First Paediatric and Maternal Investment Forum to boost the financing of innovative solutions

i4KIDS, together with the MedAngels Network of the Barcelona Medical Council and the Montana Impact Fund – Ship2B Ventures, has launched the 1st Paediatric and Maternal Investment Forum, a new meeting space designed to connect innovation, knowledge, and capital to accelerate the development of solutions in the paediatric and maternal fields. The event, held in Barcelona, brought together investors, health-sector experts, and national and European startups committed to generating real impact on the health of children, mothers, and their families.

Institutional opening and discussion on child-focused investment

The forum began with contributions from representatives of the organising entities:

• Georgina Sorrosal, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Barcelona Medical Council
• Arnau Valls, Innovation Coordinator at Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona Children’s Hospital and Director of i4KIDS and i4KIDS-EUROPE
• Marc Ramis, Managing Partner at Montana Impact Fund – Ship2B Ventures

A roundtable discussion followed, focused on the role of child-centred investment as a key element in driving systemic transformation in paediatric health. The session featured:

• Maite Fibla, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Ship2B Ventures
• John Parker, Chief Executive Officer at Springhood Ventures
• Gemma Berenguera, Investment Director at the Institut Català de Finances (ICF)
• Mauricio Preciado-Awad, Director of Innovative Finance at Save the Children Global Ventures

Presentation of seven innovative initiatives

The programme also included a pitch session in which seven European startups presented technological and biomedical projects aimed at addressing unmet clinical needs in paediatrics and maternal health and that are currently seeking funding. These companies were selected from more than 35 applications assessed by an expert committee that evaluated their value proposition, team, proposed solution, and economic viability.

The initiatives presented were:

• Bioliquid Innovative Genetics, with Xavier Santamaria, presented HELENA, a non-invasive prenatal diagnostic platform.
• fetaLife Technologies, with Elisenda Bonet-Carne, showcased a liquid-based incubator designed for extremely premature newborns.
• Oxailis Ltd, with Sally Collins, presented decision-support software that quantifies tissue perfusion using standard 3D ultrasound.
• PolyCoarct, with Francesc Canalejo, introduced a bioresorbable stent developed specifically for paediatric patients.
• Popcorn Therapeutics, with Iker Ausejo, presented an oncolytic adenovirus designed to treat paediatric diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs).
• Sencilia, with Amar Kamat, introduced Rely-V, a sensor to monitor flow and dosing accuracy of intravenous infusions in neonatal and paediatric intensive care units.
• Vesynta, with Jugal Suthar, presented DosoLogic, a decision-support tool that provides personalised dosing recommendations.

A new step towards strengthening the paediatric and maternal health innovation ecosystem

The 1st Paediatric and Maternal Investment Forum reinforces i4KIDS’ commitment to creating environments that foster collaboration between investors, innovative talent, and healthcare institutions, with the aim of accelerating the arrival of transformative solutions to the health system. In addition, the event formed part of the parallel programme of activities surrounding the i4KIDS Paediatric Innovation Day, held the following day, as well as the international mission in Barcelona, which brought together professionals from European hospitals and research institutions to learn about the region’s paediatric innovation ecosystem.