1 The EIC Accelerator Project
The EIC Accelerator program is a significant initiative under the European Innovation Council (EIC) designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups that are developing innovative technologies and business models. The program focuses particularly on deep tech ventures, which are characterized by their advanced technological capabilities and potential for high societal impact. The EIC Accelerator provides funding through a blended finance approach, which combines grants and equity investments to help companies scale their operations and attract additional private sector funding.Funding Structure
The EIC Accelerator program offers financial support in two main forms: grants and equity investments.
Purpose and Role in the Ecosystem
The primary purpose of the EIC Accelerator is to bolster the European startup ecosystem by providing tailored financial support to innovative companies with the potential to deliver significant technological advancements. The program aims to bridge the funding gap often experienced by deep tech startups, which typically face higher risks and longer timelines compared to more conventional businesses. By offering both grants and equity investments, the EIC Accelerator enables companies to attract further investment from private sectors, thereby facilitating growth and fostering innovation across Europe.
The accelerator plays a crucial role in helping these companies refine their business strategies, enhance their market readiness, and build connections with investors and industry leaders. Through rigorous evaluation processes, the EIC Accelerator ensures that funding is allocated to ventures with not only strong technological foundations but also viable business models.
Case Study: Tucuvi Care SL
Company Overview: Tucuvi Care SL, based in Spain, is an exemplary winner of the EIC Accelerator, having submitted its Step 2 proposal on June 15, 2022, and successfully securing funding through the Step 3 interview process.
Project Description: The project, titled "TUCUVI Voice & AI to reduce chronic disease impact," focuses on leveraging voice technology and artificial intelligence to address the challenges posed by chronic diseases. The aim is to enhance patient care and monitor health conditions effectively, thereby reducing the overall impact of chronic diseases on individuals and healthcare systems.
Technology Background
The TUCUVI project employs advanced voice recognition and AI algorithms to facilitate real-time communication between patients and healthcare providers. The technology is designed to be user-friendly, allowing patients, particularly the elderly or those with limited mobility, to interact with the system using natural language.
Key technological components include:
- Voice Recognition: The system utilizes sophisticated voice recognition capabilities that enable it to understand and process spoken language. This allows patients to report symptoms, receive reminders for medication, and engage in health consultations without needing to navigate complex software interfaces.
- Artificial Intelligence: AI algorithms analyze the data collected through voice interactions, identifying trends and potential health issues. The system can provide personalized feedback and recommendations based on individual patient profiles, thereby enhancing the quality of care.
- Patient Monitoring: The technology continuously monitors patients' conditions, allowing healthcare providers to intervene proactively when necessary. This monitoring capability is crucial for managing chronic diseases effectively and can lead to improved patient outcomes.
- Accessibility: By focusing on voice interaction, Tucuvi's solution is particularly valuable for populations that may struggle with traditional digital health solutions, including the elderly and those with disabilities. This focus on accessibility is aligned with broader efforts to make healthcare more inclusive.
In summary, the EIC Accelerator program plays a pivotal role in supporting innovative companies like Tucuvi Care SL by providing the necessary funding and resources to scale operations and enhance their technological offerings. Through its blended finance approach, the EIC Accelerator not only fosters innovation within the European deep tech ecosystem but also contributes to addressing pressing societal challenges, such as the management of chronic diseases.
2 The Funding Rounds
Financing Raised and Funding Rounds
Since its foundation in 2019, Tucuvi Care SL has secured several notable rounds of funding. The most significant include:
- EIC Accelerator Funding (2022): In October 2022, Tucuvi was selected by the European Innovation Council (EIC) to receive a total of €5.5 million through the EIC Accelerator program. This support consisted of both grant and equity investment components, aiming to help scale their AI-driven healthcare technology internationally.
- NEOTEC Grant (2021): Earlier, in March 2022, Tucuvi received €325,000 from the NEOTEC program run by Spain’s Ministry of Science and Innovation. This non-dilutive public financing supported R&D for their natural language processing platform for chronic patient monitoring.
- Seed Round During COVID-19 Crisis (2020): To respond quickly during the pandemic, Tucuvi closed an investment round of €160,000 in just 36 hours. The round was led by Bolsa Social Fund along with participation from 66 additional investors. This rapid fundraising demonstrated strong investor confidence amid a public health emergency.
Timing and Amounts
Date | Round/Grant | Amount | Lead/Source |
---|---|---|---|
Mar 2020 | Seed | €160,000 | Bolsa Social Fund + others |
Mar 2022 | NEOTEC Grant | €325,000 | Spanish Government |
Jun-Oct 2022 | EIC Accelerator | €5.5 million | EIC/EU |
</em>Tucuvi submitted its Step 2 proposal to the EIC on June 15th, 2022; selection results were announced later that year.
Investor Information
- Bolsa Social Fund: Led early seed investment during COVID-19.
- Public Investors: Significant non-dilutive funding from Spain’s NEOTEC program.
