DayOne Accelerator relaunches to bridge healthtech innovation gap with pharma industry
The equity-free accelerator programme, based in Basel’s life sciences hub, aims to address the 80% failure rate of healthtech startups by providing direct access to pharmaceutical expertise and resources.
Switzerland’s DayOne Accelerator has announced its relaunch with a specialised focus on connecting early-stage healthtech ventures with pharmaceutical industry partners. The three-month hybrid programme, based in Basel’s renowned life sciences ecosystem, distinguishes itself through its equity-free model and pharmaceutical company-neutral approach.
Strategic positioning in Europe’s pharmaceutical heartland
The accelerator’s location provides a significant strategic advantage for participating startups. Basel, home to pharmaceutical giants including Novartis and Roche, offers unparalleled networking opportunities within the European life sciences community. This geographical positioning enables DayOne to facilitate meaningful connections between innovators and established industry players.
The programme specifically targets healthtech startups developing solutions for pharmaceutical research and development challenges – ranging from AI-powered
drug discovery platforms to technologies supporting decentralised clinical trials.
Addressing critical industry challenges
The initiative responds to several pressing challenges in the healthtech and pharmaceutical sectors. According to DayOne, 80% of healthtech startups fail due to insufficient industry access, strategic guidance, and funding constraints. Simultaneously, the pharmaceutical industry faces its own efficiency challenges, with 90% of drug development targets failing despite investment exceeding $2.3 billion per drug and average development timelines extending to 12 years.
This relaunch comes at a particularly critical juncture, as global digital health investment faces declining trends, creating additional barriers for startups seeking essential resources and support.
Specialised support structure
DayOne’s accelerator programme offers multiple differentiating elements compared to traditional startup support mechanisms. Participants retain complete ownership of their ventures while gaining access to senior pharmaceutical executives for mentorship. The programme structure includes:
• One-to-one mentorship from senior industry executives
• Expert-led cohort learning sessions
• Connections to potential investors
• Opportunities to pitch directly to pharmaceutical and MedTech partners
Beyond the initial acceleration period, DayOne is developing longer-term support mechanisms, including an investment vehicle offering curated investment opportunities, personalised two-to-three-year support programmes, and combinations of convertible loans and equity-based funding supplemented with non-dilutive grants.
Eligibility criteria
The accelerator targets healthtech ventures from pre-seed to Series A stages. Ideal candidates should have developed a prototype or product ready for pharmaceutical industry implementation within 12-18 months. The programme particularly seeks innovators addressing pharmaceutical R&D challenges and ventures aiming to establish collaborative relationships with pharmaceutical companies.
Programme timeline and application process
Applications for the DayOne Accelerator programme opened on 31 March 2025. Interested startups can access detailed information through the newly launched programme webpage at www.dayone.swiss/accelerator.
The initiative exemplifies a growing recognition of the need for structured collaboration between emerging healthtech innovations and established pharmaceutical research and development processes. By providing a neutral platform for engagement without equity requirements, DayOne aims to reduce barriers to entry for promising technological solutions while addressing fundamental efficiency challenges in pharmaceutical development pathways.
For the pharmaceutical industry, which continues to face productivity challenges in research and development, such initiatives represent an important mechanism for identifying and implementing innovations that could improve success rates and reduce development timelines.
