Banco Santander has announced the winners of its international initiative aimed at identifying innovative startups and scaleups focused on improving the lives of older adults. The challenge, organized in partnership with Philips and the Oxentia Foundation, received close to 500 submissions from 11 countries.
A panel of experts selected three startups and three scaleups as winners. Each scaleup was awarded €30,000, while each startup received €10,000. In total, €120,000 in prizes were distributed among the winners. These companies also gain access to the Santander X 100 global community and will receive mentoring from Philips.
The awards ceremony took place at Philips’ headquarters in Amsterdam. Attendees included Peter Huber, Global Insurance CEO at Banco Santander; Ana Alemán, Global Director of Santander X; and Miguel de Foronda, CEO of Philips Ibérica.
The winning startups are:
- Health Intelligence Solutions (Chile): Developed a home-based sleep diagnosis system using automated clinical intelligence and advanced oximetry.
- Point Pressure (Spain): Created a portable neuromodulation device that enhances mobility after a stroke.
- Ellyfe (United Kingdom): Designed a smart bracelet that monitors hydration in older adults to help prevent dehydration.
MySense (United Kingdom) received an honourable mention for its solution using connected sensors to support independent living for older adults.
The winning scaleups are:
- CarePredict (USA): Offers a smart wristband powered by artificial intelligence to monitor daily patterns and anticipate health issues such as falls.
- Robopedics (Spain): Provides an ultra-lightweight robotic system for regaining mobility after stroke-related impairments.
- Elevvo (Spain): Delivers AI-based home therapy combining auditory stimulation and neurofeedback to slow cognitive decline.
Altum Sequencing (Spain) received an honourable mention for its liquid biopsy technology designed to detect cancer relapses early.
Banco Santander has invested over EUR 2.4 billion in education, employability, and entrepreneurship initiatives over nearly three decades. Through agreements with almost 1,100 universities worldwide (www.santander.com/universidades), more than 3.7 million people and businesses have benefited from scholarships and grants supported by the bank.
Santander’s global platform, Santander X, supports companies throughout their life cycle by offering tools such as training programs, online courses, exclusive events, challenges, awards, and other non-financial services.
Philips is a health technology company headquartered in the Netherlands with sales operations in over 100 countries. In 2024 it reported sales of EUR 18 billion and employs about 67,800 people globally.
The Oxentia Foundation was established to address global inequalities through innovation and entrepreneurship. It organizes international competitions supporting science and technology projects aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals. The foundation originated from Oxford University Innovation with experience supporting academic innovation across more than 70 countries.