Start-ups and scale-ups shortlisted for Rewired Pitchfest 2023 named

Twenty-three of the hottest digital health start-ups and scale-ups have been shortlisted for Rewired Pitchfest 2023.  

Over 80 innovative companies from across Europe, the US and Canada submitted applications, with the Pitchfest judges selecting 23 to take part in the virtual heats starting this week. 

From the 23 shortlisted the judges will down-select just 16 to go through and pitch live at Digital Health Rewired and win a place in the final to be named Digital Health Pitchfest winner. 

Now in its fifth year, Digital Health Pitchfest has been split into two categories for 2023, start-up and scale-up, with a winner to be named in each category. The start-up of the year will win a trial at an NHS test bed site. 

The shortlist features a wide range of innovative tech solutions, with AI and data driven apps featuring heavily.

The entries include smart medical devices, research platforms, clinical search platforms to an automated lipreading solution, a LGBTQ+ health platform, GP software, a Gout management app, maternity platform, cognitive function monitoring to mental health chatbots and many more.  

The confirmed start-ups shortlist is:  

• Allos – AI-based platform to accelerate triage for autoimmune issues  
• BFB Labs – fusing immersive gaming with highly evidenced therapies for better youth mental heath 
• Careful – clinical collaboration app that improves productivity in healthcare 
• Frendo – smartphone app for endometriosis patients and those with suspected symptoms 
• Gout Scout – the world’s first gout management app 
• Healthtech-1 – software automating patient registrations for primary care 
• Hera – digital-first maternity and child health platform, launching in postnatal care 
• LVNDR Health – app for sexual healthcare and well-being services designed by LGBTQ+ clinicians  
• Medwise – AI-based search platform used by over 1,000 clinicians  
• MRI My Pacemaker – intelligent cloud-based referrals platform built to enable equal access to essential diagnostics
  MyOpNotes – digital platform for surgeons to write high-quality operation notes, automatically capturing data for research and audit 
• Pangaea – AI for mapping patient journeys and disease trajectories for preventative health and precision medicine 
• Ufonia – replaces routine patient healthcare interactions with next generation automated phone calls  
• xWave Technologies – a clinical decision support system that aims to tackle the radiology backlog 
• ZiO Health – AI-driven hand-held point-of-care device for therapeutic drug monitoring 

Making the scale-ups shortlist is:  

• Abtrace  – GP software for scanning clinical records to monitor existing long-term conditions, detecting new disease, and optimising preventative treatment  
• Dr Julian – tele and virtual health solutions for mental health providers  
• Kinetikos Health – evidence-based clinical platform and smartphone app to assist in managing movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s 
• Limbic – the world’s first and only AI mental health chatbot with Medical Class IIa UKCA status  
• Liopa – automated lipreading solution rooted in machine learning and AI 
• Panakeia Technologies – AI software platform offering biomarker results in minutes instead of days or weeks  
• Surgery Hero – app-based multi behavioural intervention tailored for patients approaching elective surgery 
• Vinehealth – mobile app to improve the quality of life and outcomes of cancer patients   

The pitching now begins in a series of virtual heats where contestants will battle it out in a bid to reach the live finals taking place on day one (scale-ups) and day two (start-ups) of Digital Health Rewired, 14-15 March.

Eight finalists will be put through their paces by a panel of VCs, investors and NHS tech leaders before one start-up or scale-up is crowned Pitchfest 2023 champion and wins an NHS test bed site.  

The winning innovation will be rolled-out at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust through the CW Innovation programme – a collaboration between the trust and its charity CW+. 

Chris Chaney, Chief Executive of CW+ and co-lead of CW Innovation, said: “Congratulations to all those shortlisted for Pitchfest 2023.

“At a time when the NHS is under immense pressure, it’s heartening to see so many young enterprises finding innovative tech solutions that could make a measurable, lasting difference to patients and healthcare providers.

“I’m delighted that we will, once again, be offering a real-world test bed for the eventual winner – it’s a brilliant opportunity for innovators to accelerate and scale their ideas, with the support of industry experts.”

Chris is part of an illustrious panel of digital health VCs, innovators, established entrepreneurs and NHS IT leaders, including 2022 Pitchfest winner Dr Rachael Grimaldi, CEO of CardMedic; Chris Sawyer, Innovation Lead, Digital Health, Innovate UK; and Jon Hoeksma CEO, Digital Health.  

Jon Hoeksma, said: “Now in its fifth year Pitchfest has again attracted a fantastic range of start-ups and innovators. The participation of so many start-ups, and the brilliant teams behind them, helps make Digital Health Rewired the most exciting digital health show in the UK. Our thanks again to all the judges and participating companies.”  

He added: “As well as the Pitchfest competition great start-ups and innovators, including past Pitchfest entrants, can be found throughout the Rewired conference programme, including on the AI and Data theatre.”

Pitchfest takes place at Rewired 2023, the premiere education and networking event for all members of the fast-evolving, dynamic multi-disciplinary UK digital health community; bringing the best of NHS IT, digital, data and innovation under one roof.  

Join us on 14-15 March at London’s Business Design Centre. Rewired 2023 is free for NHS, public sector, charities, education and start-ups. Commercial tickets start from £475. Register your place here.