Berlin’s MedTech Boom

Oh hello, you must have come in search of some good news. Welcome to Tech for Good, where each month we give you a virtual dose of dopamine by highlighting change-makers using tech to better our lives. In this edition, we dive into Berlin’s booming MedTech (or HealthTech) industry and highlight 8 companies improving lives through tech.

What is MedTech?

Med Tech Europe categorises the industry into three highly regulated topics; Medical Devices, In-Vitro Diagnostics (which are non-invasive tests used on biological samples) and Digital Health (tools and services that use tech to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and management of health and lifestyle).

Germany is the home of MedTech

MedTech must be the most prolific area of tech of our generation. In 2016, more than 12,200 patent applications were filed with the European Patent Office (EPO) in the field of medical technology – more than any other industry in Europe. There are approximately 27,000 medical technology companies in Europe, most of them are based in Germany.

What makes the industry ‘Good’?

At their core, medical technologies are products or services used to save and improve people’s lives. It doesn’t get any good-er than that. MedTech is focused on continuous innovation and because human lives are the target, the industry is deeply rooted in the highest calibre of research and development. Aside from that, the industry employs over 200,000 people in Germany, more than any other country in the world. 

8 MedTech heroes in Berlin

Based in Berlin, our consultants have had the opportunity to work with some of Germany’s most exciting MedTech startups. These businesses are disrupting the historical methods of healthcare and medical and transforming them into more convenient, more effective and more accessible tools and services in 2020. Here is a list of Berlin-based startups to keep an eye on…

1. Klara

Klara is a modern alternative to the prehistoric medical admin tools that practice managers and doctors are typically familiar with using. Communication is the biggest pain point medical practices have in America – 96% of complaints are around the communication existing outside of the actual 15-minute appointment. Klara seeks to address this and makes it much easier for practice managers and doctors to effectively communicate with their patients. When COVID hit, Klara was fast to act on launching a new feature that would allow patients and their doctors to meet remotely.

2. inne

Inne describes itself as a ‘hormone-based mini lab for women. They provide a healthier alternative to invasive contraceptive measures that can have dramatic effects on the physical and mental wellbeing of women. Inne tests progesterone levels through an at-home saliva test kit and provides insights into reproductive health – empowering users to make decisions based on their body’s natural rhythms.

3. Sesame Care

The concept of Sesame Care is simple – a marketplace that makes finding, booking and paying for quality healthcare simple. You can browse a wide variety of quality doctors, clearly see their pricing upfront and book very simply online. As a response to COVID lockdown, Sesame also implemented virtual appointments for their practitioners and patients.

4. Amboss

Amboss is a knowledge platform geared towards both students and practitioners. Amboss optimises learning with an entirely comprehensive and feature-packed platform giving medical professionals the ultimate resource for continuous, career-long learning. Amboss are also involved in multiple charities and offer a scholarship program with a global education fund worth over $2 Million – feel-good stories galore.

5. Doctorly

Doctorly is a digital health platform that provides a sleek centralised system for managing all elements of a successful practice. It combines all of the best parts of modern tech including automation and deep customisation, leaving doctors and MFAs spending 50% less time on admin.

6. Cara Care

Gut health is a widely discussed and debated topic in today’s health landscape. The information is dated, diagnosis often vague and methods of management broad. Cara Care is an app that aims to give clarity around individual gut health by allowing users to monitor their digestive health connecting the dots between your mind, gut, nutrition & wellbeing. Track food, stress, poop and tummy pain with a few taps. Add individual factors to create your own personalized health diary.

7. Ada Health

Ada is a global health company founded by doctors, scientists, and industry pioneers to create new possibilities for personal health. Ada’s core system connects medical knowledge with intelligent technology to help all people actively manage their health and medical professionals to deliver effective care. The technology culminates in an app that helps you and your loved ones check symptoms and discover what might be causing them – day or night without an appointment. When COVID hit, Ada developed an offshoot of their product to offer focused online COVID-19 screenings, minimising anxiety around the topic and helping users know what to do next.

8. Baze

A super exciting product that combines an at-home blood test kit, used to detect nutrient levels in under 5 minutes. The sample is sent back to Baze labs where they use the sample to measure essential nutrients including Choline, Chromium and Omega-3. You’ll complete a questionnaire so that Baze can understand your health goals and they’ll tailor a personalised supplement plan to get you there. Baze also offers an app so you can track results throughout the journey and make updates as you go.