Punto Health Secures €100k Grant for Innovative Dementia Care App

Barcelona startup Punto Health secures €100k grant for a dementia care app, along with mentorship from NN Group and Rubio Impact Ventures. Founded by Anna Muñoz Farré, the company aims to harness AI for proactive family support, thereby transforming dementia care to meet growing global demand.

Punto Health, a Barcelona-based startup specializing in HealthTech, has recently landed a significant funding boost of €100k, alongside a year-long mentorship program from NN Group and Rubio Impact Ventures. This achievement comes after they clinched the NN Social Innovation Startup Award at The Next Web Conference. With this grant, they aim to reshape dementia care and support families navigating the complexities of such conditions as cases continue to rise.

Anna Muñoz Farré, the Co-founder and CEO, highlighted the urgent need for innovation, stating, “One in two people will be affected by dementia during their lifetime, and women are disproportionately impacted, both as patients and as carers.” She added, “This €100k grant from NN Group, combined with Rubio’s network and expertise in scaling impact startups, gives us everything we need to transform dementia care and help families better manage the rising burden globally.”

Incorporated in 2023, Punto Health focuses on utilizing AI to transition crisis management into proactive family support. This approach comes against a backdrop of disjointed dementia care, aiming to empower those impacted by cognitive diseases. Their team combines extensive healthcare experience with cutting-edge technology to create, test, and refine their products while involving patients, caregivers, and clinicians throughout the process.

Lonneke Roza, NN Group’s Head of Community Investment, emphasized the mission behind the award, pointing out that “we designed this award to champion early-stage social enterprises that provide innovative solutions for improving financial, physical and mental well-being.” She noted that even small startups tackling big challenges can make a substantial impact, adding that “the diversity of solutions this year shows that technology can truly be a force for good.”

Farré’s motivation for Punto Health stems from her personal experience with her grandfather’s dementia diagnosis. She recognized significant gaps in healthcare and wants to address these, with projections suggesting that by 2030, 78 million individuals will face dementia. This drives the vision for Punto Health to empower patients and families with AI-backed personalized support across Spain.

Ilonka Jankovich, a Venture Partner at Rubio Impact Ventures, remarked, “Some of the most impactful startups are built by people with deep personal insight into the problems they’re solving. But turning that into a scalable business… is incredibly hard without the right kind of support.” The competition, she explained, is about more than just funding; it’s about creating a supportive environment for transformative health solutions.

Punto Health has put forward two significant products to aid in their mission. The first is PuntoCare, a mobile app designed for individuals with cognitive impairments and their families. It offers tailored daily care plans, cognitive exercises, physical activities, and expert-curated information, featuring an AI assistant for user interactions. The second product, PuntoClinic, is a speech-based tool for cognitive assessments to enhance remote monitoring and early detection of dementias and related conditions.

Punto Health’s innovative approach to dementia care, fueled by €100k in funding and targeted mentorship, reflects a rising recognition of the urgent need for dedicated support in this field. With personal experiences driving their mission, Farré and Eckersley are poised to change the landscape of dementia management in Spain. Their technology, intertwined with human experiences, shines a hopeful light on future care models.

Original Source: www.eu-startups.com