When Rapunzel joined MedTech Growth, the plan was clear.
The company had already developed a solution that helps cancer patients retain their hair during chemotherapy, and its ambition was to take the next step in product development.
Along the way, it became clear that some of the most important challenges lay outside the product itself.
"Even with many years of experience in business development, there were still areas within medtech where we did not know where to turn. Access to people with genuine expertise has made a decisive difference for us."
For the past 10 months, Rapunzel has been part of MedTech Growth, a growth programme for Danish medtech startups run by DTU Science Park with support from Industriens Fond.
The company entered the programme with a desire to further develop its product. Instead, much of the focus came to centre on internationalisation, dialogue with regions and hospitals, and understanding how the company can gain access to new markets.
For Rapunzel, the work has paid off. The company has established a distribution agreement in Germany and Austria and is now selling in both markets.
According to Eva Faarbæk Grauballe, Senior Program Manager at DTU Science Park, this experience is far from unique.
"Companies enter the program focused on one or two things. That is natural. But as they move further along, they discover that many other factors determine whether they succeed. The reality is simply more complex than most people expect."
Much more than technology
The same pattern can be seen across many of the companies in the program.
For Nanostic Technologies, which develops wearable blood sampling solutions for home use and early infection monitoring, some of the most important learnings came from areas that initially received less attention within the company.
Work on fundraising, market access, regulatory strategy and engagement with clinical environments has helped broaden the company’s understanding of what it takes to bring a solution to patients and healthcare systems.
"The program expands your perspective on the areas you may not prioritise from the beginning, but which prove to be critical when building a strong company."
For Filip Angelov, the combination of challenge and support has been one of the program’s greatest strengths.
"The team does an excellent job of challenging your business and identifying weaknesses before they become real barriers. That combination of challenge and support has been incredibly valuable."
Unlocking the potential
While the companies work on very different healthcare challenges, they often encounter many of the same barriers on the path to market.
According to Thomas Hofman-Bang, CEO of Industriens Fond, Denmark is well positioned within medtech, but the potential will not be realised on its own.
"Denmark is among the leading nations within medtech, and fortunately we are seeing a growing influx of innovative startups in Denmark. But these positive developments must not become a reason for complacency. The potential must be realised, and ambitious startups must enter export markets so they can develop from entrepreneurs into growth companies with internationally oriented leadership, global outlook and international sales."
For Steen Donner, CEO of DTU Science Park, it is about ensuring that companies gain access to the competencies and networks that can help them move forward.
"We create the framework for innovation. The framework is not only about physical location, but about access. Access to resources, infrastructure and competencies that early-stage companies rarely possess themselves."
The 10 companies in this year’s MedTech Growth cohort have spent the past 10 months developing their businesses, challenging their assumptions and gaining a deeper understanding of what it takes to bring new healthcare solutions to patients and healthcare systems.
What they share is an ambition to create better solutions for patients and healthcare systems. One of the key lessons from the program has been that the journey from idea to implementation rarely follows a straight line.
MedTech Growth is run by DTU Science Park and supported by Industriens Fond.
Companies in MedTech Growth 2025
Aisel Health
AI copilot for psychiatrists that automates documentation, interviews and monitoring.
Alesac
Antimicrobial foam for wound treatment and infection prevention.
GimTech
Digital health platform providing emergency support, teleconsultations and access to health data.
Measurelet
Automated monitoring of patient fluid balance with direct integration into electronic health records.
Nanostic Technologies
Wearable blood sampling solutions for home use and early infection monitoring.
Paral
Wearable vest for continuous ECG monitoring across patient pathways.
Pillican
Solution that helps children take tablet medication correctly and with less stress.
Rapunzel
Mobile scalp cooling caps that help cancer patients retain their hair during chemotherapy.
Sens Vue
AI-based diagnostics for the early detection of glaucoma.
Zeta Diagnostics
Diagnostic device for identifying middle-ear disorders and preventing hearing loss.
Industriens Fond
- Industriens Fond works to strengthen the competitiveness of Danish industry.
- The foundation supports projects focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainable production, and internationalisation.
- MedTech Growth is part of the foundation’s efforts to strengthen the internationalisation of Danish businesses.
MedTech Growth
- MedTech Growth is run by DTU Science Park and supported by Industriens Fond.
- The program helps Danish medtech startups with regulatory strategy, fundraising, internationalisation and market access.
- Participants gain access to specialised experts, investor networks and clinical environments.
- This year’s cohort has completed a ten-month growth program.
