Are you our Digital Health Rockstar(t) ?

We’re very excited to share that Rockstart with a great group of partners officially launches the Rockstart Accelerator Digital Health Nijmegen, aiming to make a sustainable impact on global health systems. Working with an extensive network of mentors and investors, as well as key health institutions and organizations, the Nijmegen-based program helps startups get access to the healthcare system itself. 10 startups will be selected for a 180-day consecutive program starting in September, that will allow them to engage directly with patients, professionals and other stakeholders to validate their product or service. Applications are now open and can be submitted here. This is your change to help improve health(care)!!

Having the REshape Healthcubator on our bucketlist for a long time, we're now happy to co-ignite an even broader program. 

Prevent, connect & communicate
The 6-month program, kicking off in September 2015, is primarily geared towards startups in the areas of prevention, connecting patients and communication platforms & tools. Unique in Europe is Rockstart’s integration with and knowledge of theNijmegen healthcare system in digital health. From day one, the program will steer startups towards growth. By making sure they engage directly with relevant patients, professionals and other stakeholders in healthcare, the startups will be able to see how patients and professionals interact with their technology and how it can be designed and built to deliver lasting value.

Launchpad for digital health
The Rockstart Accelerator Digital Health has a strong international focus, supporting startups in determining their international fit and providing access to their relevant markets. The program is located at Novio Tech Campus in Nijmegen, also known as the Health Valley of The Netherlands; Europe’s most connected digital health ecosystem and connected to several fieldlabs like our own REshape Center for Innovation at Radboudumc where we connect you with real doctors, nurses and of course patients that are willing to help find solutions to improve health(care). But also the fieldlabs of Siza, Thermion and the St. Maartens Kliniek are just around the corner. 

Next to a regional network of 700+ companies and institutions involved in healthcare within this area, Rockstart has a number of key partners on board for the program, including Radboud University Medical Center, Province of Gelderland, Noaber Ventures, Arbo Unie, PPM Oost, Health Valley, City of Nijmegen, and Rabobank. Hekkelman Advocaten & Notarissen will act as legal partner for the program.

Intensive support
Rockstart Accelerator Digital Health is created in cooperation with industry partners and investors, as well as an international mentor group of over 50 professionals, specialists and entrepreneurs. The selected startups are offered a cash investment of €20.000 plus an in-kind investment consisting of office space and other facilities, expert workshops, international events and intensive hands-on (mentor) support, all in exchange for 8% equity. With this investment, the teams can fully focus on their product and getting ready for Demo Day, where they will pitch to a large audience of healthcare investors, partners and media.

Rockstart's Team
Rockstart Accelerator Digital Health is led by an experienced team: Maarten den Braber (NL, co-founder Quantified Self Europe, co-organizer Singularity University NL summits), Don Ritzen (NL) and Rune Theill (DK), also from REshape our start-up lead Thijs Sondag will join the team part-time. 
Amsterdam based Rockstart, ‘The Global Startup Machine’, was founded in 2010 by Dutch serial entrepreneur Oscar Kneppers, founder of media companies Emerce and Bright.

About Rockstart 
The first Rockstart Accelerator program launched in 2012 and to date Rockstart has accelerated 58startups in 6 programs, 4 in the broader Web & Mobile domain and 2 focused on the smart energy industry. Two of these programs are currently running in Amsterdam. Over 70% of our alumni (including 3D Hubs and Peerby) have attracted over EUR 18 million in follow-on funding from national and international angel and venture capital investors including Greylock Partners, Balderton Capital, XAnge Private Equity and Walvis Participaties.