
Friday 13 June | Portershed, Galway | 10:30 - 17:00
FIERCE | HEALTH TECH SUMMIT
100 women founders. 100% Health-tech focus. 1 day.
PorterShed in partnership with Fierce
SPEAKERS & MENTORS
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Aoife Ni Eochaidh
MD | IPPM
Home Pelvic Routine Platform Founder
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Aj Ajetunmobi
Investor | The Pioneer Group
Investor in Life Sciences
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Alison Liddy
Founder & CEO | Relevium
Y Combinator, Raised €4m +
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Barbara Oliveira
Founder & CCO | Luminate Med
Y Combinator, Raised €15m
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Caitriona Ni Liosa
Investor | MedTech Syndicate
Investor & Advisor in MedTech
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Camille O'Malley
Founder & CTO | Xtremedy
Ex-BioInnovate & EIT Expert
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Cepta Duffy
Enterprise Ireland
Life Sciences & Health Expert
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Dara Meldrum
Founder & CSO | Vertigenius
Raised €2.1m
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David Connolly
DigiBio
Expert in Early-Stage Startups
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Deirbhile Gorman
NDRC
Early-Stage Startup Supports
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Diane Nevin
CEO | Grit International Female Network
Expert in Health Tech Startup
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Emily Ryan
Director | Irrus Investments
Investor & Health Tech Expert
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Emma Callinan
Enterprise Ireland
Comms Fund Expert
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Evelyn Smith
Enterprise Ireland
PSSF & HPSU Expert
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Gavin Bluett
Partner | BrowneJacobson
Legal Expert
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Geraldine O'Flynn
Health Innovation Hub
Clinical Access (Trials) Expert
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Gillian Buckley
Investor | WDC, Chair | IVCA
Investor & Funding Expert
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Gwynne Morley
GM | IQVIA
Health Data & Strategy Expert
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Katherine Small
HBAN & WestBIC
Expert in Funding & Finance
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Kurt Reinhardt
Enterprise Ireland
Life Sciences & Health Expert
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Dr Liz McGloughlin
Founder & CEO | Tympany
Raised €3.5m
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Lorraine Curham
NDRC & Fierce
Startup Advisor
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Luke Murphy
Founder | Waking Dreams Media
Video & Media Expert
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Majella Maher
Enterprise Ireland
Comms Fund Expert
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Maria Jennings
Enterprise Ireland
HPSU Funding Expert
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Marie Gavin
Lawyer | RDJ
Startup Legals Expert
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Mark Peters
Investor | WakeUp Capital
Impact Investor
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Orla Connaughton
Founder & CEO | Aztec
Health Regulation Expert
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Sarah Jane O'Dwyer
Founder & CEO | Intuvuhealth
Raised €1.8m
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Dr Rouzet Agaiby
Director | EG Technology
MedTech & Hardware Expert
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Saurabh Kumar
Investor | Sure Valley Ventures
Investor in AI & Deeptech
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Sean Cummings
Partner | Keltie
Patent & Trademark Expert
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Shona D'Arcy
Founder & EIT Lead
Deep Tech & EIT Expert
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Sinead Byrne
Founder & CEO | Prospera
Finance Modelling Expert
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Sinead O'Connor
CEO | Ethomix
Expert in AI & Healthcare
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Weili Wang
Investor | Atlantic Bridge
Investor in Health & AI
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Yvonne Comer
HBAN & PorterShed
Ex-BioInnovate & Funding Expert
SCHEDULE
Everything you need to know as a founder in the health tech arena, you’ll find at this summit.
SESSION BREAKDOWN
Choose your sessions in advance | Most sessions last 45mins
Session 1 | 10:45
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Welcome to the Fierce Health Tech Summit at Portershed!
Session 2 | 11:00
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Current deal sizes, valuations, and active funds—plus tips for matching your round to the 2025 market.
Your experts: Emily Ryan, Gillian Buckley, Aj Ajetunmobi, Weili Wang, Deirbhile Gorman (MC)
Session 3 | 12:00
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Macro funding, policy shifts, and tech trends—what they signal for new health ventures in 2025-26.
