Summary
AMSTERDAM, JULY 14, 2015 - “Startup machine” Rockstart introduces its Global Ambassador Network for Digital Health to support startups. A group of experienced international ambassadors will help selected startups navigate the health ecosystems around the world and find the best market opportunities and partners. In May of this year Rockstart announced the start of its Digital Health Accelerator Program, a unique program specifically designed for early-stage digital health startups that are looking to build, validate and scale their business to international markets. Today Rockstart follows up the previous announcement by introducing a Global Ambassador Network for Digital Health to connect startups in the Rockstart Accelerator Digital Health program with key opinion leaders and healthcare experts in countries around the world. Being well connected to worldwide health ecosystems can bring great benefits to early-stage companies in digital health says Henrik Ahlen (eHealth advisor / Stockholm, Sweden): “Having access to an international networks of ambassadors will catalyze the development speed and the market growth opportunities for digital health startups”. Nir Shimony (Co-founder of TechForGood / Tel Aviv, Israel) confirms this by explaining that “as the digital health industry differs from one country to another, implementing country-specific best practices into the acceleration process will result in having better startups with better chances of generating international impact.” One of Rockstart's startup mantras is “surround yourself with the best people”. When trying to build a successful international company in such a complex space as digital health is, this is of vital importance. “It makes sense to broaden the health accelerator model beyond the traditional geographies and open the doors to diverse cultures, ultimately widening the opportunities to solve global issues in healthcare!” states Shwen Gwee (Advisory Board Pharma at Google and Advisory Board Health at SXSW / Boston, United States). Below is a selection of the international ambassadors that will support the Rockstart Digital Health program this October: Shwen Gwee (Advisory Board Pharma at Google, United States) Nir Shimony (Co-founder Tech for Good, Israel) Henrik Ahlen (eHealth Strategist, Sweden) Lisa Suennen (Managing Partner Venture Valkyrie, United States) Bart Collet (Partner Healthstartup.eu, Belgium) Zach West (Manager Mobile, Social & Content Walgreens, United States) Lucien Engelen (Director at Radboudumc REshape Center, The Netherlands) Julien de Salaberry (Co-founder at HealthStartups Asia, Singapore) Thanos Kosmidis (Co-founder & CEO CareAcross, Greece) Erden Asena (Founder & CEO doktorsitesi.com, Turkey) Teemu Arina (Author Biohacker’s Handbook, Finland) According to Maarten den Braber (Program Director Digital Health at Rockstart Accelerator / Nijmegen, The Netherlands) Rockstart will continue to add ambassadors to the Global Ambassador Network for Digital Health to strengthen its mission to provide digital health startups with the best resources to build, validate and scale their businesses on an international level. The Rockstart Accelerator Digital Health program will be starting in October 2015. Startups can apply until July 19 at www.rockstart.com/accelerator/digitalhealth ----------------------------------------------------------- About Rockstart Accelerator Digital Health Amsterdam based Rockstart ‘'The Global Startup Machine”, was founded in 2011 by Dutch serial entrepreneur Oscar Kneppers (earlier Emerce & Bright). The first Rockstart Accelerator program launched in 2012. To date, Rockstart has accelerated 58 startups in 6 programs: 4 in the web & mobile domain and 2 focused on the smart energy industry. Over 60% of Rockstart alumni (including 3D Hubs and Peerby) have attracted over EUR 18 million of funding from national and international angel and venture capital investors including Greylock Partners, Balderton Capital, XAnge Private Equity and Walvis Participaties In May 2015 Rockstart announced their first Digital Health program, which will be located in Nijmegen and run with strategic healthcare partners including Radboud University Medical Center. The Digital Health accelerator program provides specific sessions, workshops and mentors around the unique challenges digital health founders are facing. These topics include: designing for patients, dealing with CE/FDA regulation, building sustainable revenue models (direct-to-consumer), lean healthcare UX and understanding international healthcare markets. Selected startups are offered a cash investment of € 20.000 plus an in-kind investment consisting of office space and other facilities, expert workshops, international events and intensive hands-on (mentor) support, all in exchange for 8% equity. With this investment, the teams can fully focus on their product and getting ready for Demo Day, where they will pitch to a large audience of healthcare investors, partners and media. “When accelerators bring high quality entrepreneurs together with great content, experience and mentors, startup magic can happen. Rockstart has built a program and international network that offers great promise to catalyze the "magic" that hard work and the right people can create together.” according to Lisa Suennen (Managing Partner at Venture Valkyrie / San Francisco, United States). Applications for Rockstart Accelerator Digital Health can be submitted at www.rockstart.com/accelerator/digitalhealth and close July 19.