Top Healthcare Events 2025: Essential Guide for Health Startups

Your comprehensive guide to the most impactful healthcare event recommendations and digital health events in Europe - curated specifically for digital health and medtech startups by SpinLab Coach David Blazek.

About our health coach david blazek

David Blazek brings unique insights to this medtech conference guide through his multifaceted experience in healthcare innovation. As an internal and external consultant for innovation and transformation, co-founder of multiple eHealth startups, and Senior Business Developer, David applies holistic approaches to organizational and economic growth. His background in both Law and Business Administration provides him with a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare startup ecosystem.

why this guide matters

The healthcare event landscape is vast and complex, especially for startups navigating limited resources and budgets. This startup events healthcare guide focuses on events that deliver the highest value for digital health and medtech startups, helping you make informed decisions about where to invest your time and money in 2025.

how to navigate healthcare events successfully

Before diving into specific events, understanding these key success factors will maximize your event participation:

define your strategic goals

• Network expansion with suppliers or customers
• Innovation spotting and trend analysis
• Opportunity capture in specific market developments
• Expert knowledge acquisition
• Special promotional offers and pitch opportunities

value assessment criteria

• Fairs: Public gatherings ideal for product showcasing
• Congresses: Expert gatherings perfect for knowledge exchange
• Exhibitions: Structured displays for targeted audience engagement

• Review speaker lists and topics
• Research exhibitors and side events
• Utilize matchmaking tools
• Schedule meetings in advance

• Focus on meaningful prospect engagement
• Avoid pitching to other sellers
• Align your approach with event format

major healthcare events 2025

1. hlth europe

Essential Information

• Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Date: June 16-19, 2025
• Scale: 3,500+ attendees
• Investment: €850 (startup rate) to €3,000 (general admission)

Key Statistics

• 20% Health providers
• 20% Health IT/MedTech companies
• 15% Startups
• 400+ speakers

Event Highlights

• Strong focus on AI implementation
• FemTech and value-based care
• Data-driven healthcare solutions
• Primary care innovation

💡David's Insights

The inaugural HLTH Europe conference exceeded expectations, matching its renowned US counterpart's quality. What impressed me most was the AI implementation showcase and the diverse session topics. With attendees from the UK (22%), US (15%), and strong representation from Benelux and Germany (27%), it offers unparalleled networking opportunities. Despite being a newer event, its strategic location in Amsterdam and comprehensive coverage of healthcare innovation makes it a must-attend for startups looking to make their mark in the European healthcare ecosystem.

Particularly noteworthy for startups is the pitch competition opportunity, which you can apply for at hlth.com/startup-pitch. From digital health to biotech and from DTx to healthcare IT innovations, there's a community and conversation for every innovation focus.

2. health.tech

Essential Information

• Location: Munich, Germany
• Date: June 2025 (exact dates TBA)
• Scale: 3,000+ visitors, 200 exhibitors
• Investment: €900 (startup early bird) to €3,000 (consultant rate)

Key Features

• International digital health focus
• Hosted Buyer program
• 40,000+ business interactions
• EIT Health Catapult program

💡David's Insights

Having witnessed Health.Tech's evolution from its Bits&Pretzels roots, I'm particularly impressed by their Hosted Buyer program. The 40,000+ interactions we recorded demonstrate the event's effectiveness in facilitating meaningful connections. For startups, the EIT Health Catapult program is a game-changer, offering access to 400+ investors and 2,500 healthcare professionals.

The event truly represents the entire ecosystem of the digital healthcare scene, bringing together pharmaceutical decision-makers, healthcare facilities, clinics, insurance companies, and the investment scene. While the pricing is premium and requires joining a waiting list, the networking opportunities justify the investment for serious startups.

3. dmea

Essential Information

• Location: Berlin, Germany
• Date: April 8-10, 2025
• Scale: 18,600+ participants
• Investment: €230 (full event)

Key Features

• Leading European digital health event
• 800 international exhibitors
• 350+ expert speakers
• Strong Health IT focus
• nova Award with €7,500 prize money

💡David's Insights

DMEA has established itself as the cornerstone of the German eHealth/Health IT sector. As one industry leader told me, "We can't afford not being here – because people might think we're out of business if we don't show up." This perfectly captures the event's significance in our ecosystem.

