The world of "digital health" continues to record impressive numbers: globally, investments in startups active in the sector will exceed 7 billion dollars in 2017 (source: Accenture analysis). The improvement of therapeutic assistance and quality of life today passes through apps, robots that answer users' questions in chat, social profiles, machine learning programs considered effective and promising tools, often recommended by the same healthcare professional or doctor. Proof of this is the fact that the number of digital health apps has increased dramatically in the last four years: from around 66 in 2013 to over 318 in 2017 (source Iqvia report).
In this rapidly growing context with enormous potential, Generali Italia and H-FARM have selected four start-ups operating in the sectors of prevention, access to treatment and new solutions that facilitate users' healthcare journeys. The four selected startups, out of 600 applications from 15 countries, are starting today a 4-month acceleration course on the H-FARM campus, during which they will be able to develop their innovative digital and hardware projects to help patients live better , doctors to stay close to their patients, healthcare professionals to adopt more efficient solutions that improve therapeutic processes and companies to offer integrated welfare solutions to their employees. Among the main selection parameters is the possibility that these solutions can be adopted by Generali Welion, the new integrated welfare company of Generali Italia which offers innovative services from health to flexible benefits also through partnerships with startups.
Generali Italia will support each of the 4 startups with a reference figure who will accompany them throughout the entire process. The selected startups are:
– Holey (Italy) is a startup that wants to revolutionize the design and production process of functional casts and orthopedic braces. Founded by Gabriel Scozzarro, Francesco Leacche, Edoardo Previti Flesca and Roberto De Ioris, it is dedicated to the meticulous and dynamic design of tailor-made solutions for patients through four phases: 3D scanning of the patient's limb, processing and modeling of the 3D image digitized, 3D printing of the device and finally application of the brace to the patient which, thanks to the hinges, takes no more than 5 minutes. The product is made with a hypoallergenic, water-friendly, breathable, light and customizable plastic material. Thanks to Holey casts and braces, the restoration of normal daily activity is faster, less traumatic and more comfortable.
– StayActive (Italy) is a small device able to correct incorrect standing and sitting posture developed by Francesco Dulio, Luca Scevola, Susanna Brogin. Once worn and calibrated through its dedicated app, StayActive is able to warn the user in case of incorrect posture, through a slight vibration which induces him to correct it. The device has the guarantee of the Italian Scientific Institute Colonna
Vertebral (ISICO).
– Knok (Portugal) is the application that offers a convenient, reliable and immediate service: it allows the user to contact a doctor, chosen from the network of professionals registered with Knok, the most suitable in relation to his geographical position and type of health problem to be solved. Operation is simple: just load the app onto your device, describe your problem, at which point Knok will suggest the most suitable doctor to solve it. After confirming and paying for the visit via the mobile application, it will be possible to get in direct contact with the professional, then choose between a video appointment or a visit directly to your home. All doctors in the Knok network are reviewed: 0 to 5 stars. Almost everyone to date has achieved the highest rating.
– Milo (United States) is an innovative solution that allows clinical tests of blood, urine and saliva to be carried out using a device developed by the startup itself and to report the results on the mobile application in a few minutes. The steps are few and simple: after taking a sample and applying it to the appropriate test strip, approved by the FDA, it is sufficient to insert the latter into the Smart Meter, Milo's device which in a few minutes analyzes and sends the results via Bluetooth to smartphone app. The application records and archives the test results, which can be shared with a medical professional to obtain a diagnosis.
The services provided by H-FARM are guaranteed to the projects participating in the acceleration path, including food, lodging, work spaces, mentorship sessions, thematic workshops and support from technical partners to consolidate your business, position it at the best on the market and identify funds and investors. The training activities will be held in the H-FARM headquarters in Roncade and in the Generali Italia offices. At the end of the acceleration program, in March 2018, the startups will participate in the Demo Night during which they will present their project and the results achieved during the acceleration period to an audience of investors, funds and venture capital.
