Grit – A new International Female Accelerator for Women in Digital Health & Life Science
17th January 2022
In August, 2021 eHealth consultant Diane Nevin set up GDTHealth Network which is a not-for-profit membership organisation that provides a global network of digital health & life sciences to collaborate with industry, academia and public sector organisations. This collaboration takes place between members, project partner alignment between members, events membership access & speaking opportunities, global strategic trade missions, international accelerator programmes, education and training. Diane’s role is as CEO of GDTHealth. She has over two decades of experience in business and eHealth consultancy. Diane is also a current committee member of eHealth Ireland and her role is to discuss, analyse, guide and support projects that support the implementation of the government’s eHealth strategy.
As part of GDTHealth Network services and in cooperation with its board and partners, the female international accelerator-Grit was developed. Grit International Female Accelerator aims to enable female entrepreneurs operating in digital health and life science with the knowledge and confidence required to scale their individual business. There is no cost to participate and no equity taken.
The online acceleration programme will provide hands on support and allow participants to gain access to the accumulated knowledge, skills, healthcare and life science entrepreneurial expertise on tap. This access will be supported by weekly innovative online meetings, interactive workshops, exclusive masterclasses led by GDTHealth’s core partners established mentor network and a growing international alumni network.
“There is significant evidence that female entrepreneurs face unique challenges in starting and growing businesses, particularly in emerging markets”, said Diane Nevin, CEO and Startup Programme Director of Grit.
“Accelerator programmes, which are designed to help start-up businesses achieve scale, represent one potential model for overcoming these challenges through support services and investment”, she added.
Bespoke female accelerator programmes, examines through two lenses: first, delivery of best approaches to support female entrepreneurs; and second, addressing the significant confidence and knowledge gap around fundraising, and therefore developing and designing an accelerator that would provide specific support targeting knowledge and negotiating skills.
Sourcing venture capital is often one of the primary factors where a start-up can succeed or fail.
While gender diversity contributes to start-up success, most funding is allocated to male-only entrepreneurial teams.
Women in global healthcare industries, make up between 50% to 75% of the workforces. However, in health technology, by comparison, there is a significant gender gap – its workforce is only about one-quarter female. Health technology, a growing field that includes medical device, device-based diagnostic, digital health, and health information technology companies, sits squarely between the healthcare and high-technology industries. However, its gender landscape remains undefined.
The Grit Accelerator Programme’s objective is to improve this current metric through the learnings obtained within the programme.
Who should apply
Irish female start-ups and diverse teams that are operating in digital health and life science. The business must be at proof of concept stage, scalable and innovative.
Applications are now open up until 21st February with the Accelerator starting on 22nd March.
You can find out more here>>
