Israeli Startups Win BIG at Medica Apps Contest

By LEVI SHAPIRO
Dusseldorf, Nov 19
Medica Trade Fair, the world’s largest medical marketplace with 130,000 visitors from 120 nations, held its annual Medica Apps Contest in Dusseldforf. Israeli startups dominated the contest, comprising half of all Finalists, the Winner and 1st RunnerUp. Based on the contribution of Israeli startups, the Medica Apps Contest has announced plans to expand its relationship with the Israeli digital health startup community with an Israel visit in February, 2016.
Benjamin Choukroun, SmokeWatchers; Joachim Schafer, Managing Director, Messe Dusseldorf; Maren Lesche, Talkitt; Donny Rose, Mobile ODT
Jerusalem-based Talkitt, launching in February, won the Contest. Talkitt allows people with unintelligible speech to communicate verbally. Using machine learning, NLP, AI and other technologies, the system identifies and categorizes speech patterns, translating these into recognizable speech. Among other accolades, Talkitt recently earned a spot in the prestigious 43North accelerator program, including a $500,000 grant. Watch the Talkitt video, HERE
Medica 2015: 130,000 attendees from 120 countries, including 50+ exhibitors from Israel
MobileODT, one of two Runners Up, is a 23 person startup from Tel Aviv. Mobile ODT transforms Smartphones into cervical cancer screening devices. Deployed in 14 developing countries with partners like Massachusetts General Hospital, University of Pennsylvania and Scripps Medical Center, the company is now expanding its medical diagnostic capabilities to other pathologies.
The other RunnerUp, Smoke Watchers, is a Paris-based startup. The program helps cigarette and e-cigarette smokers track their addiction, with support tools including a virtual coach and access to a community of watchers.
Other Israeli Finalists included iFeel Labs, Eco Fusion / Serenita and DocToMe
Tom Mitchell, President, North America for Messe Dusseldorf (parent company of Medica Tradefair brand) served as a contest Judge. “The technologies and teams from Israel in the Medica Apps Contest were inspiring. We are honored to welcome so many innovative digital startups, in addition to the 50+ Israeli exhibitors at Medica.”
The Medica Apps Contest has announced an initiative to broaden outreach with the Israeli startup community. Tom Mitchell will attend the mHealth Israel conference, February 18th in Tel Aviv, and serve as a Judge in the Startup Contest. The winning team will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Medica World Americas in Houston, May 18-20, with a full day of business development meetings. Another Finalist will have an opportunity to present in the Connected Health Forum at Medica 2016 in Dusseldforf.
Finalists in the Medica Apps Contest, with Mark Waechter, Board Member, Mobile Monday Germany
“Software is transforming healthcare and Medica is paying close attention”, says Mitchell. “We welcome Israeli digital startups to contribute your ideas and energy to the Medica global community as we address this transformation.”