HealthTech of the Week: Innovation World Cup Series and MEDICA Start-up COMPETITION – A Global Springboard for Medical Start-Ups

In the first September edition of Healthtech of the Week, we are pleased to present a conversation with someone who has been observing the dynamics of the medtech sector from the inside. Dr. Sonja Sulzmaier from the Innovation World Cup team speaks about the program’s mission, industry trends, and opportunities for innovators. Among the program’s initiatives is the MEDICA Start-up COMPETITION, dedicated to young companies in the fields of medicine and health technology. Registration is open until the 12th of September. We also discussed the growing impact of femtech and the challenges of certification.

Our interviewee is the Managing Partner at Navispace and Techpreneurs GmbH, the company behind the Innovation World Cup – a global open innovation platform connecting startups and innovators with leading technology companies. She has over 20 years of experience in business development, innovation strategy, and entrepreneurship. She also serves as Chairwoman of the Federal Commission for Startups and Founders at BVMW, where she supports the growth of entrepreneurship in the SME sector.

Anita Kijanka: How did the idea of the Innovation World Cup come about?

Dr. Sonja Sulzmaier (Innovation World Cup): The Innovation World Cup Series is an international platform supporting start-ups, scale-ups, and smaller tech companies. Our goal is to empower innovators to present their solutions to the global market and establish strategic partnerships with key stakeholders. The program is not limited to healthcare — it also covers smart construction, prop-tech, industrial automation, wearables, mobility, and energy.

To qualify, participants need a functional prototype and a market-entry plan within 12 months. They gain access to business contacts, financial prizes, developer kits, and global visibility.

What distinguishes your initiative from other competitions and accelerators?

Our strength lies in close cooperation with major industry events. A prime example is MEDICA in Düsseldorf, the world’s leading healthcare trade fair. As part of MEDICA, we organize a dedicated forum for 100 innovators, offering not only exposure but also real access to investors, business partners, and customers. For medtech start-ups, being present at MEDICA is often a strategic gateway to the global market.

What elements increase the chances of success in the competition?

The most important thing is clearly articulating the innovation’s value and the product’s development stage. The jury evaluates novelty, uniqueness, and market potential. It’s also worth noting that we run two competitions in parallel. 

MEDICA Start-up COMPETITION – for young companies working on solutions in areas such as AI, medical robotics, or laboratory diagnostics.

Healthcare Innovation World Cup – open to slightly more mature companies (up to 8–9 years old), focused on intelligent medical devices, wearables, VR/AR applications, and technologies supporting cardiology and other specializations.

Many start-ups struggle with commercialization. Does the program support this process?

Absolutely. We don’t offer a one-size-fits-all acceleration program, but we do create conditions for direct collaboration with technology partners, corporations, and investors. For example, our long-term partner STMicroelectronics invites selected start-ups into pilot projects or proof-of-concept collaborations.

Through MEDICA, participants connect with distributors from Europe, the U.S., and Asia. In many cases, this sparks internationalization and helps build long-term business relationships.

What trends are you observing among applications?

Artificial intelligence is by far the most dominant trend — both in software solutions and embedded in hardware devices. Another rapidly growing area is smart patches: originally for glucose monitoring, but now expanding to cardiological, hormonal, and metabolic parameters.

We also see strong growth in personalized and precision medicine — devices that not only monitor health but also deliver precise doses of medication in real time. This is a direction that could fundamentally transform patient care in the coming years.

Femtech is gaining visibility, including in Poland. How do you view this segment?

Femtech is one of the most promising yet still underestimated areas. It’s not limited to menstrual health or menopause but also addresses gender-specific differences in disease symptoms — for instance, heart attack symptoms in women can differ significantly from men. This opens a vast field for innovation in both diagnostics and therapy. More and more start-ups are recognizing this potential, and we actively support their participation in the program.

Can companies without CE or FDA certification apply?

Yes. Certification is not a prerequisite for participation. If a start-up is in the regulatory process, it’s important to highlight it, since the jury takes this into account. However, consumer products without medical device certification are also eligible.

How do you convince companies to join?

The Innovation World Cup is not a typical start-up festival but an international platform that supports internationalization, strategic partnerships, and sales channel development. Its effectiveness is best illustrated by the success stories of companies that began here and are now recognized players in the industry.

Some examples include:

• Dermanostics – developer of innovative diagnostic solutions for skin cancer,
• StethoMe (Poland) – producer of an intelligent stethoscope,
• Samphire Neuroscience (USA) – winner of last year’s edition,
• Medicube-X (Finland) – start-up developing advanced medical devices.

Detailed stories of these and many other companies can be found in the “Success Stories” section on the Innovation World Cup website.

Finally, what’s new at MEDICA this year?

A special highlight of MEDICA will be the Women Leaders in Healthcare program on November 18. This session will focus on the role of female leaders in shaping health innovations and provide a dedicated space for experience-sharing and networking. It’s also worth noting that the Healthcare Innovation World Cup final will take place on November 17, while the MEDICA Start-up COMPETITION will conclude on November 18.

The HealthTech of the Week team is looking forward to the groundbreaking innovations that will be showcased at MEDICA. For more details, visit medica-tradefair.com and join us at the event.

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Stay tuned for more in the “HealthTech of the Week” series, where we’ll continue to uncover fascinating stories from the world of medical technologies that are changing the face of healthcare. If you’re working on an innovative project in the field of new technologies and medicine or want to recommend an interesting solution, contact us at: [email protected].