New innovation programme to help North West health and medtech firms scale up

A new programme launching soon in Manchester is hoping to jumpstart the North West’s medtech sector by helping startups to scale and change the face of health.

Kicking off this March in The Landing, The Future of Health will take place over 12 weeks and focus on ventures involved in connected healthcare, long-term care and employee wellbeing.

Launched by professional services giant PwC through its Start-up Growth Programme in collaboration with global accelerator UP, the project will give startups access to executive-level mentors and sponsors by leveraging PwC and UP’s network of thought leaders, industry executives and health-tech contacts.

Through a series of private events in Manchester and London, the startups will also have an opportunity to pitch to potential investors and large healthcare organisations looking to engage with the latest innovators.

Additionally, with the programme being based at The Landing, successful applicants, mentors and sponsors will be able to access advanced user experience (UX), internet of things (IoT) and virtual reality (VR) testing facilities.

By connecting fast-growth businesses with large North West organisations, it is hoped the programme will drive innovation and create new business opportunities within the region’s health, medical and life sciences sectors.

Based at MediaCityUK in Salford, The Landing is home to more than 100 tech startups and scaleups.

The Landing’s head of programmes and partnerships, Maya Dibley, said: “Hosting the Future of Health programme is great news for The Landing and the whole of the North West.

“Health and medtech are some of the most dynamic sectors in the world currently, and the commercial potential for any successful business in this space is massive.”

She added: “This programme will also build on some of the great work being undertaken across Manchester and especially around the Oxford Road Corridor, and help put Manchester on the global map for health technology innovation.”

North West regional chairman at PwC, Iwan Griffiths, commented: “PwC has launched The Future of Health in order to continue our support of entrepreneurs and small businesses. Healthtech will significantly change the way health services are delivered and is key to solving the challenge of providing better services to an aging population at a reasonable cost.”

UP’s Danny Meaney said: “UP specialises in building businesses that have the ambition and potential to transform industries by connecting corporates seeking to create real impact through more effective innovation, with later stage startups that are ready to scale up their businesses.

“For us Manchester is the ideal location for such a project, given its rich ecosystem of industry-leading corporates, NHS Trusts, university research institutes, successful health and life science businesses, and an appetite for investment in the health and medtech sectors.”

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