From Feasibility to Scale: AI in Healthcare Phase 4 Gets Underway

The latest phase of the AI in Healthcare programme got underway on 9 September with an in-person workshop at Dundalk Institute of Technology, bringing participating companies together with healthcare, innovation and industry experts for a day focused on developing, scaling and commercialising their AI solutions.

Building on the work already completed through the programme, the Phase 4 workshop shifted the focus towards the next stage of the journey – refining solutions, strengthening business models, exploring funding opportunities and considering what is needed to successfully scale within the healthcare sector.

Sharing progress and shaping the next steps

Participating companies had the opportunity to present their businesses and AI projects, outlining their corporate vision and sharing progress on their feasibility reports and wireframes.

The presentation sessions provided an opportunity for participants to receive feedback, discuss challenges and consider the practical next steps required to move their solutions forward.

Rather than developing technology in isolation, the programme encourages companies to continually consider how their solutions will operate within real healthcare environments and how they can build sustainable businesses around them.

Starting, scaling and selling in healthtech

Con Hennessy, former Managing Director of OpenApp, opened the guest sessions with insights on Starting, Scaling & Selling a Healthtech.

Drawing on his extensive experience in healthcare technology, Con shared perspectives on building solutions for a complex sector and the considerations companies need to make as they move from product development towards growth and commercialisation.

The session helped set the tone for a day that was not simply about developing AI technology, but about building viable healthcare businesses around innovative solutions.

Learning from a previous AI in Healthcare participant

Participants also heard from Stephanie Essambe, Founder of Pillaxia, who previously took part in the AI in Healthcare programme.

Pillaxia is an AI-powered connected care and medication management platform designed to help patients, caregivers, clinics and pharmacies manage medication regimens and improve health outcomes.

Hearing directly from a founder who had already progressed through the programme gave the current cohort an opportunity to learn from a real entrepreneurial journey and see how an AI healthcare solution can continue to develop beyond the programme itself.

Funding the next stage of innovation

Funding was another important focus of the workshop.

Robert McCrave from DkIT’s Technology Transfer Office joined representatives from InterTradeIreland to discuss funding supports available to companies as they continue developing and commercialising their solutions.

Understanding the funding landscape is particularly important as companies move beyond early feasibility work and begin considering further development, validation, market entry and growth.

Building businesses that can scale

John Shaw led a session on Building Your Business to Scale, bringing extensive experience in healthtech, innovation and business growth to the discussion.

The session encouraged participants to look beyond the immediate development of their AI solutions and consider the wider foundations required to create scalable businesses – from identifying value and building the right capabilities to understanding customers and positioning solutions within the healthcare market.

Connecting innovation with healthcare

Throughout the day, participants also had the opportunity to engage with representatives from across the healthcare and innovation ecosystem, including Tallaght University Hospital, the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, InterTradeIreland and DkIT.

These connections are an important element of the AI in Healthcare programme, giving participating companies access to perspectives beyond their own organisations and helping them understand the clinical, commercial and operational environments in which their solutions may ultimately be used.

Looking ahead

The Phase 4 workshop demonstrated how the programme is evolving alongside the participating companies.

The conversation is moving beyond “Can this idea work?” towards equally important questions: How can it be developed? How can it be funded? Who needs it? And how can it scale?

With further development and support ahead, Phase 4 will continue to help participating companies turn promising AI concepts into stronger, more commercially focused healthcare solutions.

The workshop provided an important opportunity to bring together technology, healthcare expertise, funding and business development as participants take the next steps in their AI in Healthcare journey. Next workshop will take place on Oct 14th.