The University of Navarra Incubator begins incubation of 10 new startups after holding its first Health Startup Forum

The University of Navarra Incubator held the first edition of the Health Startup Forum this week at partnership with the IESE Business School's Business Angels. Clínica Universidad de Navarranetwork of Business Angels of the IESE Business School and Innovation Factory, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center of the academic center. This forum represents the final closure of the call launched by the University at the beginning of 2024 to identify and select different startups in the health field that could contribute to improving people's health and that were aimed at different medical specialties. 

The call, held in Madrid, received 41 applications and presented the 10 selected startups that are already part of the incubator. In addition, all of them had the opportunity to present their proposals to a committee audience of investors, clinical professionals, healthcare companies and experts at development .

Among the participating projects, the forum brought together startups dedicated to diagnostics through liquid biopsies to identify circulating tumor cells(Sortcell); the generation of new CAR-T cell therapies designed to address the current limitations of anti-tumor treatments (Qimerbio Therapeutics); medical devices that enable effective control of myopia in a non-invasive manner (MyUVEC); novel anti-inflammatory compounds capable of inhibiting cytokine storm without suppressing the innate immune response (Novatem Biopharma); nanotechnology platform to drive the clinical transfer of novel therapeutic molecules(Diversa); cryopreservation devices that provide the option of culture preservation and serve as tool for dispensing (CryoKeep) or the development of spectroscopic optical technologies to monitor the prenatal process of the fetus (Optec4Life).

Among all of them, The Blue Box, a startup dedicated to performing simpler, more sensitive and accurate breast cancer tests in urine to reliably rule out healthy women, had a special accredited specialization as "best pitch" of the workshop. Likewise, Medical Plasmas, a startup dedicated to the healing of torpid ulcers through the application of cold atmospheric plasma; and Diabyuda, dedicated to improving control, reducing complications and optimizing the resources allocated to diabetic patients through the development of personalized software; obtained second and third place, respectively.

The next step is to start the incubation process of the 10 startups that will have access to mentoring and support from clinical experts from the CUN and the Incubator itself, to its network of experts, its network of investors, as well as to knowledge and research and development capabilities of the University of Navarra.

Proton therapy and participants

The event also included a visit to visit to the Proton Therapy Unit of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra where its General Manager, Luis Gaytán de Ayala, was able to explain the Clinic's mission statement and strategic vision. In addition, those attending the event had the opportunity to receive a session with Dr. Javier Serrano, specialist in Radiation Oncology and vice-president of the SEOR (Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology); and Diego Azcona, specialist in Hospital Radiophysics, on the operation of this revolutionary technology that opens a new window to the controlled and effective treatment of different types of tumors through proton therapy.

In addition, among the invited institutions, the event was attended by professionals from GSK, AstraZeneca, CINFA, InsudPharma, Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Caixa, Kunsen, core topic Capital, IESE BAN and Finaves, Inveready, Ysios Capital, Nara, Invivo Ventures, Directareyhold, Big Ban and Domus Fide, among many others.