Startup Braga is the innovation hub of the Municipality of Braga. It was designed to support the creation of technology-based projects with global ambitions and the potential to reach international markets. Startup Braga works in the promotion of entrepreneurship and in the creation, incubation and acceleration of startups.

The Global Health Accelerator empowers early to mid-stage startups to tackle global challenges in health, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. Our hybrid program equips innovators with the resources, expertise, and connections needed to develop, validate, and scale transformative solutions.
With a three-month tailored entrepreneurship training followed by the possibility of a six-month pilot / POC development phase, startups gain access to cutting-edge labs, strategic industry partnerships, and expert mentorship. From product testing and clinical validation to MVP development, we help projects refine their innovations and showcase their progress to a global audience.

To participate, startups should meet the following conditions:

• Stage of the Company: Early to mid-stage startups, preferably incorporated as a legal entity by the start of the program.
• Funding Status: Startups should be at the bootstrapping or seed investment stage.
• Technology Development: Your technology should be at a minimum proof of concept stage with evidence of market fit or validation.
• Focus Areas: Solutions related to human health (pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, medical devices, digital, diagnostic solutions) or bio and nanotech for human well-being, including cellular agriculture.

These conditions ensure that participants are well-positioned to benefit from the program's resources and accelerate their innovation journey.

To ensure maximum value and engagement during the Global Health Accelerator Program, the following additional requirements must be met:

• 80% Attendance to Bootcamps: Active participation is crucial.
• Team Presence:: The C-suite (CEO, CTO, etc.) must be present, along with, ideally 2 to 4 additional team members.
• Commitment to Innovation: Companies should be actively working to innovate ideas and technologies with the potential to make a significant impact on their industry or the world.

The program is completely cost and equity free, ensuring that startups can focus on innovation without financial or ownership concerns.

In - Person Bootcamps - April 10 and 11 , May 8 and 9 , June 26 and 27 , July 17 and 18
Online Bootcamps - April 23 and 24 , May 22 and 23 , June 5 and 6

The pilots / POCs will run from April to September.

• Potential execution of the idea;
• Degree of innovation of the project;
• Market potential;
• Team (skills and commitment to the project);
• Presentation of the business idea.

GHA presents an inviting value proposition:

• Gain the knowledge and skills you need to succeed, including workshops on healthcare business models, intellectual property, funding strategies, and regulatory pathways.
• Connect with some of the brightest minds in the industry.
• Connect with corporate partners, investors, and industry experts who can provide crucial partnerships, mentorship, and funding to help you succeed.
• Simplify the journey from idea to commercialization with expert guidance on regulatory pathways and market entry.
• Refine your product through six months of hands-on development.
• Gain access to cutting-edge labs, facilities, and industry partnerships for product testing, early clinical validation, and MVP development.
• Showcase your startup to a curated audience of investors, corporate executives, and key industry stakeholders.

To speak to the organization, simply send an email to info@startupbraga.com with the subject "More information about GHA".

Startup Milestones

• Participated in the 1st Startup Braga Acceleration Program
• 2015: Founded
• 2016: The Digital Therapist became the first FDA-cleared technology of its kind
• 2019: Raised an $8M Series A led by Khosla Ventures
• 2020: Raised a Series A extension of another $9M from Khosla Ventures and Founders Fund
• 2021:
  • Raised a $25M Series B
  • Raised a $85M Series C
  • Raised a $163M Series D
  • Signed their 1st Fortune 50 client
• 2024:
  • Raised $30M and allowed employees to sell $100M worth of equity to new and existing investors
  • Achieved a valuation of $3B, a 50% increase from its $2B value in 2021

website: swordhealth.com

Participated in the 1st Startup Braga Acceleration Program

• 2015: Founded and secured its first round of investment
• 2016: Won 3rd place in the Zimmer Biomet Connected Health Innovation Award
• 2017: Expanded distribution to Europe
• 2018: Entered the US market
• 2020: Authorised to operate in Brazil
• 2023:
  • Secured a €3M Series A investment led by Grosvenor House of Investments and Portugal Ventures
  • Won a €2.3M grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) accelerator program
  • Received certification under the European Union's Medical Device Directive (EU MDR Directive)
  • Established a US subsidiary
• 2024:
  • Recognised as a Rising Star in Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 Portugal
  • Won a €2.3M grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) accelerator program
  • Awarded the Healthcare Technology Startup Award 2024 by Portugal Ventures

website: www.peekmed.com

Participated in the 2nd Startup Braga Acceleration Program

• 2015: Founded
• 2016:
  • Won of the Young Entrepreneurs Award in the SpinUM competition at the University of Minho
  • Closed its first round of investment, supported by PRIMAVERA BSS
• 2017: Raised €575K in a seed investment round led by Portugal Ventures
• 2020: Secured €4.25M in a Series A funding round led by Indico Capital Partners
• 2023: Closed €2M Series A bridge investment round

website: nutrium.com

Participated in the StartupNano Program and the 4th Startup Braga Acceleration Program

