Finland's Eir Accelerator draws more than 300 women's health startups from 53 countries
The six-month accelerator closed applications on August 31, with most submissions coming from Europe and North America.
TURKU, FINLAND - September 2, 2026. Finland is strengthening its position on the global women’s health innovation map. Eir Accelerator, a new international growth programme coordinated by Business Turku, received 304 applications from startups across 53 countries for its first cohort.
The six-month accelerator closed applications on August 31, with most submissions coming from Europe and North America. According to its organizers, the response reflects both the demand for specialized support in women’s health and Finland’s growing appeal as a destination for health and life sciences companies.
"Growth accelerators usually take years to reach this number of applications, but we managed to do it in just a few months", said Anastasiya Markvarde, Director of Eir Accelerator.
"More than 300 applications, including submissions from major markets such as the United States and the United Kingdom, show that startups around the world are actively looking for programmes like this. Finland has the healthcare system, strong business ecosystem and ambition required to become that kind of place", she added.
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A growing global market
The strong response comes as women’s health gains greater attention from entrepreneurs, healthcare providers and investors. Diseases and health conditions that affect women have historically received limited research and product-development funding, despite their social and economic impact.
PwC estimates that the broader global women’s health market is currently worth between US$430 billion and US$440 billion and could surpass US$600 billion by 2030. This definition includes areas such as cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune conditions and mental health.
Within this market, core segments—including fertility, maternal health, gynecological conditions, menopause and women’s cancer care—currently represent an estimated US$195 billion to US$205 billion. That figure could grow to between US$270 billion and US$280 billion by the end of the decade.
Eir Accelerator was created to help startups respond to this opportunity by connecting them with clinical expertise, research infrastructure, regulatory specialists, corporate partners and networks that provide access to healthcare markets.
Turku seeks a leading role in women’s health innovation
Launched in spring 2026, Eir Accelerator is implemented alongside Women’s Health Hub Finland, an innovation network bringing together more than 25 pharmaceutical, diagnostics, research and public-sector organizations.
"Women’s health is becoming an increasingly important global field of innovation, and Finland has several strengths that can help us play a significant role," said Minna Arve, CEO of Business Turku.
"We have strong healthcare and research infrastructure, an advanced life sciences ecosystem and a growing commitment to women’s health," she added.
Turku provides a strategic base for the initiative. The city is one of Finland’s leading life sciences hubs and is home to a significant concentration of pharmaceutical, diagnostics, research and technology expertise.
During the accelerator, selected startups will receive fully funded, hands-on support to build clinical evidence, navigate European and US regulatory requirements, prepare for commercialization and develop strategic partnerships.
The programme targets early-stage companies developing solutions across reproductive health, endometriosis, menopause, maternal health and artificial intelligence applied to women’s health. It is also open to research-based and biotechnology ventures, as well as technologies moving closer to clinical validation and market entry.
Investors and industry leaders join the programme
Eir Accelerator’s partner network includes pharmaceutical and life sciences companies such as Bayer, Orion, Revvity and Organon, alongside the University of Turku, Copenhagen-based BioInnovation Institute and Finland’s New Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Participating startups will also gain access to an international investor network that includes Finland’s Innovestor, Inventure and Voima Ventures; Italy’s Angelini Ventures and Panakes Partners; Austria’s Calm/Storm; Germany’s Heal Capital; Singapore’s Verge HealthTech Fund; and US-based Suncoast Ventures.
The programme’s advisors include Jessica Federer, former Chief Digital Officer at Bayer and founder of The Women’s Health Fund.
Measuring the economic cost of the women’s health gap
Beyond the accelerator, Eir and Suncoast Ventures are conducting a study to estimate the annual economic impact of women’s health challenges in Finland. The research will model 50 diseases and health conditions across the country’s female population, with the results expected to be released in the coming weeks.
International evidence already points to the scale of the opportunity. According to the World Economic Forum and the McKinsey Health Institute, nine conditions—including coronary heart disease, breast cancer, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and menopause—account for more than one-third of the global health burden affecting women. Closing these health gaps could add nearly US$400 billion annually to global GDP by 2040.
Eir Accelerator’s selection committee is now reviewing the 304 applications. The startups chosen for the inaugural cohort will be announced on November 18, 2026, during Slush in Helsinki, when the programme officially begins.