CardioWorks: Bringing Coronary Medium Hospitalcare Home

This Gelderland-rooted startup is rethinking post-heart attack care – from the coronary unit to your living room. For interventional cardiologist Robert Jan van Geuns and pharmacist Lars Naber, co-founders of CardioWorks, the idea to radically change intensified cardiac aftercare started with a simple question.

Their question? “Why do we still treat heart attacks patients for their intensified aftercare in the coronary care units (CCU’s) of stationary hospitals, when we know, by overwhelming medical evidence, exactly what they need, and technology allows us to give that care elsewhere?”

It’s a question rooted in decades of experience. Trained as a pharmacist, Naber spent much of his early career in the pharmaceutical industry, including as international marketing manager for a gold standard cardiac treatment of acute heart attacks. Over the years, he specialised in redesigning healthcare processes and led numerous innovation projects in transitional care. But his fascination with acute cardiology never faded. And when he reconnected with fellow innovator prof. dr. Robert Jan van Geuns at Erasmus MC, the seed for CardioWorks was planted.

A virtual hospital for post-dPCI care

CardioWorks is developing an innovative model for cardiac aftercare that moves part of the hospital, quite literally, into the patient’s home. “We call it Connected Care”, says Naber. “Our platform replicates what a Coronary Care Unit does, but without the building. The patient is still under our medical supervision (we are officially registered as a hospital) but they will recover in their own environment.”

Personal, scalable and safe care

CardioWorks’ approach combines that medical insight with cutting-edge remote monitoring and a robust care protocol. After dPCI, selected patients will be transferred home, where they will be continuously monitored with wearable sensors and supported by a connected team of cardiologists, nurse specialists, and a 24/7 helpdesk.

The transition home is handled with precision. A nurse specialist picks the patient up from the intervention hospital, applies the sensors, and explains what to expect. At home, a roommate, often a family member, is trained how to use an AED in case CardioWorks registers a life-threatening arrhythmia. For the patient, the experience is more humane. For hospitals, the benefits are practical: more efficient staffing, and reduced pressure on overburdened cardiac wards.

Validating the full model

The focus is on patients recovering from a heart attack after receiving a dPCI (angioplasty). Today, most of these patients stay 72 hours in hospital to monitor for potential complications. But thanks to decades of research, doctors can now predict which patients are low-risk and what kind of follow-up they’ll need.

The CardioWorks team is currently validating the full model in collaboration with Radboudumc, where patients are gradually monitored in settings that mimic home conditions – from hospital rooms to off-site apartments. A scientific study is also underway to understand the emotional needs of patients and caregivers during this transition, and how best to support them.

Solving a structural capacity problem

The need for this model is urgent. Hospitals across the Netherlands and beyond face a bottleneck: after PCI, patients often need to be transferred to another hospital for continued monitoring – but there too, beds and staff are limited. CardioWorks offers a structural solution: by unbundling care into different functions (like triage, monitoring, intervention) and operating across institutions, the model enables one team to support multiple hospitals.

“Because we specialise, we don’t have planning gaps. Our calculations show we can treat three times as many patients with the same staff, compared to a conventional Coronary Care Unit”, Naber explains.

Ready for rollout

The goal is to go live by 2027. Radboudumc will be the first clinical partner, with other hospitals already expressing strong interest. The first target group in the Netherlands includes 5,000 predictable, low-complexity dPCI patients per year. “Once we gain routine, we can expand to more complex cases. The total number of relevant admissions in the Netherlands is close to 35,000 annually, and we aim to take pressure off the system from day one.”

The concept also has international potential. “Cardiac protocols are remarkably standardised worldwide”, says Naber. “What we’re building in Gelderland is globally relevant.”

Investing in a service that comes with a product

To bring the concept to market, CardioWorks needed investors who understood a different kind of medtech proposition: not selling devices, but delivering care. Here, Briskr played a pivotal role. “They connected us with the Business Angels Network, coached us on pitching, and created the right setting where entrepreneurs and investors could truly engage.”

