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

  • Aoife Ni Eochaidh

    Aoife Ni Eochaidh

    MD | IPPM

    Home Pelvic Routine Platform Founder

  • Aj Ajetunmobi

    Investor | The Pioneer Group

    Investor in Life Sciences

  • Alison Liddy

    Alison Liddy

    Founder & CEO | Relevium

    Y Combinator, Raised €4m +

  • Barbara Oliveira

    Barbara Oliveira

    Founder & CCO | Luminate Med

    Y Combinator, Raised €15m

  • Caitriona Ni Liosa

    Caitriona Ni Liosa

    Investor | MedTech Syndicate

    Investor & Advisor in MedTech

  • Camille O'Malley

    Camille O'Malley

    Founder & CTO | Xtremedy

    Ex-BioInnovate & EIT Expert

  • Cepta Duffy

    Cepta Duffy

    Enterprise Ireland

    Life Sciences & Health Expert

  • Dara Meldrum

    Dara Meldrum

    Founder & CSO | Vertigenius

    Raised €2.1m

  • David Connolly

    David Connolly

    DigiBio

    Expert in Early-Stage Startups

  • Deirbhile Gorman

    Deirbhile Gorman

    NDRC

    Early-Stage Startup Supports

  • Diane Nevin

    Diane Nevin

    CEO | Grit International Female Network

    Expert in Health Tech Startup

  • Emily Ryan

    Emily Ryan

    Director | Irrus Investments

    Investor & Health Tech Expert

  • Emma Callinan

    Emma Callinan

    Enterprise Ireland

    Comms Fund Expert

  • Evelyn Smith

    Evelyn Smith

    Enterprise Ireland

    PSSF & HPSU Expert

  • Gavin Bluett

    Gavin Bluett

    Partner | BrowneJacobson

    Legal Expert

  • Geraldine O'Flynn

    Geraldine O'Flynn

    Health Innovation Hub

    Clinical Access (Trials) Expert

  • Gillian Buckley

    Gillian Buckley

    Investor | WDC, Chair | IVCA

    Investor & Funding Expert

  • Gwynne Morley

    Gwynne Morley

    GM | IQVIA

    Health Data & Strategy Expert

  • Katherine Small

    Katherine Small

    HBAN & WestBIC

    Expert in Funding & Finance

  • Kurt Reinhardt

    Kurt Reinhardt

    Enterprise Ireland

    Life Sciences & Health Expert

  • Dr Liz McGloughlin

    Dr Liz McGloughlin

    Founder & CEO | Tympany

    Raised €3.5m

  • Lorraine Curham

    Lorraine Curham

    NDRC & Fierce

    Startup Advisor

  • Luke Murphy

    Luke Murphy

    Founder | Waking Dreams Media

    Video & Media Expert

  • Majella Maher

    Majella Maher

    Enterprise Ireland

    Comms Fund Expert

  • Maria Jennings

    Maria Jennings

    Enterprise Ireland

    HPSU Funding Expert

  • Marie Gavin

    Marie Gavin

    Lawyer | RDJ

    Startup Legals Expert

  • Mark Peters

    Mark Peters

    Investor | WakeUp Capital

    Impact Investor

  • Orla Connaughton

    Orla Connaughton

    Founder & CEO | Aztec

    Health Regulation Expert

  • Sarah Jane O'Dwyer

    Sarah Jane O'Dwyer

    Founder & CEO | Intuvuhealth

    Raised €1.8m

  • Dr Rouzet Agaiby

    Dr Rouzet Agaiby

    Director | EG Technology

    MedTech & Hardware Expert

  • Saurabh Kumar

    Saurabh Kumar

    Investor | Sure Valley Ventures

    Investor in AI & Deeptech

  • Sean Cummings

    Sean Cummings

    Partner | Keltie

    Patent & Trademark Expert

  • Shona Darcy

    Shona D'Arcy

    Founder & EIT Lead

    Deep Tech & EIT Expert

  • Sinead Byrne

    Sinead Byrne

    Founder & CEO | Prospera

    Finance Modelling Expert

  • Sinead O'Connor

    Sinead O'Connor

    CEO | Ethomix

    Expert in AI & Healthcare

  • Weili Wang

    Weili Wang

    Investor | Atlantic Bridge

    Investor in Health & AI

  • Yvonne Comer

    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

  • Welcome to the Fierce Health Tech Summit at Portershed!

Session 2 | 11:00

  • 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

  • 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)

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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)

  • 15-minute slots with specialist counsel for bespoke advice on building hardware tech.

    Your expert: Dr. Rouzet Agaiby

  • 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

  • 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

  • Grab some grub (on us!)

Session 6 | 14:15

  • 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)

  • Learn all you need to know about the world of patents.

    Your expert: Sean Cummins

  • Build a model for your data room; stress-test assumptions and leave with plug-and-play advice.

    Your expert: Sinead Byrne

  • 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

  • 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

  • Grant-writing tips for connectivity-driven health solutions—eligibility, scoring, and common pitfalls.

    Your experts: Majella Maher, Emma Callinan

  • Decode Ireland’s PSSF and HPSU support schemes: criteria, ticket sizes, and board expectations.

    Your experts: Evelyn Smith, Kayla Dignam

Session 7 | 15:15

  • 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)

  • Live “ask-anything” with regulation experts—get clear answers on your startup needs.

    Your expert: Shona D’Arcy

  • 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

  • 20-minute slots with specialist counsel for bespoke advice on founder agreements, IP assignments, or data contracts.

    Your expert: Marie Gavin

  • Programme focussed on MedTech and Digital Health - pre-MVP.

    Your expert: Camille O'Malley

  • Programme focussed on Digital Health - pre-MVP.

    Your expert: David Connolly

Session 8 | 16:15

  • 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

  • Join us for networking and drinks!