Ten startups from six countries have just arrived at Rockstart’s office in Nijmegen to start this year’s Digital Health program. Twenty-five men and women will spend most of the next six months in the so-called Health Valley, working on their products that are aimed at improving all aspects of healthcare. From the new generation of walkers to early diagnoses of eye diseases, the teams come in different stages of business maturity and reflect some of the most important trends in health innovation.
“We’ve seen a move towards patient empowerment,” said Akshat Kshetrapal, Rockstart Digital Health program director. “Patients get greater control on how they manage and live with their diseases. This includes chronic conditions, conditions related to old age, and rehabilitation. If we can have movies on demand on Netflix, why can we not find a physical therapist just as easily? That’s one of the themes covered by this year’s startups.”