The first 30 days in the incubator

As Cohort 7 concludes its initial 30 days in Vision Health Pioneers Incubator, we've seen impressive progress and notable enthusiasm. Embracing the lean startup methodology, our focus has been on desirability, ensuring our startups are as market-responsive as they are innovative.

In this edition, you'll discover:

• Mentor Marathon Recap: Dive into the highlights of our intensive mentorship interactions, where seasoned experts meet fresh innovation.
• Insights on Mentorship: Hear directly from mentors and mentees about the transformative impact of our mentorship program.
• New Faces: We welcome our latest mentors and coaches, each bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to our community.
• Startup Spotlight: Celebrate the achievements and potential of our startups as they begin to make their mark.

On 11th we were busy, we tracked it, and we walked 13 km — just within The Drivery! Why all the steps? Because we hosted our Mentor Marathon, where our incredible teams from #Cohort7 met with mentors from various fields crucial to building a successful healthtech startup. This event is a cornerstone of our program, providing our teams with the expertise and guidance they need to thrive. Our mentors bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, turning our framework into a rich, dynamic learning environment. Their genuine curiosity, passion, and dedication are invaluable, and we are deeply grateful for the time they spent with us — nearly the entire day! Watch a brief summary capturing the vibrant atmosphere of the Mentor Marathon here!

Bernhard Schmidt, with a decade of mentoring experience, offers his profound insights on guiding healthcare startups. Below, he shares key lessons and strategies for fostering growth and innovation in the field.

• Empowering Visionaries: Being a mentor for healthcare startups is like being a lighthouse. I guide passionate entrepreneurs through the complex healthcare system, sharing lessons from my own experiences, connecting them with the right people, and keeping them focused on solving true patient needs. This helps them navigate towards their vision of transforming healthcare.
• Learning and Growing Together: Mentorship is a two-way street. While I share my experience, I also learn from the fresh perspectives and innovative ideas of the healthcare startups. Working with entrepreneurs always inspires and energizes me.
• Celebrating Milestones: There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a team I’ve mentored achieve a major milestone, whether it’s a breakthrough in technology, validation of their idea by customers, or a successful pitch to investors.

Read more about the dos and don'ts on our blog!

Effective Engagement: A Mentee's Guide from Our Teams

We asked our teams for their first impressions

Being a mentee at an incubator like Vision Health Pioneers involves more than just learning—it's about engaging deeply and thoughtfully with your mentors. It starts with setting clear, realistic expectations and goals to ensure everyone is on the same page about what’s achievable within the incubator's environment.

But being a successful mentee isn't just about what you’re taught; it’s about how actively you engage with the learning process. It means challenging your own assumptions, seeking out rigorous feedback, and embracing a variety of perspectives that can push both your project and personal growth to new limits.

Choosing the right mentors is also critical. Early on, where focus is essential, a mentor who can directly contribute to your immediate goals—like achieving product-market fit—can be invaluable. Each mentor-mentee relationship should be a deliberate connection, strategically chosen to add real value.

Ultimately, the effectiveness of mentorship depends largely on you, the mentee. Are you ready to steer your own development and make the most of the opportunities mentorship provides? This is the crucial question that can define your path forward.

We proudly introduce three new mentors and coaches who will be instrumental in our journey forward:

Sanaz von Elsner

Sanaz is a coach who conducts workshops aimed at improving teamwork, personal development, and workplace atmosphere for various companies and nonprofits. She also offers individual coaching with a focus on career advancement. Additionally, Sanaz is an active member of the Panda Women Leadership Network and net4tec, both of which support women's personal and professional growth.

Jan Kunde

Jan's expertise in science-based Anti Aging & Healthy Aging, paired with his proficiency in digital content marketing, will be invaluable in building trust and enhancing the visibility of your brands and products. His focus areas include health, nutrition, beauty, fitness, and travel.

Pascal Werner

Pascal is a freelance consultant specializing in regulatory strategy, quality and integrated management systems, and technical documentation for startups and SMEs in the digital health sector, including digital therapeutics, AI, and Software as a Medical Device (SaMD). With a robust background in software development and a keen entrepreneurial mindset, Pascal adeptly navigates the complexities of laws and regulations to deliver comprehensive regulatory services.

Skinuvita secured investment of 1.8 million Congratulations to our alumni from cohort #2 on this achievement! To treat his psoriasis with UV light, founder Jan Elsner often had to make long train journeys. Growing up in rural Lower Saxony, his nearest dermatologist was located in the north of Bremen. To eliminate the need for frequent travel for others, Elsner established the startup Skinuvita in 2021. Recently, this Bremen-based company successfully raised 1.8 million euros from investors. Skinuvita aims to connect dermatologists with psoriasis patients who wish to undergo light therapy at home, using these funds to facilitate their market entry. A dermatologist believes that Skinuvita could significantly fill a market gap.

HeidiMed is looking for beta testers

Micaela and Ajit are developing an AI-powered assistant through WhatsApp to improve medication management for seniors and their caregivers. This initiative addresses the critical issue of medication mismanagement, which is prevalent among the aging population and can lead to significant health risks. Currently, 75% of seniors over 65 struggle with medication adherence, often managing multiple prescriptions daily.

HeidiMed is refining their MVP and seeks feedback from caregivers, healthcare professionals, and anyone managing complex medication routines to enhance their product's effectiveness.

Contact them here!

32Bit on Air at ZDF Morgenmagazin

Due to a shortage of dentists, particularly older individuals who are immobile could receive care. As part of a project by the company, 32Bit, a dental bus is traveling through small towns on the Baltic Sea island of Usedom. The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Dentists in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern aims to explore new approaches to counteract the shortage of medical professionals. Click the link to watch the video and see the dental bus in action!

Follow our journey and stay updated with the latest news and events. If you're an industry expert interested in becoming a mentor, we'd love to hear from you. Please send your introduction via email to hello@visionhealthpioneers.de Join us in shaping the future of health tech innovation!