The startup world in 2025 has seen incredible advancements and opportunities, including the announcement of British HealthTech player Wanda Health securing €2.1 million in funding to scale its intelligent virtual care platform aimed at reducing hospital readmissions. This funding marks a significant step forward in leveraging remote patient monitoring (RPM) technology and predictive analytics in healthcare. In this article, we’ll unpack Wanda Health’s funding journey, lessons for startups, steps to scale, and tools to help founders secure their own funding, including a time-saving AI-powered application writer.
Wanda Health’s Key Achievements
Wanda Health, a Bristol-based startup founded in 2014, has spearheaded innovation in virtual healthcare platforms by combining early detection systems with AI analytics. The €2.1 million funding in August 2025 comes from EMV Capital, a life sciences-focused VC, and resources such as convertible loans and an Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS).
Achievements Breakdown:
- Target Market: Focus on reducing hospital readmissions in the U.S. healthcare sector.
- Technology: Real-time health data aggregation coupled with predictive analytics to catch potential issues early.
- Current Milestones: Contracts with the COPD Foundation and American Heart Association, as well as partnerships with Sav-Rx, a pharmacy benefit manager in the U.S.
Lessons for Early-Stage Startups
Wanda Health’s strategy offers key lessons for startups looking to raise funds and scale globally:
1. Healthcare as an Opportunity Hotspot
The health sector’s rapid digitization continues to present vast opportunities for startups, especially those combining AI, IoT, and patient-centric models.
2. Impactful Partnerships
Securing foundational partnerships not only validates the business model but also opens access to new channels. Collaborations with organizations like Sav-Rx assure sustainable revenue streams while boosting credibility.
3. Leveraging Financial Tools
Wanda’s funding breakdown, with convertible loans and EIS investments, shows that startups can creatively combine funding mechanisms like equity, debt, and public incentives to achieve growth.
Steps to Scale Your HealthTech Startup
Step 1: Validate the Problem
Start by ensuring the problem you aim to solve has both market demand and business viability. A robust validation process reduces risks and strengthens your pitch to investors. Tools like SANDBOX within the Fe/male Switch startup game walk founders through the process of validating ideas, audiences, and products.
Step 2: Create Key Partnerships
- Partner with disease-specific foundations or organizations that operate in your field.
- Look for pharmacy benefit managers, healthcare providers, or wellness platforms that align with your product.
Step 3: Leverage AI-Powered Tools to Cut Grant Application Time
UK startups are increasingly turning to advanced tools for efficiency in fundraising. Use platforms like the F/MS AI Grant Finder and Application Writer to identify relevant funding opportunities across Europe, allowing founders, especially those in HealthTech, to quickly draft application documents.
👉 Find EU grants for startups here: EU Funding Grants for Startups.
Step 4: Build A Predictive Product
Adopting predictive analytics improves client retention. Consider integrating an AI co-founder like PlayPal to brainstorm ideas or get actionable advice during product development.
Use a free version of PlayPal here:
Mistakes to Avoid When Scaling Your Business
Wanda Health’s success also highlights common pitfalls:
1. Skipping Market Validation
Make sure you invest sufficient time and resources into validating demand before moving ahead. The SANDBOX system allows founders to build a startup step-by-step and receive reflections on their process.
2. Underestimating Legal Complexity
Startups often make mistakes such as signing unfavorable agreements with investors, accelerators, or incubators. Leverage AI tools like AI Startup Lawyer to upload term sheets or funding agreements and identify problematic clauses.
Quick Stats on Wanda Health’s Impact
- Reduction in Readmission Rates: 76% decrease reported among pilot contracts.
- Projected ARR: €3.5 million anticipated by the end of rollout.
- Customer Satisfaction: 89% of patient ratings reflect improvement in care delivery.
How Fe/male Switch Helps You Take Off
The Fe/male Switch startup game is a one-of-a-kind educational simulator designed to help you:
- Learn through practice with the SANDBOX framework.
- Build your idea with actionable feedback from AI-driven tools like PlayPal.
- Unlock funding with guides like the AI Grant Finder application writer.
Conclusion
Wanda Health’s story proves that impactful innovation combined with an intelligent approach to fundraising and scaling can lead the way for startups to make meaningful changes in healthcare. Whether you're building a team, seeking funding, or validating an idea, tools like PlayPal and F/MS AI Grant Finder can guide your journey efficiently and intelligently.
Start scaling your dream with structured lessons and tools today.
FAQ
1. What is Wanda Health and what does it do?
Wanda Health is a Bristol-based HealthTech startup leveraging artificial intelligence and remote patient monitoring (RPM) to reduce hospital readmissions and improve patient care through predictive analytics. Learn more about Wanda Health
2. How much funding did Wanda Health secure, and who led this round?
Wanda Health raised €2.1 million in its recent funding round, led by EMV Capital plc, a life sciences-focused VC. Explore EMV Capital's involvement
3. What is the main goal of Wanda Health’s platform?
The platform aims to provide early detection of health risks, allowing healthcare providers to intervene proactively, and helping patients manage acute and chronic conditions. Discover Wanda's Virtual Care Platform
4. Which strategic partnerships has Wanda Health formed?
Wanda Health has secured partnerships with key organizations, including the COPD Foundation, the American Heart Association, and Sav-Rx pharmacy network. Learn about the partnership with Sav-Rx
5. What financial mechanisms did Wanda Health employ in this funding round?
The funding was structured through a mix of convertible loans, Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) investments, and dedicated loan facilities.
6. How is Wanda Health scaling its operations in the U.S.?
The company is entering U.S. markets through provider networks, pharmacy benefit managers like Sav-Rx, and assisted living facilities. Explore Wanda Health's scaling efforts
7. How impactful is Wanda Health’s technology in reducing hospital readmissions?
The startup’s RPM platform has demonstrated a 76% reduction in hospital readmission rates among its pilot contracts. Check out Wanda’s impact
8. What tools can startups use to accelerate their funding application process, similar to Wanda Health's strategy?
Startups can use AI-powered grant application writers like the F/MS AI Grant Finder to quickly draft and submit high-quality funding applications. Find EU grants for startups
9. What are some lessons for startups from Wanda Health’s success?
Wanda Health showcases the importance of validating your product-market fit, forming impactful partnerships, and creatively leveraging financial tools like convertible loans and EIS investments.
10. How can founders build predictive HealthTech products like Wanda Health?
Startups can integrate predictive analytics into their products by leveraging AI tools like PlayPal for brainstorming and actionable product development strategies. Chat with PlayPal
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch. The Fe/male Switch team is located in several countries, including the Netherlands and Malta.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