That support helped turn a bold idea into a viable business. CardioWorks already had a lead investor and is now in active talks with three angel investors from BANN. “Briskr helped bridge the gap. Our model is new for many investors: providing a service rather than a product. But it’s a smart business case. And Briskr gave us the tools and platform to explain why.”

Recap: Life Science Festival Nijmegen – A Celebration of Innovation and Collaboration

On June 12, Briskr and supporting partner Avantor Science hosted an inspiring Life Science Festival at Noviotech Campus in Nijmegen. As part of a two-day national event, the Nijmegen edition brought together researchers, entrepreneurs, and professionals to explore cutting-edge innovations in the life sciences sector.

The festival kicked off with a welcome by Marion Schouten (Briskr), who highlighted Briskr’s role in accelerating innovation and business growth in Health & High Tech. Liz Fransman (Avantor) introduced the festival concept and shared how Avantor and its partners are helping to drive progress in life sciences.

The heart of the event featured interactive workshops, hands-on demos, and short pitches from suppliers eager to showcase the latest developments in their fields.

A broad range of Avantor’s Life Sciences suppliers was present, each bringing unique technologies and solutions:

Oxford Nanopore – Nanopore sequencing
Agilent – Automated electrophoresis solutions (protein and DNA)
QuantaBio – (q)PCR and NGS reagents
Molecular Devices – Plate readers and automated imaging
Beckman Coulter – Flow cytometry
Cytiva – Protein purification and filtration
Leica – Imaging
Sartorius (Polyplus) – Transfection reagents
Fujifilm – GMP recombinant proteins, media, and LAL/endotoxin testing products
Omega Bio-tek – Nucleic acid extraction reagents and instruments
MP Biomedicals – sample preparation
Syngene – DNA/protein gel documentation systems
Discover Echo – imaging

Participants had the opportunity to ask questions, test equipment, and engage in valuable discussions with experts and peers. The collaborative atmosphere and high-quality content made this festival a standout moment for the life sciences community in the Nijmegen region.

A heartfelt thanks to all speakers, suppliers, and attendees for their enthusiastic contributions. Together, we’re building a stronger, more connected life sciences ecosystem!

Looking back: A powerful workshop on startup-corporate collaboration

Last week, we hosted a dynamic and insightful workshop with Corina Kuiper, Managing Director of the Corporate Venturing Network and founder of Innovation Family. With over 25 years of experience in strategic management and innovation, Corina brought a wealth of knowledge to the table — and it showed!

The session, titled “Ready to team up: Building successful startup-corporate collaborations,” was packed with real-life examples, practical tools, and valuable insights into how startups and corporates can truly benefit from working together.

From understanding the cultural and strategic gaps between corporates and startups
To exploring different types of collaborations and when to use them
And identifying the key success factors for long-term impact

Corina guided participants through the entire journey of effective collaboration.

She received a full 5-star rating from all participants — a clear testament to the relevance of the topic and the quality of the session. We thank Corina for her inspiring contribution and all participants for their great energy and openness.

Takea look at the collage to catch a glimpse of the day!

Recap | Briskr Workshop: Company Valuation & Legal Issues in Joint Ventures

The online Briskr workshop delivered a strong and engaging session filled with valuable insights for startups preparing to raise funding.

BDO took a leading role in the session.

Sjoerd Klabbers shared practical approaches to company valuation and offered guidance on how to prepare for negotiations with potential investors.
Eva Godefroy and Valerie van Engelenburg-Sijberden addressed the legal side of joint ventures, including topics like exit strategies, decision-making processes, and shareholder agreements—all crucial elements for building strong investor relationships.

Geert Corstens from Oost NL provided valuable insights into the investor’s perspective: What drives their decision-making? What expectations do they have before and after investing? His contribution helped participants to better understand how to align their business case with investor priorities.

The workshop was especially relevant for the startups preparing to pitch at the upcoming Business Angels Network Nijmegen (BANN) meeting in June. With the knowledge gained, they are well-positioned to take the next step in their funding journey.

A big thank-you to all speakers and participants for making this digital edition a success!

