of Onion Network, and Joan Mercadal, Partner at Nara Health.
Here’s a brief overview of the four spin-offs:
- Anais Medical - Founded by José A. Ibeas, the company develops models and simulators to train professionals in invasive procedures, aiming to enhance skills in surgery, radiology, and other medical fields.
- Heecap - Sofía Ferreira, founder and CTO, presented Heecap, a company that develops flexible, smart fabric providing electrostimulation synchronized with a patient’s breathing pattern.
- Better Care - Bernat Sales, co-founder of BetterCare, introduced the company, which focuses on data capture, management, and processing through its BC Link software, allowing for real-time patient data monitoring and analysis.
- Tailor Surgery - Javier Peso, co-founder of Tailor Surgery, shared how the company creates a digital operating room that simulates each step of a surgical procedure in 3D, improving precision and training for medical professionals.
A Bright Future for Healthcare Innovation
This forum highlighted the need for private investment and crowdfunding in driving the growth of medical spin-offs and innovative solutions in the healthcare sector. The collaboration between these start-ups and local investors plays a crucial role in advancing medical technologies that could shape the future of healthcare.
Parc Taulí’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting spin-offs through partnerships and funding will continue to position the hospital and its spin-offs at the forefront of medical technology and healthcare improvement.