October Newsletter: Fueling Startup Growth

As we enter the second half of the Vision Health Pioneers Incubator program, momentum is growing, and our focus is sharpening. After months dedicated to validating ideas and testing hypotheses, our teams are now tackling the feasibility of scaling their product and business model. They’re testing their MVPs with first beta users, refining business models, strategizing for fundraising, and preparing for sustainable growth beyond the program. This is a critical period of transformation and practical growth, and we are excited to support every step of this journey!

In this edition, we will look at:

1. Highlights from deGUT and our Collaboration with Grace - Accelerate Female Entrepreneurship : Celebrating female founders and the practical steps they are taking to turn their ideas into real businesses.
2. Insights from Frontiers Health : Key takeaways by Niklas Laasch and Ruby Care on digital therapeutics and the challenges of getting these solutions to people who need them.
3. Startup Spotlight on Skinuvita : Featuring their innovative dermatology solution and the work they are doing to make it a success in the market.
4. Meet Ruby Care at Medica in Düsseldorf!
5. SXSW Pitch Competition - Last Call!
6. Try out unique dental check-up experience with 32bit!

This month, in partnership with Grace - Accelerate Female Entrepreneurship , we highlighted inspiring female founders at deGUT. Jil Berning , co-founder of femote , joined a panel on FemTech, discussing innovations created by women for women and exploring the business development and funding pathways that can bring these ideas to market. She even took a photo with prominent figures like Franziska Giffey, who recently announced a program supporting female entrepreneurship. The discussions centered on the unique challenges and growing opportunities in women’s healthtech—a field now, at last, receiving the attention it deserves.

Our recent time at Frontiers Health was truly inspiring and crucial for the feasibility phase of our program. Niklas Laasch, one of our coaches, shared a powerful insight: "Digital therapeutics are making a real impact, improving patient outcomes step by step, which is no less important for the patient." This highlights how small, thoughtful innovations can drive meaningful change in healthcare, reinforcing the viability of our teams' solutions as they validate and refine their concepts.

The women's health space is also gaining momentum, directly impacting our teams working in this area during this critical phase. Founders often face challenges like limited data, requiring them to build their own datasets—a necessary step in proving their solutions can work in the real world. The discussions at Frontiers Health provided valuable insights and networking opportunities, helping our teams address these challenges and strengthen their business strategies.

It was encouraging to see male allies joining the conversation and recognizing the gaps in their knowledge. This growing awareness and collaboration open doors for our teams to form strategic partnerships, an essential aspect of validating their ideas and moving forward confidently.

Ruby Care summed up the spirit of the event beautifully: "Networking didn't feel like networking—it felt like a community gathering where people work towards the same goals, are open to collaboration, and support each other. Conversations flowed naturally." This sense of community is invaluable, as our teams need support and feedback from industry peers to refine their solutions and prepare for market entry.

By engaging with investors, industry veterans, and fellow startups, our teams are gathering the insights and relationships necessary to validate their ideas. Events like Frontiers Health are not just inspiring—they are integral to our mission of turning innovative concepts into viable healthcare solutions.

?? Did you participate in Frontiers Health? We’d love to hear your key takeaways and experiences—share your learnings with us!

Congratulations to Skinuvita vita for successfully completing their clinical study! They are changing the game in dermatological care with their innovative home phototherapy solution. With proven safety and effectiveness, Skinuvita is set to transform how chronic skin conditions like psoriasis are managed, offering patients greater freedom and quality of life.

Learn more about their groundbreaking journey and what's next for Skinuvita!

• Meet Ruby Care at Medica , a great event for the medical sector! Connect with industry leaders and join the conversation on the future of healthcare innovation. Don’t miss this opportunity to network and explore innovative solutions with healthcare professionals!
• SXSW Pitch Competition - Last Call! Ready to showcase your innovative idea on a global stage? Apply now for the 2025 SXSW Pitch Competition and connect with investors, industry leaders, and fellow visionaries. Don’t miss your chance to make an impact—apply today!
• Are you ready for a unique dental check-up experience? On Friday, November 15th, 32bit , a team from our Cohort 7, invites you to a special event in partnership with BumV! Discover a mobile dental van designed to improve access to dental care for the elderly in Germany. Starting at 10:00, enjoy free dental check-up, and get an up-close look at the van! You can find more information here!

With so many exciting developments and collaboration opportunities, it's clear that the road ahead is filled with possibilities. We look forward to guiding our teams through these critical next steps in business development, and networking, and seeing them soar beyond the incubator program.