Healing Healthcare through technology?

by Philippa K?hnk , Member of the executive board and lead Healthcare BRYCK.COM ?

Ranking 16th out of 17 in the Digital Health Index for Germany.

We’re clearly lagging digitization in health sector - not because a shortage of innovative ideas, but often, because the connection between startups and healthcare corporates with strict regulations and daily patient business is not coming naturally.?

Health is a cornerstone of our mission to build a livable future - one with many challenges to be tackled. As an innovation hub, we focus on the topic of “healing healthcare through technology”: Technological innovations, which support our corporate healthcare partners in terms of patient care and shortage of skilled healthcare workers.

But Germany still lags in health sector digitization: ranking 16th out of 17 in the Digital Health Index. And not because a shortage of innovative ideas – but often, because the connection between startups and healthcare corporates with strict regulations and daily patient business is not coming naturally.?

Hardly any sector offers as few integration opportunities for relevant startups - even though it relies on their innovations to remain viable for the future. The complexity of the market requires more than just technical feasibility: Successful companies are those that take the interests of all market participants into account right from the start and receive support from business and politics.?Therefore, we’re working closely with corporate partners, experts and startups, to identify needs and current topics to bring both worlds together.??

Current Hot Topics in Healthcare?& Startup Solutions

1. Elder Care?

The security of care for an aging population is closely linked to the shortage of skilled workers. Additionally, the tasks that need to be completed within the available time are daunting, with documentation and bureaucracy consuming about 30% of working hours.

Startups like our community member dexter health , which developed a "Siri for nursing," provide innovative solutions by allowing documentation via voice assistants, which can be integrated into any documentation software. The result: reduced administrative workload on healthcare professionals, ensuring care security and bridging gaps in service.

Another great example is icho systems from our recently graduated startup program: They offer a guideline-compliant therapeutic hardware solutions – their therapy ball - paired with a smart therapy system for neurological impairments like dementia - supporting elderly in preventing or improving neurological diseases and supporting healthcare professionals in their therapeutic work.?

2. Mental Health?

According to the Federal Ministry of Labor, the number of sick days due to mental illness has more than doubled since 2012, reaching 132 million days in 2022. So mental illnesses are not just a "personal issue", but a significant societal concern.

Besides playing a critical role in bridging long wait times or complementing therapies – technical solutions can also help to detect risk factors earlier or relief bureaucratic tasks:??Our portfolio team spexa , “the x-ray for companies” supports companies and their employees with their company health index, considering workload, wellbeing etc. of a company and departments to detect and prevent stress and potential risk factors.??

Alumni team Lucoyo Health GmbH – Short for ‘Let us Connect You’ - offers a SaaS solution for psychotherapists outsourcing bureaucratic tasks, and thereby allowing more time for what truly matters: treating patients.?

3. FemTech

In recent years, there has been significant progress in female health. The male body as the medical norm is being questioned, studies are being revisited, and the public is becoming aware of emerging issues:

This month, for example, it became public that tampons contain heavy metals. This contamination stems from the cotton production process, highlighting a shocking oversight in the regulation of female hygiene products – with unknown effects.

Another example: Medical solutions for female conditions often aim to control the problem without considering quality of life. For instance, pelvic floor dysfunction treatments like pessaries solve the medical issue but severely restrict patients.

Health program alumni Yeda has developed a unique solution for an inflatable and therefore customized pessary – the “bra for the pelvic floor” – offering instant relief instead and option for training, instead of covering the symptoms.

BRYCK approach & solutions towards solving these challenges:?

1) Startup support for teams with Healthtech solutions?

With our BRYCK? Startup programs, we support early-stage teams with technical solutions for these and other urgent topics in healthcare.

• 8 week remote first program
• tailormade schedule with personal mentor & industry expert
• focus on client & investment connections

Apply for our current HealthTech Booster program until September 9th 2024:

https://bryck.com/open-applications/

2) Co-Innovation program for companies & corporates: Health Hub

Our recently established Innovation Center for Digital health with Universit?tsmedizin Essen & 10xD helps to implement these innovations into the German health market to tackle the healthcare industry challenges like ensuring & improving security of supply or countering the shortage of skilled workers by?

• tailored startup solutions to the partners individual needs??

• dedicated corporate challenges & venture client programs?

• connecting relevant players from the healthcare ecosystem, economy & politics?

If you’re interested in joining the Health Innovation Ecosystem & peer-to-peer exchange, contact me via [email protected] ?

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