Промо на dev.uaStartup
7 March 2025, 09:35
2025-03-07
How to build a HealthTech startup in Ukraine: from idea to global market
Technology is actively changing the medical field, creating new opportunities for the development of HealthTech startups. The demand for digital solutions is growing, and the Ukrainian technology community is already demonstrating the ability to create competitive products for the international market. However, the process of turning an idea into a working business is accompanied by a number of challenges that should be considered.
Technology is actively changing the medical field, creating new opportunities for the development of HealthTech startups. The demand for digital solutions is growing, and the Ukrainian technology community is already demonstrating the ability to create competitive products for the international market. However, the process of turning an idea into a working business is accompanied by a number of challenges that should be considered.
Medicine remains an industry with high demands for technology implementation. Ukrainian developers face limited access to financing, a complex regulatory system, and the need to adapt to international standards. However, those who can find the right approach can not only build a successful business, but also change the healthcare system.
Step 1: Choosing a Niche
The key stage is to define the problem that the startup will solve. Current areas include remote patient monitoring, artificial intelligence algorithms for medical image analysis, and clinical process automation. Market and user needs analysis will help shape a competitive solution.
Stage 2: Validation and creation of MVP
Before developing a full-fledged product, it is necessary to check its viability. Surveys of potential customers, prototype testing and feedback allow you to adapt the product to real market needs. MVP (minimum viable product) will become an important tool for quickly testing hypotheses and attracting investors.
After testing the MVP, it is important to find the first users. These could be private clinics, laboratories, or doctors who are willing to test the new product. Their feedback will help improve the solution and prepare it for scaling.
Stage 3: Search for investment
The development of a startup is impossible without funding. In Ukraine, you can take advantage of various opportunities: grants, government programs, venture funds or corporate partners. It is important to clearly formulate a business model and scaling strategy to attract the attention of investors.
Stage 4: Scaling and entering the international market
To enter the global market, it is necessary to take into account the specifics of different countries: regulatory requirements, certification standards, user needs. Compliance with GDPR, HIPAA and other data processing rules helps to increase the trust of international partners. Cooperation with local specialists and adaptation of the product to local markets also play an important role.
The role of the cluster and the ecosystem
HealthTech startups develop more effectively in an ecosystem of partnerships. It is necessary to build connections with other market participants: medical institutions, accelerators, investors, developers.
Clusters like Techosystem HealthTech help startups find mentors, raise funding, resolve certification issues, and enter international markets. They act not only as a platform for sharing experience, but also as a support mechanism at different stages of business development.
Dmytro Horilyk, CEO of DrugCards and participant in the HealthTech cluster facilitation session held within the framework of the «Innovation Ecosystem» project, emphasizes the importance of the availability of modern technologies for Ukrainian HealthTech specialists:
«Modern technologies allow us to quickly analyze huge amounts of data and create new insights for making important decisions. Access to these innovations has become extremely simple — instead of learning complex software, it is enough to use a chat, which significantly simplifies the entry threshold for Ukrainian specialists.»
Artificial intelligence levels the expertise of doctors: in a large network where there are super-experts, mid-level specialists and novices, AI helps younger colleagues reach a high level, which increases the average quality of medical care. As a result, the effectiveness of treatment and prevention increases, which is beneficial for both patients and business.
Thus, the availability of technologies and their integration into medical processes not only simplify the work of specialists, but also increase the overall quality of medical services. This is another important factor that makes the role of clusters in the HealthTech ecosystem critically important.
Cluster participants gain access to training programs, analytical reports, and international contacts, which significantly accelerates integration into the global medical market. In addition, clusters help in the formation of unified standards of interaction between the state, medical institutions, and technology companies, simplifying regulatory processes.
What is needed for a HealthTech breakthrough in Ukraine?
Effective implementation of technologies in medicine requires consideration of both technological and organizational aspects. Solutions must be convenient for doctors and patients, facilitate process automation and meet security requirements. An important factor remains user trust, which can be strengthened through open communication, transparent data protection mechanisms and the involvement of medical professionals in the development process.
In addition, the industry needs to simplify regulatory procedures, implement government initiatives to stimulate HealthTech innovations, and actively collaborate between startups, hospitals, the government, and investors to make a breakthrough. If you want to create a HealthTech startup, now is the best time to start.
Techosystem is a public association of participants in the Ukrainian technological ecosystem for startups, scaleups, and investors.
The cluster operates within the Techosystem union, and you can join by submitting an application for membership via the link .
The initiative is part of the cluster development program, created with the support of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine within the framework of the Good Governance Fund project «Innovation Ecosystem», funded by UK International Development from the UK government. The project implementers are Abt Global and KPMG in Ukraine in partnership with Techosystem.
