Nordic AMPlify: Entering the US Healthcare Market

Nordic AMPlify has selected 12 growth-phase companies from more than 100 companies who expressed interest. The program will run twice per year and the top 3 companies from each session will come to Winston-Salem for an intensive US emersion experience.

The multi-year program was organized by local venture fund, FCA Health Innovations. Nordic AMPlify is supported by Nordic Innovation and the official trade organizations of Finland (Business Finland), Sweden (Business Sweden), and Iceland (Promote Iceland) as a mechanism to accelerate Nordic healthcare companies’ US market entry.

The selected companies will take part in a three-day virtual immersion tour November 16-18 to learn about doing business in the US and attracting investors. A kick-off event on October 15 will introduce them to the Triad entrepreneurial ecosystem and regional health systems. All sessions will be virtual due to the limitations of international travel during the Covid-19 pandemic. On-site programming will begin once international travel resumes.

The AMPlify program started in 2009. This is the only program we know of that effectively bridges those market gaps and brings solutions to market rapidly and with US clinical validation. Winston-Salem and the Greater Triad’s healthcare, bioscience, and research industries, entrepreneurial ecosystem, and the ease of market entry compared to major metros, made it attractive to the Nordic countries. Part of our mission is to grow the healthcare ecosystem in the Triad and Western North Carolina.

We were extremely impressed with the quality of companies from the Nordics who want to explore Winston-Salem as their US base of operations. The opportunity to bring 25-30 high quality healthcare companies to the area every year is extremely exciting and can create significant, long term opportunities for the region.

The ultimate goal is to improve patient care and experiences – and we have to innovate to do that. The best avenue to achieve innovation is through collaboration, and this program is an ideal way to bring together new ideas and partners that will represent the next breakthroughs in healthcare and tech-enabled care.

An expert panel of venture funds and healthcare experts reviewed the companies’ readiness to enter the US market and those with the highest combined scores were invited to take part in the program. They will receive a customized curriculum with modules on US regulations, product-market fit, communications and pitching to investors, and more. The companies will then be paired with mentors from area health systems and other experts to continue to facilitate their progress.

Course Information

Estimated Time: Following a Discovery tour of Winston-Salem and the North Carolina Healthcare Systems on October 15, the curriculum will be offered virtually over a three day series of lectures and classes on Novemner 16-18.

Difficulty: Advanced

Categories: Winston Salem

Course Instructors

Peter Marsh
Author

Peter is an investor, the Founder of Flywheel, and a Founding Director of the Flywheel Foundation. He is an active startup coach and the originator of numerous programs supporting economic development through entrepreneurship.

Markus Larsson
Author

Business Sweden – The Swedish Trade & Invest Council

Val Kratzman
Author

Director Healthcare, Business Finland

Author

Andy Patton
Author

Partner FCA Ventures

Bruce Fried
Author

Partner, Dentons

Dr. Eric Kirkendall
Author

Deputy Director, Center for Healthcare Innovation & Director of Digital Health Innovation at Wake Forest Baptist Health

Hlynur Guðjónsson
Author

Consul of Iceland

Jeff Lindsay
Author

COO, Novant Health

Laura Lee
Author

Senior Vice President- Economic Development at Greater Winston-Salem, Inc.

Megan Klumpe
Author

Consultant at Business Sweden

Robert Boles
Author

President at Winston Starts

Steve Lineberger
Author

CFO at Sneez, Past President Winston Starts

Walter Farabee
Author

Director of Economic Retention and Expansion, Greater Winston-Salem, Inc.

Jonathan Gertler
Author

Managing Director, BioVentures MedTech Funds & CEO, Back Bay

James Sargent
Author

Managing Partner at RQR Partners

Dr. William Satterwhite
Author

Chief Wellness Officer, Wake Forest Baptist Health

Tye Nordberg
Author

Managing Partner, Atrium Health Strategic Fund

Adam Orsborne
Author

CEO, ObitalRX

Ed Dougherty
Author

Founder, Dougherty Consulting

Robert Seehausen
Author

President – Backcountry Strategies LLC

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