EIC and CUF bring health startups to Lisbon for investor matchmaking
- ›On 30 November 2022 the European Innovation Council and CUF held an investor matchmaking day in Lisbon focused on Medtech, E‑Health and Biotech and Pharmaceuticals.
- ›The event matched 19 EIC-backed beneficiaries with more than 20 European investors and included one-to-one meetings and a tour of CUF Tejo Hospital of the Future.
- ›Three pitching-session winners were Omnix Medical in Biotech and Pharmaceuticals, Medicsen in Medtech, and Altratech in E‑health.
- ›CUF framed the collaboration as part of its innovation strategy but hospital interest in pilots does not guarantee procurement or clinical adoption.
- ›The EIC Business Acceleration Services Investor Programme provides pitching and matchmaking channels but securing investment and scaling remains an uncertain process.
EIC x CUF Investor Day in Lisbon: health startups meet a major hospital operator
On 30 November 2022 the European Innovation Council, together with Portuguese private hospital group CUF, ran an investor matchmaking event in Lisbon. The day was billed as an opportunity for EIC-backed innovators working in Medtech, E‑Health and Biotech and Pharmaceuticals to pitch to prominent European investors. The programme combined pitching sessions with private one-to-one business meetings and a guided visit to CUF Tejo Hospital of the Future.
| Item | Figure or detail |
| Event date | 30 November 2022 |
| Location | Lisbon, Portugal |
| EIC beneficiaries pitching | 19 |
| Investors attending | Over 20 European investors |
| Sectors targeted | Medtech, E‑Health, Biotech and Pharmaceuticals |
| Additional activities | Private one-to-one meetings, CUF Tejo Hospital tour |
Why CUF hosted the event and what it seeks from startups
CUF staff who spoke at the event framed it as a way to accelerate adoption of proven market solutions into clinical workflows. Miguel Aguiar, Head of Digital Transformation at CUF, said that the EIC and SME ecosystem can help CUF improve patient care by bringing mature solutions that integrate with existing technology. Dr Micaela Monteiro, Chief Medical Officer for Digital Transformation, said the partnership gave CUF access to highly competent companies and helped them add new competencies to their core clinical capabilities.
Who pitched and who gained attention
Pitching sessions were organised by sector and a winner was chosen in each of the three streams. The event also included pre-pitch mentoring and preparation under the EIC Investor Programme. Winners highlighted investor exposure and validation as immediate value from the day.
| Sector | Winner | Representative and role | Key takeaway from winner |
| Biotech and Pharmaceuticals | Omnix Medical | Niv Bachnoff, CSO | Called the EIC Investor Programme an important validation engine and praised investor attendance and pre-pitch mentoring |
| Medtech | Medicsen | Eduardo W. Jorgensen, CEO & Co-founder | Said the event was well timed as the company prepared a Series A round and valued EIC as a trusted source |
| E‑Health | Altratech | Tim Cummins, CTO | Highlighted exposure to strategic investors and top European VCs as the main benefit |
Quotes from participants capture the mix of practical aims and expectations. Niv Bachnoff of Omnix Medical said that having a strong list of investors made participation essential and that the EIC programme served as an important validation engine. Eduardo Jorgensen at Medicsen noted that the event was the perfect place to meet investors given Medicsen was opening a Series A round. Tim Cummins at Altratech emphasised the benefit of meeting many top European VCs in one place.
What the EIC Business Acceleration Services Investor Programme provides
The programme helps companies with investor readiness and provides curated introductions. That said matching events are an early stage in the funding funnel. Meeting investors does not guarantee term sheets or follow‑on funding and many startups need multiple rounds of traction to close Series A or larger rounds.
Analysis and implications for innovators and hospital partners
Matchmaking days such as the EIC x CUF Investor Day serve several functions. They offer startups visibility and a forum to test pitch narratives. They allow hospital operators to scout possible pilots and form procurement relationships. They also act as a signal to later stage investors that a company is part of an accredited innovation pipeline. However there are limits. A curated investor pool of around 20 actors is useful but small. Clinical validation, regulatory clearance and integration into hospital IT systems remain major barriers after initial interest. Hospitals can pilot many solutions but only a subset will pass clinical, procurement and reimbursement filters.
Next steps and further information
Organisers signalled that a post‑event video would be published. For innovators seeking comparable opportunities the EIC Business Acceleration Services continues to run ePitching sessions and Investor Days. Hospital groups and investors should treat matchmaking events as a starting point rather than a guarantee of adoption or funding.
For background reading consult the EIC Business Acceleration Services pages on investor matchmaking and CUF's public information on its hospital network. CUF also publishes information on the Tejo hospital and its digital transformation activities.