Your experts: Gwynne Morley, Emma Callinan, Diane Nevin, Aoife Ni Eochaidh (MC)
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We will discuss 3 common pitfalls in product development and have a quick run through the product development roadmap and different types of prototypes and their purpose.
Your expert: Dr. Rouzet Agaiby
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Pitch to investors (angel, VC and EI) - 5 mins pitch, 10 mins feedback (deck required in advance).
Your investors: Caitriona Ni Loinsigh, Cepta Duffy, Katherine Small, Kurt Reinhardt, Maria Jennings, Mark Peters, Saurabh Kumar, Aj Ajetunmobi, Emily Ryan, Gillian Buckley, Weili Wang
Session 4 | 13:00
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Understand pathways to regulation-approval, spotlighting the fastest routes for new devices and software, and how to avoid common pitfalls.
Your experts: Sinead O'Connor, Orla Connaughton, Shona D’Arcy, Aoife Ni Eochaidh (MC)
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15-minute slots with specialist counsel for bespoke advice on building hardware tech.
Your expert: Dr. Rouzet Agaiby
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Pitch to investors (angel, VC and EI) - 5 mins pitch, 10 mins feedback (deck required in advance).
Your investors: Caitriona Ni Loinsigh, Cepta Duffy, Katherine Small, Kurt Reinhardt, Maria Jennings, Mark Peters, Saurabh Kumar, Aj Ajetunmobi, Emily Ryan, Gillian Buckley, Weili Wang
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Walk through an investor’s checklist—IP, cap table, traction—and rehearse how you’ll defend every slide.
Your Expert: Gavin Bluett
Session 5 | 13:45
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Grab some grub (on us!)
Session 6 | 14:15
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As a health tech startup - how do you need to be thinking about AI? What are the breakthroughs, the pitfalls that sink health-tech startups, and the must-do compliance checkpoints you can’t afford to miss.
Your experts: Sinead O'Connor, Saurabh Kumar, Rouzet Agaiby, Aoife Ni Eochaidh (MC)
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Learn all you need to know about the world of patents.
Your expert: Sean Cummins
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Build a model for your data room; stress-test assumptions and leave with plug-and-play advice.
Your expert: Sinead Byrne
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How Health Innovation Hub Ireland drives engagement with the Femtech Network in Ireland. Overview of supports available to enhance product development through clinical access.
Your expert: Geraldine O'Flynn
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Most HealthTech pitches are confusing and forgettable. In this fast-paced session, learn how to use video to frame your product as simple, credible, and valuable, so you stand out to investors.
Your expert: Luke Murphy
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Grant-writing tips for connectivity-driven health solutions—eligibility, scoring, and common pitfalls.
Your experts: Majella Maher, Emma Callinan
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Decode Ireland’s PSSF and HPSU support schemes: criteria, ticket sizes, and board expectations.
Your experts: Evelyn Smith, Kayla Dignam
Session 7 | 15:15
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Learn from Founders who have gone through the process before you - skip the hurdles, learn the hacks.
Your experts: Dr Liz McGloughlin, Dara Meldrum, Sarah Jane O'Dwyer, Alison Liddy, Yvonne Comer (MC)
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Live “ask-anything” with regulation experts—get clear answers on your startup needs.
Your expert: Shona D’Arcy
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How to source, de-identify, and structure datasets when you’re small—so they’re AI-ready and regulator-proof later.
Your expert: Gwynne Morley
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20-minute slots with specialist counsel for bespoke advice on founder agreements, IP assignments, or data contracts.
Your expert: Marie Gavin
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Programme focussed on MedTech and Digital Health - pre-MVP.
Your expert: Camille O'Malley
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Programme focussed on Digital Health - pre-MVP.
Your expert: David Connolly
Session 8 | 16:15
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Raw stories from repeat founders on hiring early teams, handling co-founder stress, and knowing when to pivot.
Your experts: Barbara Oliveira, Lorraine Curham (MC)
Session 9 | 17:00
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Join us for networking and drinks!