Press Release

The Association of the German private health insurance (PKV) is launching a new venture capital fund called heal capital. The fund will support startup companies that develop digital innovations for the healthcare sector. The participating private health insurance companies will provide a target volume of 100 million euros to invest specifically in driving the quality of medical care in Germany through digitalization. The fund will focus on areas including digital health applications, telemedicine, digital prevention and the digitalization of care.

The PKV Association partners with the Berlin-based digital health investors “Heartbeat Labs” and “Flying Health”, who will be managing the heal capital fund and are investing a one-digit million euro amount themselves.

“This new fund is further proof that the private health insurance is a driving force for innovation in the German healthcare system”, explains Ralf Kantak, Chairman of the PKV Association. “The decisive goal for the private health insurance is that the new digital developments contribute to better care in Germany. We are pleased with having found ‘Heartbeat Labs’ and ‘Flying Health’ as our partners. They combine great health expertise and digital competence with a strong network in the investment and startup industry.”

“We are convinced that many more patient-oriented solutions will benefit from heal capital, while synergies with the private health insurance companies will provide meaningful access to the health market”, said Eckhardt Weber, Founder and Managing Director of Heartbeat Labs. “We look forward to working together to support even more digital health entrepreneurs and accompanying them on their way into the healthcare system.”

“Today you can’t think about good, professional medicine and modern healthcare without including digitalization”, said Dr. Markus Müschenich, Managing Partner at Flying Health. “With the PKV’s fund, we are driving the digital transformation of the German healthcare system and ensuring that digital innovations reach the healthcare system more quickly.”

Heartbeat Labs and Flying Health are already active investors with a focus on the digitalization of the healthcare system in Germany. The digital health platform Heartbeat Labs brings entrepreneurs together with tech experts and physicians. Since 2017, Heartbeat Labs has founded six companies and invested in nine digital health companies. Since 2012, Flying Health has developed into a leading digital ecosystem in the healthcare industry. Through targeted partnerships, Flying Health develops digital healthcare models together with renowned players in the healthcare industry.