What is Startup Creasphere?
Established in 2018 by the founding partners Roche and Plug and Play, Startup Creasphere was the first Digital Health Accelerator in Munich. Today, it has turned into one of the largest hubs for digital health innovation in Europe. To date, more than 70 digital health startups have participated in the program, resulting in more than 50% follow-up collaborations.
All partners of the Startup Creasphere platform share the aim to transform healthcare together by building a strong ecosystem, fostering open innovation as well as accelerate startup success.
What is an accelerator?
Corporate Accelerator programs are a platform to bridge between startups and corporations. They are fixed-term (3-4 months), cohort-based programs that include mentorship and educational components. Acclerators enable the co-development of solutions for digital health by working on pilot projects. A public pitching event (Expo Day) marks the end of the batch and is intended for the teams to present the results of their co-creation.
Who is driving Startup Creasphere?
Founding partners: Roche and Plug and Play
Anchor partner: Novo Nordisk
Ecosystem partners: Microsoft, Accenture
If you are interested in the people behind the scenes please visit out team page.
Why have we created Startup Creasphere?
We are striving for three main aspects: creating a digital ecosystem in healthcare, driving open innovation and acceleratoing startups success. By creating a digital ecosystem in healthcare we are connecting all relevant players such as corporates, startups, investors, providers, payers and customers to ultimately accelerate the development of new digital health solutions and new business models. Driving open innovation within the healthcare industry results from the huge need to collaborate with different players. Startup Creasphere offers access to a dedicated healthcare ecosystem to foster co-creation and open innovation. Accelerating startup success is crucial as Startups play a major role in the digitalization of the healthcare industry and developing new disruptive ideas.
What makes Startup Creasphere different?
Startup Creasphere has a strong focus on the co-creation between startups and corporate partners, and fosters an integrative approach bringing together different corporate partners in healthcare and beyond (open innovation platform).
Where does the program happen?
Startup Creasphere is active globally. The program started in Munich, and now runs further locations in Singapore and Silicon Valley. More to come…
When does the next batch start?
Please find upcoming events on our events page.
Munich runs twice a year with the summer batch starting in March and the winter batch starting in October.
Singapore runs once a year starting in August.
Silicon Valley runs twice a year starting in January and in August respectively.
How long is the program?
A batch typically runs for 12 to 14 weeks.
What does the different partner levels mean?
Founding partners are shaping and driving the program´s character, including the elements and structure. They are actively involved in pilot projects adressing challenges with certain technologies and adress the needs pf patients in specific indication areas.
Anchor partner: They are actively involved in pilot projects adressing challenges with certain technologies and adress the needs pf patients in specific indication areas.
Ecosystem partner´s engagement includes mentoring, coaching and dedicated offerings to the startups and corporate partners.
What are the benefits for startups?
Startups gain access to high-level corporate partners and to a broad network of experts and investors. During the batch, they receive valuable business insights, feedback / input for their solution, as well as coaching, and mentoring. For more than 50% of the startups, the collaboration continues after the batch program.
Do you have typical success stories?
We are regularly posting success stories on our News&Stories page. Please be aware that this is only a selection as many ongoing topics can not be communicated externally.
What are the key technology and indication areas?
The key technologies and indications are:
Advanced Data Analytics
Digital Biomarker
Lab of the Future
Disease Management
Clinical Decision Support
Digital Service Solutions
Digital Therapeutics
Telemedicine
Cardiometabolic Diseases
Oncology
Obesity
Diabetes Care
Women´s Health
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Infectious Diseases
How do you find the best startups for your challenges?
The batch-specific scouting runs once two twice a year and is based on the specific challenges and search criteria defined by the business and R&D teams of our corporate partners. This iterative process starts with a longlist of startups that are then step by step reduced ending up in one startup that will be picked to participate in the next batch.
What follow-up collaboration opportunities have you seen in the past?
We have seen a multitude of collaboration models resulting from Startup Creasphere participation: different types of partnerships such as extended pilot projects, supplier / vendor relationships, co-development, co-marketing and co-distribution agreements as well as acquisition or equity investments.
Who can participate and how can Startups apply?
Startup Creasphere is looking for the best startups in defined focus areas who want to make an impact in the healthcare sector, are digitally driven, have an MVP, and are ready for co-creation.
If you have an interesting solution that might fit to our technology and indications, please contact us via email.
A dedicated application is not possible as we are searching very targeted according to the challenges we receive from the corporate partner´s business and R&D teams.
Do you invest and how much equity do you take in return?
No, Startup Creasphere is focused on co-creation, hence there are no investments included. However our program offers access to VCs during the focus weeks. Furthermore our partner PnP also acts as investor: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/ventures/.
How much does it cost to participate as a startup?
Startup Creasphere is a free of charge accelerator.
How many startups have been participating in Startup Creasphere?
To date, more than 70 digital health startups have participated in the program, resulting in more than 50% follow-up collaborations.
(status: incl. batch 6 in Munich, June 2021).
Who is the contact for further questions?
Christina Brandmair, the program manager for Startup Creasphere: c.brandmair@pnptc.com
How can I stay up to date on whats happening?
Follow us on Linkedin or visit our News&Stories subpage.