Start-up funding in diabetes technology: DCB Innovation Challenge enters new round 

More than 537 million people worldwide live with diabetes, which means a constant challenge in everyday life for those affected. Technological innovations make an important contribution to making it easier to deal with diabetes – whether it is measuring glucose levels or now even planning the amount of insulin needed via an app. But despite these enormous advances in diabetes technology, there is still a great, unmet need for innovative technical solutions. These should help to ease the challenge for users in everyday life and improve the lives of people with diabetes in the long term.

Two categories: “Diabetes Devices” and “Digital Diabetes”

In the last edition of the Open Innovation Challenge 2022, start-ups GO-Pen from Denmark and Una Health from Germany were named winners in their respective categories. GO-Pen is developing a cost-effective, reliable and sustainable insulin pen, while Una Health enables people with type 2 diabetes to understand the causes of their condition and make simple and targeted changes to improve their health.

In the new edition of the Innovation Challenge 2023, there are again two categories: on the one hand for medical devices, such as insulin pens, insulin pumps or sensors for continuous glucose measurement. The other is for digital solutions such as apps for diabetes management, which can include monitoring glucose levels, nutrition and exchanging information with other people with diabetes. For the category “Diabetes Devices”, the kick-off will be at the beginning of May 2023, “Digital Diabetes” will start at the beginning of June 2023. After a first round and feedback from the expert jury, the top 20 will enter a mentoring programme. The three best projects will be invited to a bootcamp individually tailored to them. On 9 November 2023, the winning project will be selected by an international jury and rewarded with 100,000 USD including in-kind support such as coaching. Second and third place will each receive USD 20,000 including further support. The DCB Open Innovation Challenge is thus the world’s largest diabetes technology award with international appeal. Start-ups, medical and research professionals, but also individuals can apply.

Closing gaps with a translational approach

“At the DCB, we want to close the gaps between ideas, clinical trials and start-ups through innovation.  We are also pursuing this goal with the DCB Open Innovation Challenge, which connects start-ups, mentors, corporates and the international diabetes community. In this way, we can help real innovative ideas in diabetes management to achieve a breakthrough. Not only with funding, but also with targeted support from our partner network,” says Dr Maren Schinz, responsible for the DCB Open Innovation Challenge.

Do you have an innovative idea to facilitate change diabetes management forever? Want to see how your idea becomes reality? Do you have valuable insights to help co-create the diabetes technology of tomorrow? Do you have feedback to share with others in the community? Then sign up to our Innovation Platform and participate in the DCB Open Innovation Challenge 2023! You can find more information here.