Saddle Point Science: smart mathematical software for personalised medicine

Medical care needs to become much more personalised. A standard treatment doesn’t work for everyone. But how do you determine which treatment is best for an individual patient, especially when dealing with large and complex datasets? That’s the key question driving Saddle Point Science Europe, a spin-off from King’s College London, now based in Nijmegen.

The company develops advanced data analysis tools that make medical predictions smarter, more accurate, and more tailored. “We constantly ask ourselves: what analytical methods are truly needed in medical care?” says Ton Coolen, founder and Professor of Neurophysics at Radboud University.

When Ton’s wife became ill, he started volunteering at London’s largest cancer hospital. “I discovered that my background in mathematics was more useful for analysing medical data than for reviewing budgets.” He worked on studies, including breast cancer research, analysing how tumours behave across different patient groups. “Sometimes tumours may appear similar but respond completely differently to treatment. Thanks to new statistical analyses, we were able to uncover those differences, helping doctors decide who will genuinely benefit from a certain treatment – and who won’t. It helps avoid unnecessary side effects and increases the chance of success.”

Ton founded his first company in London, Saddle Point Science Ltd, to gain more freedom in his work. After Brexit, he moved to Nijmegen and started Saddle Point Science Europe. “We still collaborate closely with London, but now the main focus is here.”

Old methods, new challenges

Saddle Point Science develops new mathematical and statistical methods for analysing medical data. These are necessary because, as Ton explains, the medical field often still uses analysis techniques dating back to the 1970s. “These methods were based on the assumption that one has a substantially higher number of patients than data points per patient. In the past, you would indeed typically measure only a handful of features per person – such as blood pressure, age, and tumour size. Many traditional statistical models are based on that setup.”

Today, however, the situation is reversed. Researchers can now measure thousands of features in a single patient – from DNA profiles to protein levels and molecular structures. This creates datasets with far more variables than patients. Classical methods struggle in that context – they simply weren’t built for such complex, high-dimensional data.

That’s why Saddle Point Science develops software tools like spsSIGNATURE, which helps make reliable predictions based on complex datasets, and spsMOSAICS, which identifies hidden patient subgroups. “We aim to support doctors in answering questions such as: who will likely respond well to this treatment? Should someone receive aggressive treatment?”

Bridging science and practice

The company works closely with physicians and medical researchers. “We ask them what challenges they face in practice, then use our knowledge of mathematics and physics to design solutions.” According to Ton, the team’s strength lies in that bridge-building role. “We speak the languages of both theoretical physicists and medical professionals. That combination is rare – but essential.”

And it shows in the application. Saddle Point Science’s software is already being used in European research projects and by pharmaceutical companies such as GSK in London. “We license the software only to partners who understand how to use it. It’s a powerful technology, but it’s not a black box.”

Growth and collaboration

The Nijmegen-based team is growing. There are now four people, soon to be five. Ton combines his work at the company with his professorship at the university, where he supervises students and connects Master’s projects to real-world challenges. “It’s a great synergy. We’ve already been able to recruit two people straight from their studies.”

To accelerate growth, Ton turned to Briskr and the Business Angels Network Nijmegen. “We joined a pitching programme and received coaching from an experienced TEDx speaker. It was intense but incredibly valuable. Afterwards, we got the chance to pitch to investors, which led to useful connections and gave us detailed and constructive feedback.”

Global ambitions, personal impact
The company has big ambitions. “From Nijmegen and London, we want to expand across Europe and then into Japan and the United States, where we already have some contacts. If, in five years, just 1% of our potential users are working with our software, our impact will be huge.”

And what makes the work so meaningful? Ton doesn’t hesitate: “Improving medical care by using data more intelligently – that’s what it’s all about. We want to help ensure that new treatments reach the right people faster. That benefits science, the healthcare system – and most of all, the patient.”

