HealthCare Futurists

What HealthCare Futurists does

HealthCare Futurists GmbH is a Cologne-based, founder-owned healthcare innovation consultancy and think tank founded in 2013/2014 by Dr. Tobias D. Gantner (MD, PhD, MBA, LL.M). It operates as a network of independent experts rather than a traditional corporate hierarchy, delivering project-based innovation consulting, hackathons, workshops, education, mentoring, and strategic foresight to enterprise healthcare organizations across the DACH region and beyond. The company reports relationships with over 100 organizations, including major pharmaceutical companies (Roche, Pfizer, Novartis, Bayer, AstraZeneca, AbbVie, Takeda, Boehringer Ingelheim, Janssen, Gilead, Teva, Biogen, Vertex, Astellas, Dr. Reddy's, Berlin-Chemie Menarini, Leo Pharma, ViiV), medical technology firms (Philips, ZEISS, Medtronic), German statutory health insurers (AOK, DAK, BKK, GKV Spitzenverband), and adjacent organizations such as Audi, Robert Bosch Stiftung, the German Red Cross, and the Swiss Red Cross.

The company's offering centers on professional services (innovation consulting, hackathons, education, strategic insights, mentoring) delivered through a multi-channel content and event infrastructure. The technology stack includes gamification platforms (gamify.healthcare, Jakiba, Corona Shooter, Psoriasis Quest VR), the HealthCare MakerMobil (a converted Mercedes Sprinter van used as a mobile innovation lab and mobile eye clinic), a proprietary LEGO-based workshop methodology, the Health Flix video platform, the MEHR EINSATZ WAGEN podcast, and a portfolio of digital initiatives (Lebenswerk.ai, Longevity-Lebensfreu.de, pyxy.ai Digital Stethoscope, TakaraMed, Digital Residency Practice, Kassandra Pharmacy, Doctor-Free Practice). Sub-brands include innovate.healthcare (innovation labs including Pristina Lab in the West Balkans) and HealthCare Hackademy.

The business model is exclusively professional services revenue (consulting, hackathons, events, education, mentoring) with multi-year project-based contracts and undisclosed pricing. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales directed at pharmaceutical companies, medical technology firms, healthcare providers, pharmacies, and statutory health insurers, complemented by event-driven demand generation and thought-leadership content. No external funding rounds, no disclosed revenue, and no SaaS or platform-recurring revenue stream are identified.

Name

HealthCare Futurists

Legal name

HealthCare Futurists GmbH

Website

https://healthcarefuturists.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HealthCare Futurists is a Cologne-based, founder-owned healthcare innovation consultancy and expert network that delivers innovation consulting, hackathons, workshops, and strategic foresight to pharmaceutical, MedTech, and healthcare payer organizations across the DACH region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Innovation Consulting

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare/Pharma Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAJ)

Keywords

• Healthcare innovation consulting
• Digital health transformation
• Healthcare hackathons
• Pharmaceutical advisory services
• Healthcare ecosystem strategy

Headquarters

HQ city

Köln

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Innovation Consulting Services: Professional consulting services helping healthcare organizations develop innovation strategies, from ideation to implementation, creating value through digital health solutions.
2. Hackathons & Events: Organizing focused healthcare hackathons that bring together diverse stakeholders to generate novel solutions for healthcare challenges.
3. Education & Training: Providing healthcare professionals with knowledge and skills needed to navigate and lead in the digital health landscape.
4. Strategic Insights & Research: Delivering cutting-edge research and market analysis to guide healthcare organizations through digital transformation.
5. Mentoring Services: Personalized guidance for healthcare professionals and organizations navigating technology adoption and future-oriented transformation strategies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

HealthCare Futurists is a healthcare innovation think tank and consultancy that provides innovation consulting, hackathons, education and training, strategic insights, and mentoring services to pharmaceutical companies, medical technology firms, healthcare providers, and insurers. The firm operates as a network of independent experts and develops tangible innovation concepts such as the HealthCare MakerMobil mobile lab, LEGO-based workshop methodologies, gamification platforms, and prototype healthcare models like the Kassandra Pharmacy and Digital Residency Practice.

Product overview

HealthCare Futurists is a healthcare innovation think tank and consultancy that operates as a network of independent experts rather than a unified software product company. The portfolio consists of consulting services (Innovation Consulting, Patient Empowerment, Hackathons & Events, Healthcare Ecosystem, Strategic Insights, Education & Training, Foresighting, Mentoring, Future Skills), innovative projects (Digital Residency Practice, Kassandra Pharmacy, Doctor-Free Practice), technology initiatives (LEGO workshops, HealthCare MakerMobil mobile lab), digital platforms (Lebenswerk.ai, Longevity Lebensfreu.de, Jakiba gamification, Innovation Labs), content production (Health Flix videos, Driving by Sight documentary, MEHR EINSATZ WAGEN podcast), gamification experiences (Corona Shooter, Psoriasis Quest VR, HealthCare Gaming), and medical device concepts (pyxy.ai Digital Stethoscope, TakaraMed). The company does not offer a traditional SaaS product but rather provides advisory services, hosts innovation events, and develops conceptual prototypes and models for healthcare transformation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HealthCare MakerMobil: Mobile innovation lab housed in a converted Mercedes Sprinter vehicle used for hackathons, innovation labs, and community outreach events
• gamify.healthcare
• innovate.healthcare
• HealthCare Hackademy
• Dr. Tobias Gantner Speaker Services

