Investors and healthcare industry leaders from UAE and around the world came together for the finale of Dubai 100’s second accelerator programme where they explored potential partnerships and investment opportunities with new technology startups seeking to solve global health challenges.

The pitch day, which took place at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) on Tuesday 25 April, was the culmination of an intensive three month accelerator programme which brought together 6 startups from China, Germany, Nigeria, Singapore, the UK and USA to leverage Dubai as a testbed to fast-track innovation and unlock global opportunities.

Roland Daher, Head of Dubai 100, commented: “Dubai 100’s pitch days are an opportunity to bring together Dubai’s highly international healthcare and innovation ecosystems to support early-stage startups with the potential to create scalable impact, both in Dubai and globally. This year, we are honoured to host the event at the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, an invaluable supporter of innovation in Dubai’s healthcare industry.”

Dr Amer Ahmad Sharif, Vice Chancellor of MBRU, who welcomed guests, commented: “Innovation is a core component of our goal to train healthcare professionals who drive excellence. We are pleased to host Dubai 100, which by bringing together high-potential startups from around the world and improving their solutions in close partnership with industry is thus developing exciting opportunities in digital health and contributing to Dubai’s growing momentum as a global catalyst for progress.”  

During the pitch day, entrepreneurs aimed to secure new partnerships for clinical trials, fundraising and product development to support their work across the spectrum of healthcare, from improving pre-natal care to the management of diabetes and asthma to rehabilitation of stroke patients.

Dr Paul Rinne, co-founder of GripAble, an Imperial College London startup, who joined Dubai 100 in January, added: “Dubai 100 came at a perfect time to help us take our product out of our academic and clinical world into a global business context. The accelerator has surpassed our expectations in helping us refine our business model and opening up local and international opportunities. We are now looking to raise funds to take our validated product to commercial stage.”

Daher added: “The startups on our programme were selected from more than 150 applicants around the world. Over the past 100 days, they have utilised Dubai’s supportive ecosystem, our programme and strong industry network, to challenge, validate and iterate their solutions and business models. We look forward to taking that momentum forward with them in the next stages of their development.”

Here are the teams:

·       Aevice Health, Singapore - Developing a wearable device to diagnose asthma earlier and constantly monitor the condition, particularly in young children.

·       Amésanté, China - Developing a smart nutrition service that uses artificial intelligence to help manage diabetes during pregnancy.

·       Curacel Health, Nigeria - A cloud-based electronic medical record system, which also works offline, developed for Africa.

·       GripAble, UK - The first generation of smart mobile therapy tools for physically impaired patients to improve hand and arm movement.

·       Rehality, Germany – Developing personalised therapy games in virtual reality to shorten the rehabilitation time of half-paralysed patients.

·       Modoo, China - A wearable device using innovative passive technology to monitor unborn babies’ movement and heart rate.