The fourth Active & Assisted Living Market Observatory Investors’ Event was organised alongside the StartupFest Heath 2-3 October, 2018 in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The StartupFest Health brought together a dedicated group of start-ups, large organisations such as Philips and KPN, investors (VCs and angel investors), and other major stakeholders looking to explore possibilities of rearranging the healthcare ecosystem.
In the AAL Investors Event, after introductions from the AAL Programme Operations Manager Marco Carulli and the session moderator Kristine Farla (Technopolis), eight start-ups took the stage to pitch their business case to a diverse group of investors. Investors present included Jelle van der Weijde from the Economic Board Utrecht, Thom Nefkens from Healthy capital, Thijs Cohen Tervaert and Rianne Ellenbroek from Inkef Capital, Françoise de Goeijen from NovioMosae, and Jeroen Vermeulen from Monuta.
The following startups pitched their innovative solution:
- Roel Smolders, Activ84Health, presented Memoride, a cloud-based software platform that is developed to keep individuals physically and cognitively active in a fun, motivating and safe environment. The technology combines a traditional fitness device (stationary bike) with robust, user-friendly software to provide a unique experience to users.
- Ronny Broekx, ePoint, presented SENSE-GARDEN, a solution which provides a unique environment for people with dementia, where personalised images, videos, music and scents strengthen their sense of awareness and help invigorate their identity.
- Rob Verbeek, Gociety Solutions, presented GoLiveClip, an activity monitor, alarm button, fall risk analyser and fall detector in one.
- Guy Bisschops, presented Neuroteg AI, a reliable and inexpensive diagnostic tool for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
- Danny Pouwels represented Rementis. Rementis developed a software that can operate any television, without the remote control, through a set-up box. The solution can help reinstate a day/night rhythm and improve social interaction, allowing users to send photos and messages and make video calls.
- Martin Petzold, TAVLA, presented the TAVLA Box, an open platform for easy interaction via touch and language for people with disabilities that struggle to use applications currently on the market without outside help.
- Hanke Sten & Matteo Colombo, Virtualware, presented MEMENTO, a persuasive wearable system supporting Memory and Moments of people with Early and Middle stage of dementia. MEMENTO enhances memory and cognition of older people, stimulates enjoyable and meaningful physical and mental activities and ultimately reduces social isolation.
- Wally Keyzer presented Zo-Dichtbij, a unique digital platform solution that enhances the capabilities of older people to retain independence, social inclusion and to improve their quality of life. The development of the scalable platform is embedded in a Living Lab setting
After each presentation, the investors provided questions and feedback to the companies pitching. The investors asked many critical questions including clarifications on the potential market size and opportunities to scale up. Investors also asked pitching companies if the solution had already been piloted and they emphasised that pitching companies need to be able to clearly explain their Unique Selling Point (USP) in two sentences. During a final feedback round, it was also remarked that investors want to know who they are investing in, i.e. who is driving the start-up.
The AAL Investors Event concluded with a networking lunch which provided start-ups and investors further opportunity to exchange ideas.
If you are an investor and would like to find out more about this or other upcoming events to be organized in the framework of the AAL Market Observatory, please send an e-mail to aal-market-observatory(at)technopolis-group.com.