Healing in your arms: how bilihome is transforming jaundice treatment

Bringing their newborn home is a moment of joy and relief for most parents. But for those whose babies develop neonatal jaundice it can quickly become a stressful period. Bilihome, a medtech startup, is changing that with wearable light therapy that allows infants to be safely treated at home, with their parents close by. “This isn’t just about innovation, it’s about human connection”, says CEO and co-founder Margret Huenerbein. “Holding your child shouldn’t be a privilege. It should be part of the treatment.”

Margret’s background is rooted in biomedical engineering and international business. After years of experience at companies like Dräger and Philips, she found herself questioning the impact of her work. “In a large corporation, the customer becomes the sales department — not the patient or clinician”, she says. “I wanted to reconnect with the people we were trying to help.”

Through the European health tech incubator NLC, Margret encountered bilihome, then as an early-stage idea by – Rick Wielens. The idea was born from Rick’s personal experience. After the birth of his twin sons, one needed treatment for jaundice in an incubator under blue light. Rick was shocked by how isolating and invasive the treatment was — his son was alone and cut off from human touch. It sparked a simple question: can’t this be done differently?

Being an expert in the field of neonatal care and having experiences with prematurity in her own family, Margret initially acted as an advisor. But the more she learned from local ‘kraamzorg’ organisations (maternity care at home) and her international network, with organisations like EFCNI (The European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants), Uppsala University and FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics), the more she believed in the idea. In 2020, she stepped in as CEO and created bilihome’s concept. In 2021, she partnered up with a leading Dutch fashion tech designer and medtech partner to start the development journey. Four years later, Rick rejoined to work on the business operations, his expertise.

Wearable light therapy for newborns

At its core, bilihome offers wearable phototherapy: a soft, baby-sized romper embedded with medical-grade blue light to treat jaundice. This innovative garment allows newborns to receive phototherapy without being separated from their caregivers.

“Phototherapy breaks down bilirubin — a substance that builds up in babies after birth —and the standard method still involves placing infants in incubators under blue lights, undressed and blindfolded”, Margret explains. “We wanted to combine medical efficacy with emotional care.”

Alongside the wearable, bilihome has developed a corresponding mobile app for parents. The app supports self-remote monitoring and guidance, helping families track feeds, nappies, and empower parents with relevant information, related to jaundice management.. This integration empowers parents and simultaneously helps redirect the hospital staff to more critical patients or increasing administrative tasks: an impactful benefit given today’s widespread nurse shortage.

Importantly, bilihome’s innovation also transforms the clinical care path. Because jaundice symptoms often appear days after birth, many babies are already home when treatment becomes necessary. The wearable device makes home-based care possible — potentially preventing hospital (re)admissions, while promoting bonding and improving overall outcomes.

Clinical readiness and the road to market

Since 2020, bilihome has gone from a concept to a clinic-ready device. After completing rigorous development and testing phases, the startup now stands at the brink of CE certification, which is expected within the coming months.

Once certified, bilihome will begin commercial rollout in the Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden. “It’s an exciting, pivotal moment”, says Margret. “We’re now preparing for manufacturing, operations, sales, and implementation. Medical hardware isn’t like software; besides complex regulations as a medical device, it requires physical production and multiple suppliers. That’s why smart investor support is essential at this stage.”

Support from Briskr and beyond

Based in the Rijk van Nijmegen region, Bilihome has been supported by Briskr. Margret highlights Briskr’s role in providing valuable in-person workshops, such as valuation training and sales coaching.

“Briskr creates the right environment for startups at all levels”, she says. “Their sessions aren’t just theoretical — they’re practical, affordable, and a great way to meet other founders. This kind of support is incredibly meaningful for a hardware startup, where every euro counts.”

Scaling up with global impact in sight

In the coming years, bilihome plans to expand across Europe, with the UK in sight. The team also sees strong interest from hospital networks in the US, while looking further ahead to high-need regions in Asia and Africa — where jaundice prevalence is higher, but access to care remains limited.

“Globally, over 14 million babies need treatment for jaundice each year”, says Margret. “Only a fraction of them live in Europe and North America. The real impact lies beyond. That’s where we want to go.”

