UK-Based Medical Device and Digital Healthcare Startup Companies Selected for Second Innovate UK & Texas Medical Center Accelerator Program

16 companies to receive expert guidance and mentorship for US market expansion 

(Houston, TX and London, England) Texas Medical Center, in partnership with Innovate UK, today announced that sixteen new companies will be joining the second cohort of the Innovate UK & TMC Innovation (TMCi) accelerator program. Specialized in diagnostics, AI monitoring, non-surgical management, and centralized imaging data sharing, these companies are part of the Innovate UK Global Incubator Programme, designed to help innovative companies grow and scale their US strategy and market plan through an extension of the  TMC-United Kingdom Biobridge.

“The first cohort of startups in our accelerator program experienced TMC’s capabilities in developing and advancing solutions through cross-collaboration with top minds in clinical care, commercialization and innovation. We are excited to continue our partnership with Innovate UK and welcome this second cohort to continue our efforts advancing life sciences technologies across the globe,” said Devin Dunn, Head of the Accelerator for Health Tech at TMC.

From June to November 2024, accelerator participants access resources, curated network connectivity, and mentorship to learn from experts in the TMC’s medical campus and networks to refine their US go-to-market strategy. Last year’s inaugural cohort made significant progress in understanding US market dynamics, engaging with US investors, hiring first US team members and embarking on clinical partnerships.

The chosen cohort of participants start their program on June 4, 2024, for an inaugural session dedicated to preliminary customer validation. Then, they will spend five months in the incubator, where founders will benefit from a tailored program working closely with TMC specialists to refine their strategic development plan and optimize their incubation experience.

The selected medical device companies and their specialties include:

• Cytecom – infectious diagnostic test, powered by cutting-edge optical electrophysiology, detects resistant bacteria in just 45 seconds, enabling doctors to prescribe targeted antibiotics in minutes instead of days
• Heartfelt Technologies Ltd – the future of heart failure telemonitoring an automatic, AI supported, non-contact telemonitoring solution for heart failure patients
• Neurovalens Ltd – creates wearable neurostimulaton devices that treat a range of conditions in an entirely non-invasive and drug-free way
• Oxford Medical Products Limited – a proprietary hydrogel pill that acts as a non-surgical, non-pharmacological obesity treatment that will redefine the obesity treatment market
• Phenutest – a rapid point-of-care diagnostic test for urinary tract infection, that confirms infection and appropriate antimicrobial to prescribe within 60 minutes
• Plexaa – world’s first fully wearable, sensor controlled, bra insert that can deliver safe supraphysiological preconditioning to the breast skin the night before surgery at home
• SolasCure Limited – a wound Gel that acts as a single, effective and easy-to-use solution to overcome the challenges to transform chronic wound care
• Trueinvivo Limited – a proprietary dosimetry (radiation measurement) system to ensure the precision and accuracy of cancer radiotherapy

The selected digital health companies and their specialties include:

• Axon Diagnostics – offers a suite of solutions to support the needs of modern day diagnostic imaging services, supporting happier lives for clinicians and helping deliver better diagnostic care for all
• Kheiron Medical Technologies – regarded as a world leader in the development of AI-enabled cancer diagnostics and monitoring
• KiActiv – a technology-enabled digital health model for behavior change and self-care that rethinks exercise and makes everyday movement an effective personalized medicine for better clinical outcomes
• Memory Lane Games – turns memories into games, offering care providers a simple, fun dementia engagement app designed to trigger positive memories and improve socialisation with caregivers and people living with dementia
• NeuroVirt Limited – combines immersive VR, AI and computer vision to gamify rehabilitation and quantify patient impairment and improvement
• Newton’s Tree – enables healthcare providers to procure, integrate, and monitor third-party AI products as part of routine care pathways through its enterprise AI platform
• SERG Technologies – uses patented sensor technology and artificial intelligence to transform disease management into a continuous, data-driven, and patient-specific approach for people with Parkinson’s
• Thymia – leverages speech, video, and behavioral analytics gathered via specially designed video games to diagnose conditions like depression, anxiety, and ADHD, alongside critical symptoms like fatigue, mood fluctuations, and memory issues, creating novel mental health biomarkers

###

About Texas Medical Center (TMC): TMC, the world’s most comprehensive life science ecosystem, is at the forefront of advancing life sciences. TMC is on a mission to further accelerate the pace of healing by harnessing our collective expertise in innovation, research, development, production, and patient care within a single, centralized medical ecosystem. With over 70+ million square feet and 120,000+ employees, TMC is leveraging the collective power by pioneering a revolutionary life sciences initiative to house the entire treatment of life cycle from discovery to delivery, within a single, world-class medical complex, on a scale never before seen.

About Texas Medical Center Innovation (TMCi): Texas Medical Center Innovation forms, fosters, recruits, and funds healthcare companies worldwide that are writing the future of healthcare. TMCi performs diligence on the companies seeking to progress toward clinical and business milestones in collaboration with Texas Medical Center member institutions and our global network of advisors and embedded corporate partners. We align these resources through our globally recognized programs:  Biodesign, Accelerator for Cancer Therapeutics, and Health Tech.

About Innovate UK: Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency. It works to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations. Its mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialization of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate.

For further information, visit: https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk/