Our way of working
Bluesparrows medtech fund
We invest money & experience
in early stage medtech
and e-health startups.
What we do
Experience to accelerate.
Our fund is unique:
- Founded and managed by successful MedTech entrepreneurs
- Active hands-on support with weekly coaching by 7 MedTech entrepreneurs (broad expertise within the group).
Our aim:
- To accelerate development and commercialization timelines and rapidly increase the value of the companies invested in.
Harvard published research is showing that
such experience increases the chances of success of a company by 50%
Through active coaching of the 7 medtech entrepreneurs, the fund expects to accelerate development and commercialization timelines and rapidly increase the value of the companies invested in. The Blue Sparrows have encountered the medical market in real life; their mistakes are not to be made again and their hands-on, done-it-before experience paves the pathway to success. Harvard published research showing that such experience increases the chances of success of a company by 50%.
Blue Sparrows helped us to quickly set up our medical certification and streamline our production, enabling us to launch our product during the COVID-pandemic. This has tremendously accelerated growth during the first years of our company.
Think about developing medical software, class 1 and 2 medical products, setting up production, negotiating with suppliers, complying to medical regulations, setting up quality management systems, designing and leading clinical trials, setting up reimbursement dossiers, and commercializing internationally through hospitals, doctors or homecare providers. The good thing about the young entrepreneurs: they have done all of this, shown their own successes and their experience is still very recent, meaning that advice is very relevant for today’s world.
We have a very clear focus and cycle, realizing investments within 3 months.
Medtech Focus:
The Blue Sparrows MedTech Funds focuses on early stage medtech companies. By that we mean: Early stage: could be as early as just an idea with a business plan. Medtech: any technology or e-health solution that is used to increase health for the benefit of patients and doctors. Typical for most first investments: €100-300k to develop proof of concept. Subsequently, Blue Sparrows also funds follow-up investments. Typical team: very motivated, medical or technical background, eager to learn
3 month Cycle: The Blue Sparrows MedTech Fund aims to close an investment within 3 months:
Skills & Coaching
Broad expertise within the group.
Eline & Peter have set up and executed over 15 clinical trials in Europe and the US within their own (former) companies. The international trials led to high-quality publications enabling reimbursements, coding and acquisitions.
Medical Device CE & FDA Certification and Audits
Thijs, Peter, Bo & Boudewijn have all acquired medical certification (CE class 1 – 2b) and FDA approval within their own (former) companies. They have gone through extensive FDA audits, ISO 13485 certifications which required them to implement a Quality Management System within their companies.
Sales & Marketing in the medical world
Bo, Hicham, Peter and Eline have together sold their products to hundreds of hospitals, healthcare facilities, distributors, and insurance companies nationally and internationally. To facilitate this, they set up strong sales teams as well as keen marketing, pricing, and branding strategies. Their medical companies have jointly generated more than 60 million in revenues.
Medical product development, software development and production
Thijs and Boudewijn have set up product teams to develop medical hardware. These products have been produced and launched successfully. Hicham, Peter and Bo have led their software teams to develop and scale medical software solutions.
Reimbursement coding
Eline has experience in setting up market access strategies and has successfully acquired reimbursement coding for her product – a novel therapy – for several countries in Europe as well as the US.
Filing & protecting intellectual property
Thijs, Peter, Boudewijn and Eline have successfully filed and protected more than 50 patents and built keen IP strategies and patent umbrellas. With these, they have gained experience in opposition and litigation with competitors.
Portfolio
Our investments
March 18, 2020
Investment:
Welly
May 18, 2018
Investment:
Amber Implants
December 30, 2021
Investment:
Acoustic Insight
September 12, 2018
Investment:
UV Smart
October 15, 2018
Investment:
CloudCuddle
October 7, 2021
Investment:
Cue2Walk
About us
The team
The Blue Sparrows MedTech Fund is formed by 7 medtech entrepreneurs and 2 seasoned entrepreneurs with fund creation and management experience. The medtech entrepreneurs collectively have more than 90 years of experience in starting up and commercializing medtech companies. Their value and aim is to support early stage startup companies with active coaching.
Together the aim of the team is to accelerate, remove growth barriers and to support the development of early stage medtech startups, resulting in quicker commercialization and increased value of the companies invested in.
NewCompliance Group
Bo Wiesman
Decision Support Software Platform for Critical and Acute Care (OR, ICU)
Where: 5 Countries
Team: 42
Achievements:
Laevo
Boudewijn Wisse
Lightweight intuitive exoskeletons
Where: 40+ Countries
Team: 15
Achievements:
NightBalance
Eline Vrijland-van Beest
Wearable medical device for treatment of positional sleep apnea
Where: 11 Countries
Team: 40
Achievements:
Now: CEO of Hybridize Therapeutics
LeQuest
Hicham Shatou
Training and certifying healthcare professionals for the use of medical technology through web-based simulation trainings
Where: 19 Countries
Team: 50+
Achievements:
Clinical Graphics
Peter Krekel
3D medical image analysis for orthopedic surgery
Where: 14 Countries
Team: 12
Achievements:
Intespring & Laevo
Rogier Barents
Lightweight intuitive exoskeletons
Where: 40+ Countries
Team: 15
Achievements:
NightBalance
Thijs van Oorschot
Wearable medical device for treatment of positional sleep apnea
Where: 11 Countries
Team: 40
Achievements:
Now: Director Technology & IT of LiGalli
Shamrock Partners
Govert Brasser
Various funds successfully closed
Experience: Financial, Strategy, financing, M&A, management of over 15(international) companies. Supervisory Boards (international) companies. Set-up, management and ownership of funds.
Shamrock Partners
Lex Vriesendorp
Various funds successfully closed
Experience: Law, Marketing, M&A, management of over 15 (international)companies. Supervisory Boards (international) companies. Management and ownership of funds.
Investment model
Investment in MedTech start-ups with money and experience
The Blue Sparrows MedTech Fund aims at early-stage MedTech companies which comply with the following selection criteria:
- The product/service is considered either a Medical Device (CE Class I, Class IIa or Class IIb), E-Health Solution that improves self-reliance of patients or Wellness Product with a positive effect on the health(care) system.
- The product/service is not considered a CE Class III Medical Device, Pharmaceutical or Biotechnology.
- The company strives to have its primary activity in the Netherlands.
Contact
Questions?
New business
info@bluesparrows.nl
Please note that our funnel is closed.
Unfortunately it is not possible to apply for funding anymore.
