European Union funded FICHe (Future Internet Challenge eHealth) accelerator program has selected 80 European health technology companies from more than 300 applications for the first phase of the project. Participation was open to all European eHealth small and mid-sized enterprises and startups looking to develop innovative applications in the eHealth domain using FIWARE technology.
In the upcoming weeks, the 80 companies and startups are scheduled to participate in bootcamps, coaching and webinars. The first bootcamp took place at the end of January in Oulu, Finland. In the first stage, companies have two months to refine their ideas into a business model. Each of them will receive EUR 15 000. By the end of February they all must complete a clear business proposal for their products, present their team to the review committee and develop a plan to execute in the next phase of the program.
The FICHe project is a three-phase accelerator program designed to challenge handpicked applicants to create the best business models, go-to-market strategies, proof of concept, investors’ pitches and tested prototypes. To reach the next phase, applicants must be among the top 50 percent; then the top 20 will advance to the final phase.
FICHe Coordinator Satu Väinämö, of the University of Oulu, is pleased with the high quality of applicants selected for the program. “It is great to see small startup companies with simply brilliant business ideas enter the FICHe progam,” said Väinämö. “I hope that small companies keep their eyes and ears open for these types of opportunities in the future.”
Source: FICHe