But first, the focus is on launching successfully in their home markets, achieving break-even within three years, and building strong partnerships with healthcare providers. “We’re not just selling a device”, Margret stresses. “We’re changing how care is delivered — and that takes collaboration.”

A brighter beginning for babies and their families

At its heart, bilihome represents more than a medtech innovation. It’s about rethinking newborn care from the perspective of the infant and the parent. By allowing treatment and bonding to go hand in hand, bilihome makes room for both health and humanity.

“We often say: let the light in”, Margret smiles. “But it’s not just about the light — it’s about the warmth of human touch. That’s what makes the difference.”

Ondernemend Gelderland komt samen

Woensdag 26 maart 2025 kwam ondernemend Gelderland samen met onze partners en statenleden. Ondernemers presenteerden hun weg van het prille begin naar succes, mede mogelijk gemaakt door de ondersteuning van onze partners en de provincie.

Neem bijvoorbeeld Wattsun, een bedrijf uit Arnhem dat mobiele stroomvoorzieningen maakt. Koen Olieslagers: “We hebben als Wattsun gebruik gemaakt van de Orion-leningen en 2 vouchers van de Startversneller. Dat heeft ons echt geholpen in de opstartfase. Het ontwikkelen van een product kost tijd en geld. Ook de marketing en online vindbaarheid konden we verbeteren. En het hielp bij het aanvragen van een CE-keurmerk wat nodig is om de Europese markt op te mogen.”
Miriam van Bree, aanjager van vernieuwing (innovaties) in de biologische landbouw met haar bedrijf Breedeblik, maakte dankzij de Startversneller gebruik van coaching. “Ik runde mijn bedrijf met veel plezier maar zag de rode draad niet meer. Dankzij de startersvoucher kon ik met een coach aan de slag. Nu weet ik beter waar ik sta als bedrijf en hoe ik me verhoud tot mijn klanten en anderen in de markt.” Van Bree verbindt nu onder andere koploperbedrijven uit de agrarische sector aan onderwijsinstellingen en probeert op die manier te vernieuwen bij de bron. “Studenten vinden het heel inspirerend om verhalen te horen vanuit de praktijk.”
Dacomotive uit Dodewaard was op de bijeenkomst om te vertellen over hoe ze van traditionele kunststof spoilers voor de automobielindustrie willen overstappen op spoilers van hennep. Koen Wildenbeest legt uit dat ze de vouchers van de Startversneller hebben ingezet voor de aankoop van een robot. Het productieproces is hiermee verbeterd voor de medewerkers. Ook verhoogde de arbeidsproductiviteit.

Gedeputeerde Helga Witjes sprak met de aanwezige ondernemers en benadrukte het belang van kennisuitwisseling tussen ondernemers onderling.

Hulp in beginfase werkt

Als provincie helpen we met bijvoorbeeld Orion en de Startversneller en het is heel fijn om te zien dat deze hulp in de beginfase echt werkt. Ook merk ik hoe belangrijk het is dat ondernemers elkaar geregeld spreken en kennisdelen. Zij zijn de drijvende kracht achter ons inkomen en ons werk. Hun innovatievermogen speelt een grote rol bij het aanpakken van de uitdagingen van deze tijd en daarom investeren we graag in hun groei.

Helga Witjes, gedeputeerde provincie Gelderland

Organiserend vermogen

Provincie Gelderland ondersteunt organisaties en instanties die op hun beurt ondernemers helpen bij het ontwikkelen van innovatieve oplossingen. Onze ondersteuning bestaat uit het bieden van kennis, financiering en ons netwerk. Deze organisaties, die bijdragen aan de ondersteuning van ondernemers, maken deel uit van ons organiserend vermogen. Dankzij deze initiatieven worden Gelderse ondernemers geholpen om hun bedrijf succesvol te leiden:

RCT Gelderland is een stichting die geleid wordt door ondernemers. De stichting richt zich op de omslag naar slimmer en duurzamer produceren in de maak- en de foodindustrie.

Orion begeleidt en ondersteunt Gelderse starters in hun bedrijfsontwikkeling in de sectoren Energie, Creatief en ICT. De vernieuwende producten en diensten dragen bij aan het oplossen van grote maatschappelijke vraagstukken.