Products and services

• Kassandra Pharmacy (Apotheke der Zukunft) A walkable, tangible model pharmacy demonstrating what healthcare pharmacies could look like with digital prescriptions, smart medication analysis, telepharmacy, virtual avatars, and a health hub concept, designed for pharmacy operators and healthcare partners exploring future pharmacy formats.
• Digital Residency Practice (DRP) An innovative digital healthcare solution for modern medical practices that bridges traditional care with digital transformation through cross-sectoral, networked care approaches, targeted at healthcare providers and consortium partners.
• Lebenswerk.ai An AI-supported platform combining artificial intelligence with personal storytelling to preserve and share life stories through biographical documentation, intended for individuals seeking to record personal histories and families.
• Longevity Lebensfreu.de A platform dedicated to promoting healthy aging and longevity through evidence-based lifestyle interventions and wellness programs, targeted at individuals focused on healthy aging and healthcare providers supporting them.
• Jakiba A healthcare gamification platform that transforms healthcare experiences through innovative gaming solutions, making health management more engaging and accessible, for healthcare organizations and patient communities.
• TakaraMed An innovative home-based drug storage furniture solution designed to safely and efficiently organize medications in domestic environments, targeted at home patients and caregivers managing complex medication regimens.
• Innovation Labs (innovate.healthcare) Co-creation labs and collaborative spaces fostering healthcare innovation through structured methodologies, including Innovation.labs, strategy.labs, and regional labs like the Pristina Lab, for healthcare organizations seeking structured innovation collaboration.
• Doctor-Free Practice A revolutionary healthcare concept exploring autonomous healthcare delivery without traditional physician presence, designed for healthcare policy makers and provider organizations exploring alternative care models.
• MEHR EINSATZ WAGEN Podcast A digital health podcast making digital transformation tangible through engaging conversations and practical insights, hosted by Dr. Tobias D. Gantner and the HealthCare Futurists team, aimed at healthcare professionals and innovation audiences.
• pyxy.ai Digital Stethoscope A revolutionary digital stethoscope concept working on infrasound technology, capable of detecting virus-associated lung tissue changes for early diagnosis, targeted at clinicians and healthcare providers seeking advanced diagnostic tools.
• Psoriasis Quest in Virtual Reality A virtual reality game created with a pharmaceutical client to help understand medical content through visualization and immersion for psoriasis education, targeted at healthcare professionals and patient education programs.
• Corona Shooter An immersive digital virology game allowing players to play, learn, and research through gamified simulation of virus-related scenarios, targeted at healthcare learners and the general public for virology education.
• Driving by Sight Documentary A documentary film exploring ophthalmology in rural areas, highlighting challenges and innovations in countryside eye care, with cinema premiere in Magdeburg, intended for healthcare audiences and rural care advocates.
• Innovation Consulting Services Comprehensive consulting services including Innovation Consulting, Patient Empowerment, Hackathons & Events, Healthcare Ecosystem development, Strategic Insights, Education & Training, Foresighting, Mentoring in Tech & Future, and Future Skills development, delivered to enterprise healthcare clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully completed Digital Residency Practice (DRP) project achieving all project goals within 26 months
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers52 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• innovate.healthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation Lab platform co-developed as collaborative spaces fostering healthcare innovation through structured methodologies. Includes Pristina Lab as part of the ecosystem.
• Dr. Tobias GantnercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder and CEO Dr. Tobias D. Gantner, MD, PhD, MBA, LL.M leads the HealthCare Futurists network. Available for speaking and moderation at events through www.tobias-gantner.com
• Digital Residency Practice ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-stakeholder consortium project successfully completed in May 2025, bringing together nursing staff, doctors, physiotherapists, coordination centers, and other professional groups to achieve cross-sectoral, networked care. Project achieved all goals within 26 months.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Healthware Group: Italy-headquartered digital health innovation consultancy and agency combining strategy, creative, and technology for pharma and healthcare clients. Closely comparable to HCF in combining innovation consulting with creative digital health deliverables for enterprise pharma customers.
• Vintura: Netherlands-based life sciences and healthcare consulting firm focused on strategy, transformation, and patient-centric innovation for pharma, medtech, and providers. Comparable European healthcare-focused boutique consulting profile with similar project-based delivery model.
• 21GRAMS: Independent healthcare creative agency delivering full-service advertising and innovation work for pharmaceutical clients. Comparable to HCF in providing creative, campaign, and innovation deliverables for major pharma brands in a boutique format.
• The Bloc: Global healthcare creative and innovation agency delivering brand, experience, and digital health work for pharma and biotech clients. Similar full-service creative-and-innovation positioning with pharma enterprise clients.
• Frog Design: Global design and innovation consultancy (now part of Capgemini Invent) with a dedicated health practice. Comparable to HCF in using design-led workshop methodologies and innovation tools to help healthcare and pharma clients develop new offerings.
• IDEO: Pioneering design and innovation consultancy with a long-standing health practice. Comparable to HCF in applying human-centered, workshop-driven innovation methods to healthcare and life sciences engagements.

Broad incumbents

• Ogilvy Health: Large global advertising network's healthcare practice offering creative, communications, and innovation services to pharma. Comparable to HCF in addressing the same enterprise pharma buyers, but at significantly greater scale and broader service scope.
• IQVIA: Global life sciences and healthcare data, analytics, and consulting firm serving pharma, medtech, and providers. Comparable in serving the same enterprise healthcare buyer cohort, but at vastly larger scale and with a data-and-evidence-led proposition.
• McKinsey Health Institute: Global management consultancy's dedicated health practice advising governments, providers, and pharma on health innovation and transformation. Comparable to HCF in advising on healthcare innovation strategy, but at top-tier consulting scale.
• Accenture Health: Global professional services firm's healthcare practice delivering digital transformation, innovation, and technology services across pharma, payer, and provider clients. Comparable buyer cohort and transformation mandate, with significantly larger delivery footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/healthcare-futurists
• Xx.com/hcarefuturists

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about HealthCare Futurists