Discovery Park in Kent has launched a special edition of its Discovery Spark growth and support programme specifically for start-ups in femtech and Women’s Health.
The programme was introduced at the Kent & Medway Women’s Health Innovation Summit, where NHS leaders, clinicians, patients, academics, and innovators gathered to transform women’s health and address the gender health gap. The summit highlighted menopause, mental health, and cardiovascular care as areas with unmet needs, stressing that women are at a higher risk of death after a heart attack compared to men. Despite living longer, women on average spend more time in poor health than men due to a lack of research and data in female health. This is evident as there is significantly more research on male health issues like erectile dysfunction, which affects fewer men, than on female health issues like premenstrual syndrome.
The Discovery Spark programme is now accepting applications and offers customized mentoring and support for start-ups to help founders succeed in investment pitches. Companies can compete for a support package valued at over £50,000, which includes one year of lab or office space at Discovery Park, support from healthcare partners, Barclays Eagle Labs, and six specialist prize partners.
Dr. Renos Savva, head of innovation at Discovery Park and a respected scientist, entrepreneur, and venture development lead, leads the Discovery Spark programme.
Dr. Savva stated: “Discovery Spark equips early-stage start-ups with the necessary tools to build strong business foundations, providing expert advice and personal development tailored for securing investments. With the UK having the largest gender health gap in the G20, it is crucial to support innovative businesses addressing challenges in women’s health.”
Organized into three sessions from May to July, Discovery Spark takes place at Discovery Park with overnight accommodation provided. Each two-day session covers topics such as people, teams, branding, presentation skills, communication, and business metrics.
Dr. MaryAnn Ferreux, medical director at Health Innovation KSS and a partner of the FemTech and Women’s Health Special Edition Discovery Spark, emphasized the importance of collaboration in revolutionizing healthcare for women. The summit showcased the diverse healthcare innovation ecosystem in Kent and Medway, from students and clinicians, to academics, to start-ups and larger companies. Discovery Spark is seen as a continuation of this journey, offering valuable support to start-ups focused on improving women’s health outcomes.
Start-up companies interested in joining the programme must be working in femtech or Women’s Health with a proven concept and have raised less than £1 million in investment. The programme is open to all founders, regardless of gender. The application deadline is April 5th, with the next cohort starting on May 21st.
