JVP, pharma giant AstraZeneca mentor Israeli health start-ups into market

Start-ups were screened according to the proof of value of suggested technologies and the magnitude of the need for the product, the program partners said.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
JVP and AstraZeneca's mentor program, PlayBeyondBio (photo credit: RIKI RACHMAN)
JVP and AstraZeneca's mentor program, PlayBeyondBio
(photo credit: RIKI RACHMAN)
On Wednesday, nine Israeli health tech start-ups gathered at the Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP) offices in Jerusalem to present their products to investors and mentors.
JVP and British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca in February called on start-ups to apply to PlayBeyondBio, a joint platform established with NGO Israel Initiative 2020 to grow internationally disruptive digital health companies. At the end of March, nine start-ups were selected to join the business platform out of hundreds of applicants.
The six-month program seeks to connect entrepreneurs, investors and potential customers. The partnership is in collaboration with Maccabitech Healthcare Research and Innovation Institute, Morris Kahn, the Sagol Fund, Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Microsoft for Startups.
Start-ups were screened according to the proof of value of suggested technologies and the magnitude of the need for the product, the program partners said in a release.
The start-ups include remote medical services start-up Biobeat; Flaskdata.io, which specializes in drug and vaccine development; Serenus.AI, the AI-based platform that helps physicians and patients make medical decisions; Docdok.health, the "Netflix of healthcare;" TimeStamp, which reminds patients when to take their medicine; DiA Imaging analysis, which specializes in AI solutions for ultrasounds; IDEA Bio-Medical, which works in AI-powered decision-making for cancer cases; Resemetrix, which created a wireless system to monitor respiratory health; and Bio-T, which built a cloud-based platform for medical device manufacturers to provide their products remotely.
"The PlayBeyondBio program is forging partnerships between Israeli startups and leading international companies by uniquely bringing together entrepreneurs, investor, customers and healthcare systems, all together in the same arena and focused on shared opportunities," said JVP founder Erel Margalit. "Such a partnership will greatly promote Israel's standing as a global leader in the growing field of digital health, and will transform Israeli entrepreneurs into leading global figures."
The selected start-ups will be assigned a team of mentors to assist them define their vision, potential markets and messaging.
Experts from UK-headquartered AstraZeneca will guide the start-ups in development, regulation and sales in the healthcare sector. JVP staff will share experience of building global companies and securing investments. Microsoft for Startups will help with employee recruitment, providing access to tools and databases to accomplish such.
"Alongside the value of AstraZeneca’s pharmaceuticals, we also see great importance in developing and investing in digital healthcare in Israel and providing solutions for patients in this country and across the world. We are in a period of great change, which requires the use of innovative and creative tools," AstraZeneca Israel CEO Ohad Goldberg said. "The integration of the unique strengths of PlayBeyondBio participants can provide better value and better tools for healthcare systems, medical teams and first and foremost patients facing medical challenges."
The program will focus on a wide range of clinical and nonclinical areas of practice to develop breakthrough technologies, including cancer, lung disease, cardiovascular disease and metabolic disease. The strategic partners behind the program will be involved at all stages of the development process, including recruitment and the possibility of commercial agreements during and after the program.
Eytan Halon and Zachary Keyser contributed to this report.