Three DigitalWell Accelerator Startups Awarded Vinnova Funding in Innovative Startups 2025
Three startups from the DigitalWell Accelerator have been selected for Vinnova’s Innovative Startups 2025 program. MeWe&You Health, Cognes and Dr Hud each received grants of up to SEK 500,000 to validate and scale their healthtech solutions, joining a competitive cohort of 103 startups chosen from over 1,000 applicants nationwide.
A strong signal from Sweden’s innovation agency
Vinnova’s Innovative Startups program is one of Sweden’s most competitive funding opportunities for early-stage companies. Now in its ninth year, the program has supported over 1,100 startups since 2016, distributing a total of SEK 50 million in the 2025 round alone. The funding targets knowledge-intensive companies with scalable, internationally viable business models.
Having three startups from a single accelerator cohort selected is a strong validation of the quality of founders coming through the DigitalWell Accelerator.
MeWe&You Health: making menopause a workplace priority
MeWe&You Health (meweandyou.com) is building a digital platform that helps organisations support employees going through menopause. The solution combines personalised symptom tracking with employer-facing tools aligned to the ISO 45010 standard for occupational health.
Previous research conducted in collaboration with Vinnova has shown measurable improvements in both health outcomes and work ability among women using the platform. The Innovative Startups funding will support the development and validation of the platform’s HR and workplace module.
With menopause affecting a large share of the workforce during peak career years, MeWe&You Health is addressing a growing but often overlooked workplace health challenge.
Cognes: reading the face to detect dementia earlier
Cognes Medical Solutions (cognes.co) has developed a smartphone-based screening tool that uses AI and machine learning to detect early signs of dementia through facial biomarkers. The technology analyses subtle changes in facial features over time, changes invisible to the human eye, and flags individuals who may be at risk of cognitive decline.
Founded by Sandra Challma, who drew on her background in neuropsychology and a personal experience with her mother’s cognitive decline, Cognes has already secured patents in both the US and Europe. The company was also named Brilliant Minds Innovator of the Year 2025.
With up to 75% of dementia cases going undiagnosed until symptoms are advanced, Cognes is building a tool that could fundamentally shift how and when dementia is detected.
Dr Hud: specialist dermatology without the wait
Dr Hud (drhud.se) is tackling one of Sweden’s most common healthcare bottlenecks: access to dermatologists. Many Swedes live with an untreated skin condition, and even with a referral, patients often wait months to see a specialist.
Dr Hud offers a digital-first model where patients upload photos of their skin concerns and receive assessments from licensed dermatologists within 24 hours, without a referral. The team brings experience from healthcare scaleups including Kry and Doctrin, and the platform already covers over 3,000 skin conditions.
The Vinnova funding will help Dr Hud further develop and validate its model for scalable specialist care.
Building healthtech with real-world impact
All three startups address pressing challenges in healthcare, from preventive screening and workplace wellbeing to specialist access. Their selection by Vinnova reflects both the strength of their innovations and the relevance of their solutions in today’s healthcare system.
– Seeing startups from our accelerator recognised at this level is a great validation of the work they’ve put in, and of the ecosystem we’re building together, says David Holm, Accelerator Manager at DigitalWell Ventures.
As earlier participants in the DigitalWell Accelerator, MeWe&You Health, Cognes and Dr Hud have worked with international mentors and investors to sharpen their go-to-market strategies and strengthen their readiness for exactly these kinds of milestones. Seeing them recognised at the national level is a proud moment for the entire DigitalWell Ventures ecosystem.