• 2018:
  • Founded
  • Won 1st place in AdMaCom
  • Semi-finalist in Everis (Top 20 out of 1000 entries)
• 2019:
  • Partnered with Connectem for HER2 mBC demonstration
  • Won the Royal Society of Chemistry Emerging Technologies Competition (Health category)
• 2020:
  • Launched the European PERSIST project
  • Secured an exclusive licence from INL for the Caixa Impulse CTC-OD project
  • Developed EU project BIOCELLPHE (chip scale technology, automated prototype)
  • Won 1st place in the Elevator Pitch Competition (EPiC)
  • Received the INL Industry Award ? Received the IPA4SME Seal of Excellence for EIC funding calls
• 2021: Won the European Innovation Council Women Innovators Prize
• 2022:
  • Won the Prémio Exame de Informática 2022
  • Entry into the RUO market and EIC Accelerator funding
• 2023: Selected in the Call Innov-ID, raising €100M
• 2024: Won the Net Zero Health Systems acceleration program

website: rubynanomed.com

Participated in the 4th Startup Braga Acceleration Program

• 2017: Founded
• 2019: Won the EIT Health Startup Meets Pharma programme
• 2020: Finalist of the Reuters Events Pharma Awards Europe 2020 Entrepreneur Award: Health Solution)
• 2021:
  • Won the 4th edition of the Entrepreneur XXI Awards (€5K prize, international training in Silicon Valley, and specialized mentoring)
  • Won the Woman Entrepreneurship Award
  • Won the Woman Entrepreneurship Award
• 2022:
  • Raised a investment round, led by Lince Capital
  • Awardee of the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge: Healthcare Transformation through Nurse-led Tech! – Adhesive ID
• 2024:
  • Selected for funding in a combined grant and equity round of the EIC Accelerator program
  • Won the 3rd place in the INOVA+ Award 2024 (Business Innovation category)

website: besthealth4u.pt

Winner of the first edition of Empreender@Braga

• 2021: Founded
• 2023:
  • 2nd place in the She Loves Tech Southern Europe region final
  • Semi-finalist in the EIT Health Innostars Awards
• 2024:
  • Winner of the Premios EmprendeXXI - Northern Region Award
  • Selected as one of the top 100 startups for Slush 2024
  • Selected for the first cohort of the EmpoWomen programme
  • Won the 929 Challenge
  • Winner of the III Global Graphene Call
  • Recognised by AICEP as one of Portugal's top 10 technology companies disrupting industries worldwide

website: iplexmed.com

Part of Startup Braga’s Incubation Program since its foundation

• 2021: Founded
  • Winner of the Forward Pre-Acceleration Program by CTIE Católica-Lisbon School of Business and Economics
  • Top 10 Nova Startup Competition by Nova School of Business and Economics
  • National winner of the WSA in the category Health Well-Being by APDC
  • Top 4 in the Hintt Award by Glintt
  • Winner in the student category of the H-Innova Health Innovation Award
  • Winner in the Startup category of the Altice International Innovation Award
  • Winner of the Best Digital Transformation Idea at the 2021 Portugal Digital Awards by IDC Portugal and Axian Portugal
• 2022:
  • 2nd place Stem4Health 7.0 by Bayer Portugal
  • Winner of the Rise for Impact by Casa do Impacto
  • Winner of the Get in the Ring by Vodafone Power Labs
  • Winner in the Startup category of the Digital Health Summit Madeira Award by H-Innova Health Innovation Hub
• 2023:
  • Raised €333K in a round led by BPF
  • 1st place in the 929 Challenge
  • 1st place at the AstraZeneca Sustainability Summit
  • Selected in the Call Innov-ID, raising €100M
• 2024:
  • Received a €690K grant from the European Regional Development Fund
  • Named Startup of the Year 2024 by Exame Informática
  • Recognized in WIRED’s list of The Hottest Startups in Lisbon in 2024

website: glooma.pt