HeroSupport: The Venture Leader Medtech improving cancer treatment effectiveness, safety, cost-efficiency and universal access with personalized patient-positioning medical devices

12.09.2023 11:41, Rita Longobardi

Meet Giovanna Dipasquale, CEO of HeroSupport. The Medtech startup transforms treatment tables into personalised support for each patient. This brings precision, time savings, and patient comfort in clinical practice.

Name: Giovanna Dipasquale
Location: Geneva
Nationality: Swiss and Italian
Graduated from: Pisa University (Italy)
Job title: CEO
Number of employees: 4
Money raised: CHF 100K
First touchpoint with Venturelab: November 2020; Venture Kick Stage 2, 2023


 

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Can you tell us who your product or solution helps, and how?
Our 3D-printed breast immobilization device aids hospitals in providing safer radiation therapy treatment for breast cancer patients using the prone position technique, thereby reducing side effects such as skin burns, and heart, and lung toxicity. Our shells allow millimetric positioning, thus more accurate targeting at each session, achieving this in just 2 minutes, with 50% of patients capable of self-positioning.

What market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup in that market? 
Our startup targets the radiotherapy cancer treatment market, estimated to be worth $6.6 billion in 2022 and projected to reach $32 billion by 2032. We focus on breast cancer, which accounts for 30% of all cancer cases. With 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women developing cancer in their lifetime, the potential for our product and future ones is substantial. Our initial market includes 650 large advanced centres worldwide, with a primary emphasis on the US, where our product aligns with standard practices and reimbursement structures. Expansion to other cancer types will open new markets, ensuring continued growth and success. 

How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
My startup idea stemmed from my experience at Geneva University Hospital, where we pioneered prone-position radiotherapy for breast treatment. To overcome daily challenges in patient positioning, I envisioned a personalized 3D-printed immobilization device.

What do you expect from the Venture Leaders Medtech roadshow, and how will it help you achieve your vision?
Our target market is the US where 3D-printed immobilization devices are reimbursed, and prone breast radiotherapy is used. Networking events with investors and US start-ups will allow us to gain insight into the barriers to getting into the US market and also get contacts for future exchanges and potential partnerships.
 

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What are your team’s key achievements to date?
Our team has achieved several significant milestones to date, including the successful completion of a clinical trial with exceptional outcomes on actual patients. Additionally, we have demonstrated our expertise in producing top-tier, 3D-printed personalized medical devices. Moreover, we are proud to have secured our first paying customer for the year 2024, highlighting our growing reputation and market presence.

What is the most challenging and rewarding aspect of being a founder?
Challenging: Building a good team. Rewarding: Seeing the idea become a prototype, receiving positive feedback from users, and witnessing the device's benefits.

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
The most important lesson I've learned as a founder is the value of seeking out the right people, asking the right questions, and actively networking. Building a successful business is not a solitary endeavour; it relies on the expertise and support of others. By surrounding myself with knowledgeable and experienced individuals, being curious, and not hesitating to reach out for guidance, I've been able to make informed decisions and navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship more effectively. Networking has been a key driver in forging meaningful connections, gaining insights, and ultimately contributing to the growth and success of my venture.

What is your favourite productivity hack/tool and why?
Listening to music and having coffee. Both burst my energy and help my concentration improve. 

What was your dream job when you were a child?
My childhood in Africa inspired me to help people and fight poverty. My dream job of becoming a doctor wasn't suitable for me because I would have felt compelled to find the right diagnosis no matter what. Instead, I decided to pursue my curiosity as a Physicist. Later, I found the role of a Medical physicist, which allowed me to fulfil my aspiration of helping others. Today, with HeroSupport, I'm making a personal contribution to the fight against cancer.
 

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ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Venture Leaders Medtech 2023 were chosen from over 80 applications by an expert jury. The roadshow in Boston provides a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to accelerate their startups' expansion in the US while expanding their professional network and profiting from workshops with investors and industry leaders. This year's Venture Leaders Medtech program is organized by Venturelab in collaboration with Swissnex Boston and is supported by EPFL Lausanne, ETH Zurich, Hansjörg Wyss, Kellerhals Carrard, Swissnex Boston, and the Canton of Vaud.