Speed dating and tips for LSH startups

Together with regional partners, ROM InWest and the Amsterdam Economic Board organised this matching event for the second year in a row. Offering startups a means to develop, scale up and market their innovations. And inspire up-and-coming academic entrepreneurs.

Society needs these innovative startups and their technology to continue providing good healthcare in the future and strengthen the regional economy.

Current challenges

The diverse programme of plenary sessions, a networking floor with service providers and 1-on-1 matchmaking sessions gave participants a dynamic afternoon. The event provided a platform to gain knowledge, make valuable connections and start concrete collaborations. The themes of the day – including e-health, AI, medical devices, biotechnology and diagnostics – dovetailed seamlessly with current challenges and opportunities within the industry.

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Experiences and tips

Led by impact officer Davide Ianuzzi (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), entrepreneurs Madelon Bracke (Clear.bio), Joyce Knappe (Pro Parents), Faviola Dadis (NeuroReality / Rollman Group) and Harro Stokman (Kepler Vision) talked about their experiences with fundraising. And there were tips for startups: ‘Research carefully whether an investor is a good fit for you’, and ‘Look critically at the participation conditions’.

Investors Ishaan Tewarie (EQT Ventures), Thom Frielink (Curie Capital), Simone Brummelhuis (Borski Fund) and Kevin Ranner (NLC Health Ventures) also shared their experiences and tips, led by moderator Vincent Vierhout (ROM InWest).

Speed dating

At the heart of the afternoon were the speed dating sessions. In 156 matchmaking sessions, entrepreneurs and investors engaged in conversation. They talked about their innovative projects and funding plans and explored opportunities for collaboration.

In addition to the 26 investment funds, 12 service providers provided startups with practical tools and advice, including on patenting, grants and pilot testing.

Further development

LSH Capital Match 2024 once again demonstrated the importance of collaboration and funding to accelerate innovations in the Life Sciences & Health sector.

The region has a lot of knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit in this sector that create innovation and societal impact. Capital and support are indispensable for this. The need for a matchmaking event like LSH Capital Match is therefore great.

Read more about our initiative MKB InnovatieBooster LSH. In it, the Amsterdam Economic Board and ROM InWest, as organisations for regional development, take a leading role in the ecosystem to convert LSH knowledge into new businesses.

Many thanks to the other partners in the MKB InnovatieBooster LSH initiative: Amsterdam AI, Amsterdam UMC, DNNL, Health & Innovation District Amsterdam, Health~Holland, Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland, Invest-NL, Rabobank, Startup Village, StartupAmsterdam, University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.