HealthStart, an accelerator programme focussed on start-ups in the healthcare sector, plans to incubate up to eight start-ups through a five-month programme at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.

It has invited applications from healthcare start-ups and will finalise the list of companies before the end of this month, according to Pradeep K Jaisingh, Chairman, HealthStart.

Founded by a team of successful group of global professionals and entrepreneurs, HealthStart funds and mentors start-ups in the healthcare sector.

The programme at the ISB is specifically designed for start-ups which will get strategic inputs and get to work with global mentors. They will not have to be on campus all the time.

According to Jaisingh, HealthStart is looking to select between five and eight start-ups for the programme at the ISB. HealthStart will invest up to Rs 20 lakh in each company. At the end of the five-month programme, the start-ups will be prepared for the next round of funding.

HealthStart, according to him, is looking at companies that are technology-enabled, into chronic disease management and use innovative healthcare delivery models for the programme.

There has been an increase in the number of entrepreneurs in the healthcare space; many of them starting specialised ventures such as eye care or dental chains or primary healthcare through small hospitals in both rural and urban areas. There have been other ventures that are into home healthcare where specialists call on patients at home and offer services in geriatric or post-operative care. There has also been increased interest from venture capital and private equity investors in funding such ventures.

The HealthStart model of active mentorship involves a dedicated curriculum, industry focus and active support from industry experts and this is a key differentiator, according to Jaisingh.

HealthStart and ISB’s incubator, DLabs will handle the accelerator programme. It has built an in-house inter-disciplinary team that will work with the selected entrepreneurs to solve real problems. It has established a mentor network made up of senior executives, investors and serial entrepreneurs and will pair each venture with a set of mentors.

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