The post-corona era created a revolution in the global health system, and posed new major challenges that require groundbreaking technological developments. The great problem of the world created an opportunity for Israeli high-tech, and allowed Israeli innovation in the field of digital health to experience significant growth.
While Israel is becoming a leading player in the field of digital health, in Haifa, the northern capital of Israel, an interesting process of building an ecosystem has developed that connects partners from the private and public sectors; Investors, research and academic bodies, multinational companies, with medical institutions and startups, with the aim of leading the next phase in global medicine and developing a new area of international excellence in the field of digital health.
With a vision to locate the promising startups in the field and accelerate their transition to the next level, Startup City Haifa was launched last June – an accelerator for digital health in Haifa that brought together leading partners, led by the JVP Foundation, Road2, NVIDIA Inception, Margalit Startup City and the Innovation Authority, together with Super-Pharm, Kofet Klalit Hospitals -IBM, Phillips, U-BANK from the international group, Techwin Foundation, Technion, Haifa University, Rambam Hospital, Bnei Zion, AWS, Asensus, and other partners.
Over 120 companies submitted applications, of which only eight companies were selected to take part. In the selection of the companies, emphasis was placed on mature companies that have validation in the market, technological developments at various stages and activity in the global market.
The eight startups chosen to be part of the digital health accelerator STARTUP CITY HAIFA are:
1. RevitalVision – developed an innovative clinically and scientifically proven solution to improve vision in a variety of eye diseases by improving the brain’s ability to process images.
2. The company Apowiser Ltd – has developed a digital platform that is the first of its kind in the world that helps patients to remotely locate OTC medicines (over the counter medicine) that are most suitable for their condition, in an easy, efficient and fast way, anytime and anywhere.
3. The company Sequel.Care – operates in the field of mental health and has developed an artificial intelligence-based system that analyzes information collected from various sources and allows to identify patients at mental risk before deterioration that may lead to hospitalization or suicide.
4. The OpenDNA company – developed a genetic testing system based on artificial intelligence that helps doctors identify patients at risk.
5. The Cardiokol company has developed a technology that allows detecting cardiac arrhythmias based on voice analysis (speech)
6. BOBO / Balance Better company – an interactive rehabilitation solution using a smart balance-based device, for treatment in the fields of physical therapy, fitness, rehabilitation and treatment of attention and concentration problems
7. The Sanolla company – developed the world’s first smart stethoscope that detects infrasound sounds – sound waves that the human ear cannot hear
8. MDIHealth – the company that allows doctors and pharmacists to verify that the drug treatment they give to a patient is effective and safe, and will automatically prevent deaths and side effects.
Arel Margalit, chairman of JVP and Margalit Startup City: “The ecosystem in Haifa regarding digital health will be similar to the podtech revolution we are creating in the Galilee. The world of health must undergo a revolution, from large medical centers to technologies that reach community and home care, remotely and in a personal and precise manner. This is the revolution that Israel must lead From here and from Haifa.”
“We are very happy about the growing activity of Road2 in the field of digital health and are proud of the achievements of the members of the program,” said Eitan Kate, CEO of Road2, “We look forward, together with our great partners, to seeing the next cohorts rise and succeed in the city of Haifa and enjoy everything What the city has to offer in the world of medical innovation.”
The Haifa Digital Health Accelerator, designed to empower startups on the way to building excellent companies, focused on startups that are in their A fundraising stages. In accordance with the mature nature of the companies, each startup received a program tailored to its needs, both in terms of technology and business. In addition, the companies received a set of tools, resources, knowledge and expertise alongside fruitful cooperation with the partners and mentors in the program, which will create value for the startups and opportunities for partnership with leading Israeli and international corporations in the field.
Prof. Ran Blitzer, head of the innovation system in Klalit health services and director of the Klalit Research Institute: “The accelerated development of a variety of solutions in the world of digital health, together with the unique status of Klalit as the largest health body in Israel both in the community and as the leader of 14 hospitals throughout the country allows for unique developments and combinations of technological solutions, to promote the quality of medical care, which provide answers to our most urgent challenges. The partnership in the accelerator allows us to professionally assess the clinical need for technologies and the potential that startups have in these fields, and as evidence, 5 of the 8 selected companies are already in contracting procedures at various stages with Klalit – From initial exposure to a pilot that is already being carried out in the field. Therefore, also from the point of view of the startups – the potential for success in such a partnership is very high.”
The startups that participated had significant achievements including: a pilot in the USA, closing a recruitment round, a pilot with a large chain in Israel, closing distribution contracts and global collaborations, starting clinical research in Israel and more. In light of the success of the program, registration for the second cycle of the program is currently open.
Shaun Koffler, Innovation Manager at Super Pharm stated: “The partnership with Margalit Startup City is of great value to Superpharm in promoting Israeli startups, strengthening the ecosystem in Israel and promoting success in the international market. The entrepreneurs who participated in the program and the innovative solutions they offer to problems in the health sector are an inspiration to us. We are excited to develop partnerships Working with some of the startups that participated in the 2022 cycle of the program, and looking forward to more opportunities in the future.
Yaniv Alon, Manager, IBM Alpha Zone): “The accelerator set itself the goal of strengthening the ties between the industry and carefully selected startups, while strengthening the position of Haifa and the northern region in the field of digital health. The joint work of all the partners of the Startup City Haifa accelerator produced significant results for the startups as well, And also for the ecosystem of digital health in the Haifa region and the north.”
The program took place at the innovation center of Margalit Startup City Haifa. The center is located in the lower city and close to the port, an area that in recent years has become a bustling area that combines fascinating history, lively markets, cafes and restaurants, alongside academic colleges, a branch of the University of Haifa and high-tech centers.
According to Avigdor Avni, manager of U-Bank tech from the International Bank Group: “Ubank Tech – a unique banking brand that specializes in banking for start-up and technology companies, is proud to lend and support Margalit Start-Up City Haifa, thereby launching new companies and new technologies for the benefit of the world of medicine and health.”