Morning Health Talks: On the Challenges Facing Medical Start-ups

6.10.2025

Another edition of Morning Health Talks, organised by the Technology Transfer Office of the Medical University of Gdańsk (TTO MUG) in cooperation with EIT Health, is now behind us. The central theme of the meeting was Bottlenecks in the Commercialisation Process – Challenges for Medical Start-ups Entering the EU Market. The event took place on 30th September at the Pomeranian Science and Technology Park in Gdynia.

The meeting brought together representatives of academia, business, and innovators from the medtech sector. Discussions were held in a hybrid format – the first part was conducted in English and streamed online, while the second, in Polish, took place in person in Gdynia.

The meeting was opened by Katarzyna Waligóra-Borek, Ph.D. acting director of the TTO MUG, who presented the role and activities of the Office in supporting innovation and building bridges between science and business. This was followed by a speech from Joanna Broy, Regional Manager at EIT Health InnoStars, who outlined the opportunities offered by EIT Health to start-ups from Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in terms of internationalisation and acceleration support.



The audience responded warmly to the presentation delivered by Natalie Walsh, Director of Entrepreneurship Development at the University of Galway. In her talk, From Idea to Impact, she shared her experience of moving from the idea stage to real market change, emphasising the importance of ecosystems and mentorship.

From the investor’s perspective, the subject was addressed by Sara Melicharova, Fund Manager at LIFE BioCEEd. Her presentation, Through the VC Lens: Why Early Healthcare Start-ups Get It Wrong (and How to Get It Right), highlighted the common mistakes made by young start-ups and provided practical guidance on how to avoid them. Concluding the presentation segment, Mateusz Dworak of the Medical University of Łódź introduced the DIGIVITALITY project, demonstrating how specific tools can support healthcare ecosystems in the innovation process.

The second part of the event opened with a panel discussion entitled Bottlenecks in Commercialisation – Challenges for Medical Start-ups Entering the European Union Market. Business and healthcare practitioners shared their experiences, with contributions from Aneta Zwolińska (WiseGroup), Izabela Kafka (Viridian Poland), Paulina Wypych-Kapczyńska (Totalizator Sportowy), and Marcin Lenkiewicz (Blix Group). The discussion was moderated by Marcin Stolarek of CTT MUG. Panelists addressed issues related to regulatory differences between EU countries, building relationships with investors, and the role of marketing communication in the implementation of medical innovations.



At the close of Morning Health Talks in Gdynia, Mateusz Dworak from the Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer of the Medical University of Łódź conducted a workshop devoted to the DIGIVITALITY project: From the European Union to Central and Eastern European Countries – Translating Best Practices in e-Health into Action.

The event was moderated by Joanna Przybytek-Kobierna, EIT Health project coordinator at the Technology Transfer Office MUG.

Morning Health Talks confirmed that there remains a significant need for dialogue on the challenges of commercialising medical innovations. Participants emphasised that the greatest obstacle for young companies is not the lack of ideas, but rather the difficulty of navigating complex regulations, reaching appropriate partners, and establishing sustainable business models. The gathering of academics, entrepreneurs, and investors created a valuable space for the exchange of knowledge, as well as for building relationships that may, in the future, translate into concrete projects and both regional and international collaboration.

Organisers of the event: Technology Transfer Office of the Medical University of Gdańsk, EIT Health, and the Pomeranian Science and Technology Park.