Tech4Eva -The first startup accelerator in the field of FemTech
© Tech4Eva
The EPFL Innovation Park and Groupe Mutuel are joining forces to launch Tech4Eva, the first start-up acceleration program in Switzerland addressing women’s health. Women are an important pillar of our society. Their health and well-being is important, yet studies indicate that as little as 4 percent of all healthcare research is targeted at women’s health, despite the fact that women in general spend an estimated USD 500 billion in medical expenses annually.
On this International Women’s Day EPFL Innovation Park and Groupe Mutuel announce Tech4Eva, a joint program with the purpose of developing FemTech startups by leveraging the combined resources, ecosystems and networks of the two organizations. The program aspires to create community of students, researchers and innovators (female and male) working together to develop new ideas and technologies that improve the health of women.
Call for Swiss and international start-ups and innovative projects to apply
The program Tech4Eva is open to start-ups and innovators from Switzerland and around the globe. The program is looking for innovative solutions addressing any female health area, including pregnancy, fertility, menstruation, menopause, mental health, family planning, breast cancer, cervical cancer, etc. The solutions can be wideranging, including Apps, exchange platforms, drugs or preventive medicine, and diagnostic tools or therapeutic devices supported by artificial intelligence (AI).
The first 9-month cohort of Tech4Eva will kick-off in April 2021. 15 high potential start-ups will be selected to participate and will benefit from specialized workshops, personalized mentorship, a series of roadshows in Switzerland, Japan, the UK and the United States and investor meetings. The start-ups will also be provided introductions to leading healthcare companies.
The program also invites innovators and corporate innovation teams with early-stage ideas to apply for opportunities to receive tailored entrepreneurship training and support in getting their solutions to market.
EPFL Innovation Park – Groupe Mutuel: a win-win partnership
The selected start-ups will benefit from one of the best health ecosystems in Europe. Thanks to the EPFL Innovation Park’s proven expertise and strong business network and the “Health Valley” around it, they will be able to access international partnerships and investors. They will also be able to work on pilot projects within Groupe Mutuel and its client companies and access a dynamic market with one of leading health insurers in Switzerland.
"Unfortunately, women's issues are all too often overlooked when developing healthrelated technology solutions. This partnership aims to fill this gap in Switzerland”, said Thomas Boyer, CEO of Groupe Mutuel.
“We look forward to joining forces with Groupe Mutuel and to help unleash the productivity and creativity of 50% of the population through this acceleration program for FemTech start-ups. We will contribute our strong business and investor network, as well as our experience of bringing hundreds of high-tech start-ups to success”, concluded Jean-Philippe Lallement, Managing Director of the EPFL Innovation Park
Application of Tech4Eva Acceleration program: https://forms.gle/4Ef5LLnXhKwfwEZM9
Deadline: March 31, 2021
Target: FemTech Start-ups and Innovative projects addressing women’s health and well-being
Further information on: www.tech4eva.ch