While the focus remains on Health IT, the event covers a comprehensive range of healthcare technologies, from electronic patient records to telemedicine and AI. The extensive program of workshops, lectures, and seminars provides valuable knowledge expansion opportunities. However, I believe DMEA could strengthen its startup focus beyond the current nova Award and 100 participating founders. The startup-investor matching could particularly use enhancement.

4. Medica

Essential Information

• Location: Düsseldorf, Germany
• Date: November 17-20, 2025
• Scale: 120,000+ visitors, 6,000 exhibitors
• Investment: €45 (1-day) to €130 (4-day)

Key Features

• World's largest B2B medical trade fair
• Global networking platform
• Comprehensive product showcase
• Innovation forum with 8,500+ participants
• MEDICA Start-Up park

💡David's Insights

MEDICA truly earns its reputation as 'the place where medicine meets.' With its massive scale of 120,000+ visitors and 6,000 exhibitors from 70 countries, it offers infinite networking opportunities with industry, trade, hospitals, clinics, and government representatives.

The MEDICA INNOVATION FORUM has become a global hotspot for healthcare innovation, bringing together innovators, techpreneurs, and investors. My pro tip: Plan your meetings well in advance and book your accommodation early – hotel prices in Düsseldorf during MEDICA can be surprisingly high!

emerging healthcare events worth watching

1. healthtech forward

Essential Information

• Location: Barcelona, Spain
• Date: December 3-4, 2025
• Scale: 1,000+ visitors
• Investment: €1,000 (early bird) to €1,600 (standard)

Key Features

• Curated meetings format
• 80+ startup pitching opportunities
• 80% C-Level attendance

2. medtech forum 2025

Essential Information

• Location: Lisbon, Portugal
• Date: May 13-15, 2025
• Investment: €850 (super early bird) to €2,400 (onsite)

Key Features

• Focus on digital transformation
• Industry leadership presence
• Innovation workshops
• Perfect for connecting with innovative MedTech solutions

3. himss europe

Essential Information

• Location: Paris, France
• Date: June 10-12, 2025
• Investment: €450 (early bird) to €700 (standard)

Key Features

• Policy and regulation focus
• European Health Data Space insights
• Startup Pitchfest opportunity

💡David's Insights

For mature startups ready to tackle policy and interoperability challenges in European healthcare, HiMSS Europe provides invaluable insights into regulatory developments and their practical implications.

4. future of health xperience europe

Essential Information

• Location: Leipzig, Germany
• Date: TBA for 2025

Key Features

• Cross-industry stakeholder platform
• Focus on healthcare innovation
• Strong regional networking opportunities

💡David's Insights

The second edition of the future of health xperience on May 15^th and 16^th, 2024 offered a glimpse into the future of healthcare and its stakeholders, supplemented for the first time by the parallel Central German Health Congress. The event provided a platform for fresh impetus, stimulating discussions and live experiences for all players in the healthcare sector: From clinics and therapists in private practice to health insurance companies, patient representatives, industry (BigTech, Pharma, MedTech) including healthcare start-ups, investors, politicians and interest groups, research, specialist media and cross-industry stakeholders.

Strategic recommendations

For Early-Stage Startups

• Focus on events with dedicated startup programs
• Prioritize networking-heavy events
• Consider local events first

For Growth-Stage Startups

• Target larger international events
• Focus on buyer-connection opportunities
• Consider speaking opportunities

For Market-Ready Startups

• Prioritize major trade fairs
• Focus on partnership opportunities
• Consider exhibition opportunities

event investment overview 2025

chronological event timeline 2025

• April 8-10: DMEA (Berlin)
• May 13-15: MedTech Forum (Lisbon)
• June 10-12: HiMSS Europe (Paris)
• June 16-19: hlth Europe (Amsterdam)
• November 17-20: Medica (Düsseldorf)
• December 3-4: HealthTech Forward (Barcelona)

about spinlab startup accelerator

As a leading startup accelerator, we help digital health and medtech startups scale successfully. Nobody said it was easy. We're looking for the world's brightest and most driven entrepreneurs so we can help you smash your goals and elevate them to the next level.

ready to scale your healthcare startup?

Join our hybrid acceleration program! Looking to accelerate your healthcare startup's growth? Learn more about our accelerator program or contact us for personalized guidance on your event strategy.

Sign up for our newsletter to receive regular updates about healthcare events and startup opportunities.