Briskr heeft een sterke basis in de regio Nijmegen. Samen met hun partners biedt Briskr ondersteunende activiteiten voor mkb’ers in de gezondheidszorg en hightechinnovatie.

Startlife helpt startende ondernemers in de voedsel- en landbouwsector met technologische innovaties voor een duurzame voedselsysteem.

OostNL biedt financiële middelen, kennis, expertise en een uitgebreid netwerk aan ondernemers. Bijvoorbeeld met:

De Startversneller: helpt startende ondernemers met sneller groeien. U ontvangt vouchers die u kunt inzetten voor verschillende coachingstrajecten. Met een businesscoach krijgt u praktische tips, een frisse blik en de ondersteuning die u nodig hebt.

De Groeiversneller is voor alle Gelderse mkb-bedrijven met de potentie en ambitie om te groeien en die met vernieuwing een bijdrage leveren aan één van de maatschappelijke uitdagingen.

Dit artikel is geschreven door Provincie Gelderland, het originele artikel vind je via deze link.

Get ready for the Imec.istart.nl open Spring Call!

April is just around the corner, and that means our annual Spring Call will open soon! From April 1st to May 1st, innovative tech startups will have the opportunity to apply for our program, gaining access to funding, mentorship, a global support network and of course a community of like-minded entrepreneurs.

As part of our efforts to inform startups about the open call and what joining Imec.istart.nl will bring tech startup founders, VAM Bart Nelissen will host an info session on Monday, April 7th, 12:00 – 13:00 via Microsoft Teams. Join the info session.

Werk samen over de grens en ontvang tot €75.000 subsidie

Ben jij een innovatief Nederlands bedrijf met interesse in samenwerking met een Duitse partner? Dan is dit jouw kans om een mooie subsidie tot wel €75.000 per project aan te vragen voor gezamenlijke technologie- of digitaliseringsprojecten.

Deze subsidie is bedoeld om grensoverschrijdende innovatie te stimuleren. Het betreft digitale productontwikkeling, procesinnovaties of innovaties in bedrijfsmodellen. De voorwaarde? Je werkt samen met een Duitse partner en ontwikkelt gezamenlijk een innovatief project met wederzijds voordeel en beide partijen zijn actief in de grensregio .

Waarom meedoen?

Kans op maximaal €75.000 subsidie per project
Toegang tot een breed grensoverschrijdend netwerk
Ondersteuning bij technologieontwikkeling én overdracht
Versterk je internationale positie en innovatiekracht

Briskr helpt je op weg
Briskr begeleidt je graag bij het opzetten van een goed onderbouwde aanvraag en het vinden van de juiste Duitse samenwerkingspartner. Samen zorgen we ervoor dat jouw projectplan aansluit bij de subsidievoorwaarden én jouw ambities.

Interesse?
Neem contact met ons op voor een vrijblijvend gesprek. We denken graag mee en begeleiden je in het traject. Vul hier het contactformulier in.

Gezocht: innovatieve startups voor de testmarkt!

Ben jij een startende ondernemer met een innovatief, creatief of duurzaam product of dienst? Grijp dan nu je kans! Op zondag 25 mei 2025 tussen 12.00 en 17.00 uur organiseert StartUp Nijmegen de Testmarkt op de Grote Markt in Nijmegen – dé plek om jouw idee te testen bij een groot en divers publiek.

Tijdens deze bruisende middag zetten we Nijmeegse innovatie in de spotlight. Je krijgt als deelnemer:

Een gratis marktkraam (vrij in te richten naar eigen smaak)
Zichtbaarheid bij potentieel 15.000 bezoekers
Extra promotie voor én na het evenement
Alle praktische zaken worden geregeld –

Of je nu een app hebt ontwikkeld, een vernieuwend product op de markt brengt of werkt aan een duurzame oplossing – zolang innovatie centraal staat, ben je welkom!

Interesse? Meld je aan via:bente@startupnijmegen.nl