European Union funded FICHe (Future Internet Challenge eHealth) accelerator program has selected 80 European health technology companies for the first phase of the project. Selected out of more than 300 applications, these small and mid-sized enterprises will be offered bootcamps, coaching and webinars. By the end of February they all have to deliver a clear business model, present their team to the review committee and develop a plan to execute in the next phase of the program.

For the next phase, applicants have to be among the top 50%, ending with the best 20 that will make it to the final phase.The FICHe project includes a three phase accelerator program that will challenge handpicked applicants to create the best business model, go-to-market strategy, proof of concept, investors pitch and tested prototype. For the next phase, applicants have to be among the top 50%, ending with the best 20 that will make it to the final phase.

“It is great to see also small startup companies with a simply brilliant business ideas enter the FICHe program,” said FICHe Coordinator Satu Väinämö from University of Oulu. “I hope that small companies would keep their eyes and ears open for this type of opportunities also in the future.”

Each of the applicants from the first phase will receive funding of 15,000 EUR, along with training in bootcamps, the first of which took place at the end of January in Oulu, Finland. The other two bootcamps are held in Murcia, Spain and Amsterdam, The Netherlands.