Hera has been crowned the winner in the start-up category of Digital Health Rewired Pitchfest 2023. Hera is a digital-first maternity and child health platform, launching in postnatal care. The company edged out close runners-up XWave Technologies. Despite narrowly missing out, it was revealed that one judge would like to invest in XWave Technologies. The start-up entries were whittled down to the final 15 before Rewired, with the competitors split into three heats. Two start-ups from each heat progressed through to the live final at the Business Design Centre in London to pitch to an expert judging panel in a bid to become Pitchfest start-up champions for 2023. The five runners-up were:

• Frendo– smartphone app for endometriosis patients and those with suspected symptoms
• Healthtech-1– software automating patient registrations for primary care
• LVNDR Health– app for sexual healthcare and well-being services designed by LGBTQ+ clinicians
• Ufonia– replaces routine patient healthcare interactions with next generation automated phone calls
• XWave Technologies– a clinical decision support system that aims to tackle the radiology backlog

The final took place this afternoon on the Pitchfest Stage, during day two of Digital Health Rewired 2023. A panel of judges questioned each start-up about their innovation and what makes it different to others on the market. The judging panel consisted of:

• Jon Hoeksma, CEO, Digital Health
• Rhod Joyce, deputy director of innovation development, Transformation Directorate NHSE & I
• Dr John Lee Allen, managing partner, RYSE Asset Management
• Megan Morys-Carter, director, The Hill
• Rachel Murphy, public speaker, health tech advisor and former CEO, Difrent
• Chris Sawyer, innovation lead, Digital Health Innovate UK

Pitchfest 2023 is sponsored by CW+ and Silver Buck.