Impact happens here: How healthtech startups are shaping the future of medicine

On September 12, Kyiv hosted the final event of Generation H 2.0 — an initiative by SET University in partnership with the Tokarev Foundation. The event marked the culmination of a 10-week mentorship program, where 8 Ukrainian healthtech startups prepared for scaling and fundraising. 

Finalists pitched life-saving technologies transforming everyday healthcare: from AI assistants for doctors and biodegradable menstrual products to biotech stopping metastases and devices making venipuncture error-free. The winning team received a $10,000 grant to fuel product development.

From idea to scale

Launched in 2024, Generation H became a platform to accelerate Ukraine’s healthtech ecosystem. Over its first year, it supported 30 startups through ideation bootcamps and mentorship. In 2025, the program entered a new phase — 2.0 — focusing on startups at the growth and investment-readiness stage.

“At Tokarev Foundation, we support many tech initiatives, but this one is special — because it’s where ideas are born that can save and transform human lives. Generation H is about people who see healthcare problems and act: engineers, doctors, researchers. Together with SET University, we’ve built a launchpad where ambitious ideas can be tested, developed, and brought into the real world. HealthTech is one of the most important industries of our time — and one of the most urgent for Ukraine.”
— Serhii Tokarev, Founder of Tokarev Foundation & Co-Founder of SET University

The 2025 program is co-funded by the European Union through the EIT Higher Education initiative under the Knowledge Rise project, part of the CloudEARTHi platform. This means Ukrainian startups are now growing not only locally but also in the European context.

Setting the stage for a new wave of innovation

The event opened with partners and organizers highlighting Ukraine’s role in the global healthtech ecosystem and the importance of startup support.

“This event brought together talented, creative, and resilient people driving change in Ukraine. Digitalization and innovation are not just global trends — they’re foundations for faster decision-making, reduced risks, and stronger resilience in today’s world.”
— Maria Karchevych, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine for Digital Development & Transformation

The co-initiators of Generation H — the Tokarev Foundation — see their mission in supporting entrepreneurs working at the intersection of science and technology, transforming the future of medicine in Ukraine and beyond.

“Tonight, 8 finalists are presenting groundbreaking ideas, competing for their first pre-seed funding. But the winner will receive more than a grant — they’ll join an inspired startup community, a network of tech philanthropy, and SET University, with the chance to take their solution global.”
— Anastasia Deeva, Executive Director, Tokarev Foundation

Igor Kovalenko, co-founder of Ovul — the 2024 winner already expanding globally — shared his experience with this year’s participants.

The keynote came from Oleksandr Ievliev, CEO of Comeback Mobility, who spoke about scaling a rehabilitation startup for post-fracture recovery internationally.

Pitches, insights & live discussions

Alongside the pitch battle, guests joined the panel discussion “HealthTech revolution: from innovation to global market impact”, featuring leading investors and entrepreneurs.

Andrii Zinchuk (ZAS Ventures): Scalability, measurable mission, and team readiness are key for professional investors.
Inna Maslenchuk (WIWIN Global Innovation Strategy): Entering global markets requires structured fundraising, understanding VC seasonality, and showing traction.
Yuliia Ivanytska (Women’s Health & FemTech Ukraine): Female-led teams face systemic bias and receive significantly less funding — yet FemTech has one of the world’s highest shares of female founders, making it a true “blue ocean” for investors.

Guests also explored the demo zone with finalist technologies, joined live podcast recordings by Vector, and — of course — networked with founders, investors, and medical professionals.

Pitch Battle: 8 visions for the future of medicine

The finalists of Generation H 2.0:

• ReadyVein — real-time device for high-precision vein visualization, reducing failed venipunctures.
• Progalit® — AI-powered software for treating urolithiasis, already showing 90% efficacy in trials.
• Touch Vision — visuospatial impairment detection and correction system, used in 12 Ukrainian clinics, preparing for EU market entry.
• Tayra.AI — voice-based medical assistant that automatically structures doctors’ reports.
• EndurePath — mental health recovery app using micro-exercises and gamification.
• Peony — Ukraine’s first biodegradable menstrual pads, safe for both health and the environment.
• Hovanka — a “personal architect for the mind” combining psychoeducation, exercises, and AI to combat burnout and anxiety.
• M Shield — biotech startup developing a therapy to stop cancer metastasis, working to make cancer a controllable disease.

Who won $10,000 — and the jury’s trust

After intense Q&A and heated discussions, the jury awarded the $10,000 grant to Touch Vision!

Their portable system detects up to 85% of visuospatial impairments in just 9 minutes — conditions that often go unnoticed since 76% of clinics lack proper tools. Already applied in stroke and trauma rehabilitation, sports medicine, and military recovery, the solution is preparing for EU certification and scale-up.

This victory is about more than funding — it’s about recognition and trust that Ukrainian innovations are ready to compete globally.

“This year we saw startups at all stages — from proof of concept to visible traction. What’s especially exciting is the diversity: software and hardware, biotech and mental health, AI and femtech. And I’m thrilled to announce that Generation H will return for a third round in 2026. Stay tuned and apply!”
— Yevheniia Klepa, Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, SET University

The program is co-funded by the European Union through the EIT Higher Education Initiative (Cohort 4) within the project Knowledge Rise: Sustainable development of the blue and green economy through Deep Tech – building innovation capacity in higher education. The project is part of the broader CloudEARTHi initiative. The EIT Higher Education Initiative is coordinated by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).