Future of Health Grant

What Future of Health Grant does

Future of Health Grant is a non-profit digital health acceleration program founded in 2022 in Lausanne, Switzerland, by CSS — Switzerland's largest health insurer with 1.7 million insured and CHF 7.56 billion in premium volume — and EPFL Innovation Park. The program is structured as an initiative under Fondation EPFL Innovation Park and serves early-stage digital health startups that are either based in Switzerland or have a concrete plan to enter the Swiss healthcare system. It delivers three sequential tiers of non-dilutive grant funding — Level 1 "Ignition" (CHF 10,000 over 3 months, 5 projects per year), Level 2 "POC" (CHF 30,000 over 6 months, 5 startups per year), and Level 3 "Validation" (CHF 50,000 over 12 months, 3 startups per year) — with a maximum cumulative package of CHF 90,000 per startup and no equity or interest charged.

The program's core services extend well beyond capital. It provides milestone-based coaching, expert mentoring from healthcare industry professionals, "CxO as a Service" (paid executive specialists augmenting thin founding teams), and a "Pilot Factory" that convenes healthcare providers, patient associations, insurers, and pharmaceutical companies to test solutions in real-world clinical settings. Clinical validation infrastructure is provided through partners including SFITS (Swiss Foundation for Innovation and Training in Surgery, on the HUG campus), Réseau Delta (~1,000 family doctors), and multiple regional hospitals. The marketing and go-to-market model is multi-channel — annual themed conferences, the EPFL Accelerator App for self-serve applications, a LinkedIn and YouTube presence, newsletter, and an invitation-only "Le Club" forum for Swiss healthcare leaders, investors, startups, and technology companies.

The program runs two cohorts per year and has scaled application volume meaningfully: 469 unique startups from 55 countries applied in 2025, and a record 352 applications were received for the Spring 2026 cohort from which 7 startups were selected. In September 2025 the program expanded to a pan-European footprint via partnerships with Future4care (Paris/Berlin, backed by Capgemini, Generali, Orange, and Sanofi) and Barcelona & Madrid Health Hub (500+ member network), enabling portfolio startups to access French, German, and Spanish healthcare markets. A small four-person core team (from CSS and EPFL Innovation Park) operates the program; there is no disclosed revenue, and operations are funded by founding partner contributions.

Name

Future of Health Grant

Legal name

Future of Health Grant

Website

https://future-of-health.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Future of Health Grant is a non-profit Swiss digital health accelerator founded in 2022 by CSS and EPFL Innovation Park, providing up to CHF 90,000 in non-dilutive grants, coaching, mentoring, and clinical pilot access to early-stage digital health startups targeting the Swiss and European healthcare systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Health Startup Accelerator

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Health Financing, Budgeting & Grants Management (HLAJAMAC), Healthcare Access & Life Sciences Impact Funds (FSANAJAI), Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

Keywords

• Digital health acceleration
• Non-dilutive grant funding
• Healthcare startup program
• Startup mentorship services
• Healthcare innovation accelerator

Headquarters

HQ city

Lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Non-dilutive grant funding: Provides equity-free funding to digital health startups at three levels: Level 1 (CHF 10,000), Level 2 (CHF 30,000), Level 3 (CHF 50,000), totaling up to CHF 90,000 per startup. No equity or interest charged.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Future of Health Grant is a non-profit acceleration and grant program that provides non-dilutive funding and operational support to early-stage digital health startups. Founded in 2022 by CSS and EPFL Innovation Park, it offers three progressive funding levels (CHF 10,000 Ignition, CHF 30,000 POC, CHF 50,000 Validation), totaling up to CHF 90,000 per startup, alongside coaching, mentoring, CxO as a Service (CxOaaS), Pilot Factory access, and European market expansion support.

Product overview

Future of Health Grant is a digital health innovation acceleration program offering three levels of non-dilutive grants (Level 1 Ignition at CHF 10,000, Level 2 POC at CHF 30,000, and Level 3 Validation at CHF 50,000). The program provides startups with coaching, mentoring, CxO as a Service support, and access to the Pilot Factory for real-world testing. Through strategic partnerships with Future4care and Barcelona & Madrid Health Hub, the program also enables international expansion across European markets. Le Club offers an exclusive membership forum for healthcare ecosystem collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Level 1 - Ignition Grant A 3-month program providing CHF 10,000 of non-dilutive funding (no equity or interest) to help digital health startups kickstart their venture ideas. Five projects are awarded per year.
• Level 2 - POC Grant A 6-month program providing CHF 30,000 of non-dilutive funding (no equity or interest) to help digital health startups develop their product, prototype, and create a proof of concept. Five startups are awarded per year.
• Level 3 - Validation Grant A 12-month program providing CHF 50,000 of non-dilutive funding (no equity or interest) to help digital health startups conduct user validation or clinical trials in collaboration with healthcare professionals. Three startups are awarded per year.
• Coaching Health innovations professional coaches deliver structured, milestone-based guidance to founders participating in the grant program.
• Mentoring Access to industry experts from the healthcare sector who provide specialized guidance to participating startups.
• CxO as a Service (CxOaaS) Paid executive-level specialists, including CTO, CMO, and CFO roles, available to augment participating startup teams.
• Pilot Factory A multi-stakeholder initiative that connects startups with healthcare providers, patient associations, pharmaceutical companies, and insurers to test digital health solutions in real-world clinical and operational settings.
• International Expansion Support Cross-border market access support delivered through partnerships with Future4care (Paris/Berlin) and Barcelona & Madrid Health Hub, enabling Swiss digital health startups to access French, German, and Spanish markets.
• Le Club An exclusive, invitation-only forum that fosters dialogue between Swiss healthcare leaders, startups, investors, and technology companies to cultivate partnerships and facilitate pilot projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 70% reduction in unhealthy food cravings after 3 weeks of training (Bewe)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, founding and minor.

• Future4careflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025European ecosystem partnership with Future4care (Paris/Berlin) powered by Capgemini, Generali, Orange, and Sanofi. Provides startups access to French and German healthcare markets through Go-to-Market programs, strategic partnerships, and privileged market access.
• Barcelona & Madrid Health HubflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Pan-European partnership with Barcelona & Madrid Health Hub (500+ members) combining Barcelona's Digital Health Validation Center with Madrid's digital transformation hub. Gateway to Southern Europe's health market for Swiss startups.
• SFITS (Swiss Foundation for Innovation and Training in Surgery)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Located on HUG campus, SFITS provides state-of-the-art clinical simulation environment for testing surgical and interventional technologies. Offers startups access to simulation labs, operating rooms, and 2D/3D imagery within academic hospital setting.
• CSSfoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022CSS is the co-founding partner of the Future of Health Grant. As Switzerland's leading health insurer (1.7 million insured, CHF 7.56 billion premium volume), CSS provides funding, healthcare network access, and acts as a health partner to startups. Nearly a decade of investment in connected health including CSS Health Lab partnership with ETH Zurich and University of St. Gallen, and SwissHealth Ventures investment subsidiary.
• EPFL Innovation ParkfoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022EPFL Innovation Park is the co-founding partner, providing scientific expertise, startup support, and vast innovation network. Main hub for innovation in Western Switzerland hosting 200 high-tech startups, SMEs, and R&D centers with 2,500 employees.
• HESAV (Haute École de Santé Vaud)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAcademic player in Vaud healthcare ecosystem bringing expertise in research and innovation with strong ties to clinical practice. Enhances Pilot Factory access to real-world healthcare environments.
• ConfiniscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExpert partner supporting startups in regulatory compliance and technical certifications, particularly for hardware solutions and medical device requirements.
• ELCAcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSwitzerland's leading provider of tailored IT solutions (2,200+ employees) supplying digital development expertise for healthcare technology startups.
• Réseau DeltacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLargest family doctor network in French-speaking Switzerland with ~1,000 members contributing in-depth knowledge of doctor-patient relationships for startups.
• CSEMcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInternationally renowned research institute supporting startups in prototyping hardware solutions in digital health.
• Ensemble Hospitalier de la Côte (EHC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRegional hospital providing clinical pilot environments for startups to test solutions in real-world settings.
• Hôpital de La TourcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrivate hospital providing additional clinical validation environment for digital health solutions.
• UnisantécoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUniversity center for general medicine and public health providing expertise in prevention and primary care for startup validation.
• Institut et Haute Ecole de La santé La SourcecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHealthcare education institution providing nursing and health science expertise for clinical validation support.
• HE-ARCcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUniversity of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland providing research capabilities and healthcare innovation expertise.
• PfizerminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPharmaceutical company providing industry expertise and potential collaboration opportunities for digital health startups.
• TakedaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPharmaceutical company providing industry expertise for healthcare innovation collaboration.
• Vaudoise AssuranceminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSwiss insurance company providing additional access to insurance sector for startups focusing on reimbursement strategies.
• ZühlkeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInnovation engineering consultancy providing technical expertise for healthcare technology development.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• EIT Health: Large European public-private partnership running multiple digital health acceleration programs across Europe. Comparable in mission to support early-stage health innovation, but operates at a much larger scale with EU and corporate funding.
• Plug and Play Health: Global accelerator and venture platform with a dedicated Health vertical offering mentorship, pilots with large providers/payers, and corporate connections. Comparable as a high-throughput digital health accelerator with strong corporate sponsorship.
• SwissHealth Ventures: Investment subsidiary of CSS focused on digital health and connected health startups. Comparable as the venture arm of FoHG's primary founding sponsor, with overlapping portfolio themes in Swiss digital health.

Direct peers

• Bayer G4A (Grants4Apps): Bayer's pharma-backed digital health accelerator providing grants and pilots to early-stage health startups. Highly comparable as a corporate-backed, non-dilutive/in-kind acceleration program targeting digital health founders.
• Future4care: Paris/Berlin-based health accelerator backed by Capgemini, Generali, Orange, and Sanofi. Directly comparable as a European digital health accelerator with corporate sponsors, cohort structure, and a focus on pilots and market access; also an FoHG strategic partner.
• Barcelona Health Hub: Barcelona-based digital health hub with 500+ members that runs acceleration and validation programs. Directly comparable as a European digital health ecosystem player and an active FoHG partner for Southern European market access.
• Startupbootcamp Digital Health: Cologne-based digital health accelerator providing mentorship, capital, and corporate partners to early-stage health startups. Comparable as a cohort-based European digital health accelerator with corporate-backed pilot pathways.
• Tech4Eva: Europe's leading FemTech acceleration program, also co-founded by Nicolas Loeillot (FoHG program lead). Directly comparable as a Swiss-rooted, EPFL-affiliated digital health accelerator with cohort-based structure and non-dilutive or low-dilution support.

Regional players

• Venturelab: Swiss-based startup accelerator and founder development platform supporting early-stage ventures, including those at EPFL. Comparable as a Swiss-rooted, non-dilutive-leaning accelerator ecosystem operator targeting high-tech founders.
• Health Innovation Hub Switzerland: Swiss innovation hub connecting healthcare providers, startups, and policymakers to accelerate digital health adoption. Comparable as a Swiss digital health ecosystem facilitator with policy and provider network access.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/future-of-health-grant
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@futureofhealthgrant

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments35 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Future of Health Grant