Now celebrating its 25th gathering, the MedTech Investing Europe Conference brought together over 100 participants from throughout Europe, and further afield, to London. Attendees included startup companies and medtech industry innovation specialists, along with sector-specific professional investment firms, as well as angel and family office investors. There were also a number of people from regional governments and embassies with strategic links to the medtech sector present.

As part of the program, around 25 pre-vetted startup companies were each pitching their novel technologies for investment at both seed and series A rounds. Many of these companies were also sharing prototypes and demonstrating technologies in the networking sessions, giving potential investors hands-on experience of some of the latest innovations.

A real-time catheter visualization and guidance system on display from Centerline Biomedical

Some of the innovations on display included big data and machine learning analytics, minimally invasive instruments for scar-free procedures, novel contrast agents and instrument guidance systems, point of care diagnostics, new cardiovascular devices and orthopaedic products, and remotely administered behavioral therapies. Pretty extensive for a relatively small event.

Investors had the opportunity to vote for the best startup pitch of the event, with the teams from Bluedrop Medical and Blusense Diagnostics declared the joint winners. The founders of Bluedrop Medical have created a system capable of detecting diabetic foot ulcers before they become visible, which could reduce the number of worldwide limb amputations (currently one every 20 seconds!) and save healthcare systems billions annually from reduced hospitalizations. The technology at Blusense Diagnostics is helping to rapidly diagnose some of the world’s most dangerous viruses, including Zika and dengue, in the field with just a single drop of blood and in a matter of minutes.

Synergy between startup companies and potential financial partners was sparked throughout the event with a number of “meet the investor” panels that elucidated investment decisions and priorities. The careful marrying of the right investor with the right technology was also emphasized in discussions and further facilitated with formal one-on-one introduction meeting sessions, which could be scheduled from the guest list.

In-depth interview panels provided expert advice on entering complex markets, like the Persian Gulf region, and how to strategically drive adoption in single-payer systems like the NHS. Many investors and technologists spoke of the vital role grants and government backed investment opportunities, such as InnovateUK, had in early stage technology development and the use of competitions and incentives to build companies that are scalable and attractive for follow-on investment.

The meeting brought together unparalleled breadth and depth of expertise that spanned from the gamut from initial investments into a new medtech startup, to strategies for effective IPO or acquisitions, and all the important financial decisions in between.

Next year’s meeting is scheduled for April in Lausanne, Switzerland with more information available on the conference website: www.medtechinvesting.com…