Munich, October 20, 2026
From more than 320 submissions, the most forward-thinking medical start-ups have been chosen to compete in the 15th MEDICA Start-up COMPETITION. Their solutions cover a wide range of fields – from AI in healthcare, robotics and lab diagnostics to resilience and beyond – and were evaluated by an international jury against criteria such as innovation, technological feasibility, market strategy, time to market, commercial potential, and sustainability.
The Top 15 Medical Start-ups of 2026 are:
AI in Healthcare
- Chatdok – AI platform that monitors heart patients at home and alerts physicians to deterioration (Germany)
- DiggAi – Multilingual digital patient intake that goes straight into the practice software (Germany)
- Horus ML S.L. – Software that detects atherosclerosis from a standard retinal photo taken in primary care (Spain)
Robotics
- NeuroGrip – Soft robotic glove that supports finger movement in stroke patients, controlled by their muscle signals (India)
- Symbios – Portable robotic exoskeleton for arm and hand rehabilitation, with therapy data for clinicians (Brazil)
- Zeta Industries – Wearable neck exoskeleton with AI sensor for neck training in sports and physiotherapy (Italy)
Lab Diagnostics
- Exalt FlexCo– Lab test that measures how a patient’s cancer cells respond to over 100 drugs (Austria)
- MetaAIDiagnostic GmbH– Blood test based on metabolic biomarkers to support ADHD diagnosis (Germany)
- Mimark Diagnostics S.L. – Protein test on uterine fluid from a routine sample to diagnose endometrial cancer (Spain)
Resilience
- Paracly – AI platform that helps medical device manufacturers assess and prioritize cybersecurity vulnerabilities (Germany)
- PINK CYBER – Evaluates cybersecurity and AI providers for hospitals and MedTech and matches buyers with suitable providers (Germany)
- AINDO – Converts sensitive clinical data into synthetic data for clinical trials and AI development (Italy)
Others
- Inoko Vision – Desktop device that measures eye movements on the retina to diagnose neurodegenerative diseases earlier (Poland)
- Percisio – Portable, radiation-free navigation system that shows anatomy as a 3D overlay during interventional radiology (France)
- Transmural Platform – Integration layer that connects external health technologies with hospital EHR systems (Belgium)
CONGRATULATIONS!
The pitch and award ceremony will be held at the MEDICA MAIN STAGE (Hall 12) on November 17th from 15:00 to 17:00 CET. Participants will have the chance to win exciting cash prizes of up to 3,500 euros and gain exposure to MEDICA’s vast network of health tech experts, corporates, investors, business partners, and media representatives from over 170 countries.
The Top 15 will be evaluated live by our esteemed expert jury during the event:
- Dr. Caroline Fichtner, Principal, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF)
- Christina Hertel, Head of Investments and Profit Growth, EIT Health
- Michael Hübner, Managing Director / Manager of Innovation and Digitalization & Corporate Development, Sana Data Solutions GmbH
- Dagi Walden-Gajcy, Managing Healthcare Industry Engagement, GS1 Germany GmbH
- Jutta Klauer, Strategic Digital Partnerships, MSD Idea Stuido Europe
- Lucanus Polagnoli, Founding Partner, Calm Storm Ventures
- Dr. Lucas Mittelmeier, Investor, HealCapital
- Katja Ruhnke, CEO & Co-Founder & Chairwoman of BAND, CK Venture Capital GmbH
- Fabian von Trotha, Managing Partner, Dieter von Holtzbrinck Ventures GmbH
- Dr. Antonella Santuccione Chadha, CEO, Women’s Brain Foundation
- Prof. Dr. Strahinja Dosen, Full Professor in Reha Robotics, Aalborg University, Denmark
- Leonard Rinser, Founder, Venture Institute
- Luisa Wasilewski, Co-Founder, Halbzeit.ai
The 16th MEDICA Start-Up COMPETITION is now open for submissions, and participation is free. For more details, visit www.innovationworldcup.com/medica-startup-competition/.
Behind the scenes – MEDICA Start-up COMPETITION
The MEDICA Start-up COMPETITION initiated by Messe Düsseldorf and organized by Navispace GmbH is the international leading competition in healthcare innovations. The objective is to drive innovation for use in the daily routine of patients and doctors around the globe. Participation is free of charge.
Press Contact
Hanna Sterzik | Project Manager
h.sterzik@techprnrs.com
