LS@W at HIHR: Pitches, partnerships, and promising health ventures

Yesterday, we joined the 16th edition of HIHR (Healthy Ideas, Healthy Returns), held live in Antwerp. This vibrant event brings together academic health ventures, investors, and industry experts from across the Benelux to connect, share insights, and accelerate early-stage innovation in MedTech, BioTech, and Digital Health.

This edition featured 11 MedTech, 8 BioTech, and 1 Digital Health initiative, many of which are driven by cutting-edge science and entrepreneurial ambition. Ten startups pitched live in front of a full house of investors and TTO professionals, showcasing solutions ranging from cardiac robotics and immune reset therapies to AI-powered diagnostics and next-gen endoscopy.

Highlights included:

  • Amylla (University of Antwerp) – Live biotherapeutics based on the “superpowers of lactobacilli”

  • BioPrex – Long-term antibacterial coatings for safer medical implants

  • Capsule Photonics – Miniaturised endoscopy tech and winner of the Venture Challenge Winter 24/25

  • Ysvogel – A Venture Challenge alumnus improving cardiac stent placement

  • Tolvac Therapeutics – Resetting immune tolerance in autoimmune disease

  • Unlock – Glyco-fibrosis markers for early MASH detection

  • Sonic Precision – Ultrasound-guided cardiac ablation (Philips spin-off)

  • Mime Cure – Repairing lungs in COPD patients with an innovative powder-based medical device

  • Syntric Medical – Robotic-assisted biopsies for early lung cancer detection

  • Juvant – Handheld, real-time tissue diagnostics starting with breast cancer

The day opened with insights from Jeff Skinner and Claar-Els van Delft, and included a session by Tess Korthout from Johnson & Johnson Innovation, sharing how J&J interacts with startups through their global innovation network, including JLABS and JJDC.

HIHR continues to grow as a key matchmaking platform in early-stage health innovation. With deep investor engagement and tailor-made feedback for founders, the event helps spin-offs sharpen their strategies and move one step closer to real-world impact.

The next HIHR edition is scheduled for 15 October 2025 — and we’ll definitely be there.

Source: LS@W

HIHR 2025

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