Since 2018, Startup Creasphere has been operating in Munich, an accelerator focused entirely on digital health. The accelerator was founded by the pharmaceutical company Roche together with seed investor Plug and Play. Additional partners have since joined, including Sanofi Consumer Healthcare, Lonza, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The program has proven successful and is already in its fifth batch. Dr. Jochen Hurlebaus, Project initiator of Startup Creasphere and Head of Digital Health Innovation at Roche Diagnostics International, talks about the approach of Startup Creasphere, the trends of the year and what makes the Munich ecosystem so unique for the digital health sector.
Munich Startup: Startup Creasphere — what exactly is it about?
Jochen Hurlebaus: Digitalization has brought about one of the greatest upheavals in the history of the healthcare industry—and at the same time, it presents a huge opportunity for patient care of tomorrow. In order to seize this opportunity, we believe that the various stakeholders, such as healthcare companies, startups, healthcare providers, and policymakers, must work together with their diverse strengths.
That's why we launched Startup Creasphere, the first accelerator focused on digital health, in Munich in February 2018. Today, it is one of the largest innovation hubs for the healthcare sector in Europe.
We host two batches a year and are currently in our fifth batch. In total, we have collaborated with more than 30 startups from all over the world in this way. Our goal with Startup Creasphere: to break new ground and promote innovation, new thinking, and mutual learning between startups and the industry.
Munich Startup: How exactly does Roche collaborate with startups in the Startup Creasphere? What do you focus on in your collaboration?
Jochen Hurlebaus: One of our main concerns in the batches is to ensure that everyone can fully contribute their strengths. This is the only way to collaboratively develop and validate promising ideas and technologies over a period of approximately twelve weeks.
Partners at eye level
We see ourselves as equal partners for the startups. Co-creation is particularly important to us. Each startup works together with experts from the business units on a specific pilot project. At the same time, mentors provide helpful market insights and expertise. A pilot project typically culminates in a proof of concept.
Open exchange and a shift in perspective provide new impetus for both sides in our collaboration. Our strategic focus includes, in particular, new approaches that meaningfully complement our Roche core business areas, such as big data, digital biomarkers, clinical algorithms, and decision support.
Our goal is to accelerate research and development and bring new digital solutions to market to enable improved patient care through personalized medicine.
Munich Startup: What requirements should a startup have to successfully participate in the Startup Creasphere?
Jochen Hurlebaus: We ensure a high level of thematic and strategic overlap with Roche, which provides a clear point of contact for the startups and mentors.
In addition, when selecting and evaluating applications, we rely on criteria such as USPs, technological aspects, the founding team, and the maturity of the digital applications. An MVP should already be available. (Editor’s note: Minimum Viable Product) exist to ensure productive collaboration.
Munich Startup: What benefits do startups gain from participating in an accelerator like Startup Creasphere?
Jochen Hurlebaus: The highly regulated healthcare market, in particular, often makes it very difficult for startups, despite promising solutions, to succeed. They lack both the experience and resources to meet country-specific regulatory requirements and access to global distribution channels. Collaboration with an experienced global player in the healthcare industry can therefore provide them with decisive advantages.
Mentors, know-how & network
First and foremost, the startups can further develop their projects and acquire business know-how with the help of experienced mentors. The coaches support them in various aspects related to their solution and business model. Furthermore, through interaction with a leading pharmaceutical and diagnostics company, they can establish valuable contacts in the industry and gain access to the global Roche network.
Munich Startup: The trend of the year is…!
Jochen Hurlebaus: ... due to current events, unfortunately, solutions related to COVID-19 are lacking. We at Roche want to contribute through testing, and fortunately, some of the startups from previous and current batches, such as Medicus, Infermedia, and CloudMedx, have responded very quickly and are working on solutions.
In addition, Holistic Disease Management will be a focus this year. New digital solutions will increasingly make it possible to holistically support a patient's entire care process, from prevention and early detection to successful treatment management.
Munich Startup: What characteristics make the Munich startup scene so special?
Jochen Hurlebaus: The Munich startup scene has been very active for several years, especially in the B2B sector — even if it is still less noticed by the public than Berlin, with its focus on e-commerce and retail.
Unique ecosystem in the field of digital health
Munich offers a unique ecosystem, especially in the field of digital health. In addition to two internationally renowned universities, the Technische Universität München (TUM) and the Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU), both of which are heavily involved in startup funding programs, many major technology companies such as Google and Microsoft, as well as numerous pharmaceutical and diagnostics companies, also have offices in Munich.
In addition, the Startup Creasphere is spatially linked to other industry programs such as the Insurtech Hub Munich so that startups can also benefit from exchanges across industry boundaries.
Munich Startup: Last but not least: How can startups apply to collaborate with Roche?
Jochen Hurlebaus: Via our website at www.startupcreasphere.com.