- European Innovation Council Fund: Provided both grant and equity as part of EU’s deep-tech scaling initiative.
Additional investors participated at seed stage but are not individually named in available sources.
Company Valuations
No explicit company valuations have been publicly disclosed for any round or grant received by Tucuvi Care SL based on current available sources.
Exit Events: IPOs or Acquisitions
As of April 30th, 2025:
- There is no record or announcement regarding an IPO.
- No acquisition or buyout events involving Tucuvi Care SL have been reported across major funding databases or news outlets.
Tucuvi remains independent and continues scaling operations with recent backing from European innovation programs.
Sources: - Tucuvi selected to receive €5.5 million in funding from the European Innovation Council
- Tucuvi closes an investment round of €160k in response to COVID crisis
- Tucuvi receives financing from the NEOTEC program
3 The Press Releases
Tucuvi Care SL: Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Developments (2022–2025) Tucuvi Care SL, a Spanish healthcare AI company, has leveraged its EIC Accelerator funding to expand its clinical conversational AI platform, LOLA. Below are key developments since mid-2022:Partnerships and Clinical Deployments
- Son Espases Hospital Collaboration: Partnered with Hospital Son Espases and AstraZeneca to implement daily AI follow-ups for heart failure patients, reducing readmissions to 1.6% and achieving a patient satisfaction score of 4.7/5.
- Virgen de la Arrixaca Integration: Enhanced cardiology patient monitoring at this Murcia-based hospital through automated check-ins and alert systems.
- CUF Cascais Hospital: Deployed LOLA in Portugal to automate post-discharge follow-ups, freeing 70% of nursing time while maintaining high patient engagement (95%).
Technological Advancements
- Hybrid AI Architecture: Launched a hybrid system combining structured conversational protocols with LLMs under strict clinical safeguards, ensuring safety via real-time out-of-scope detection and post-call audits.
- CE-Marked Medical Device Certification: Achieved compliance as a Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) in Europe, validating clinical efficacy and security standards (ISO 27001/GDPR).
- Interoperability Enhancements: Developed flexible integration models for EHR systems (cloud/on-premises), including VPN-secured data transfers and fail-safe error handling.
Operational Impact
- Emergency Visit Reductions: Patients monitored by LOLA saw 20–25% fewer visits to ERs and health centers across multiple deployments.
- Workflow Efficiency: Automated alerts reduced unnecessary clinician calls by 70%, enabling prioritization of critical cases.
Regulatory Recognition
Tucuvi’s AI was selected for Spain’s national AI Sandbox program by the Ministry for Digital Transformation, positioning it among only 12 high-risk AI systems undergoing government-backed validation.Sources Used in This Summary:
4 The Technology Advancements
Tucuvi Care SL: Current Capabilities and Advancements
Tucuvi Care SL, a Spanish company specializing in AI-powered healthcare solutions, has made significant strides in enhancing patient care through automation and artificial intelligence. Since receiving the EIC Accelerator Funding in June 2022, Tucuvi has continued to expand its capabilities and demonstrate its technology in various clinical settings.
Current Capabilities
Tucuvi's primary product is an AI voice-based virtual clinical assistant named Lola, which automates medical phone conversations, providing empathetic and personalized patient follow-up. This system uses over 40 clinical protocols and more than 250 validated clinical flows to monitor patients' health parameters and medication adherence. It can be integrated into existing medical records and telemedicine platforms while ensuring compliance with security protocols. Tucuvi's platform is CE marked as a medical device, indicating its safety and efficacy in healthcare environments.
Advancements Since EIC Funding
Since securing EIC funding, Tucuvi has further developed its technology to improve healthcare efficiency and patient outcomes. Notable advancements include:
- Increased Adoption: Tucuvi has expanded its presence across multiple healthcare systems, enhancing the capacity of healthcare professionals to provide personalized care.
- Clinical Trials and Demonstrations: Tucuvi's technology has been integrated into various clinical settings, such as Hospital CUF Cascais and the Home Hospitalisation Unit of the Vinalopó Hospital. These integrations have resulted in significant reductions in nursing call times and hospital stays.
- New Projects: Tucuvi partnered with AstraZeneca and Vall d'Hebron on the AZerca project to monitor patients with heart failure using AI and conversational technology. This has improved patient adherence to treatment and allowed for early detection of potential health issues.
New Features and Technology Improvements
Tucuvi has introduced new features to its platform, including enhanced clinical notes and a real-time analytics dashboard. These improvements aim to optimize workflows and reduce administrative burdens on healthcare professionals. Additionally, Tucuvi's AI technology continues to evolve with advancements in natural language processing (NLP), enabling more effective patient interactions.
Market Demonstration and Clinical Trials
Tucuvi's solutions have been actively demonstrated in clinical settings, with notable success in reducing hospital readmissions and improving patient engagement. For example, in a program for advanced palliative patients, Tucuvi's virtual assistant significantly reduced visits to emergency rooms and health centers.
Scientific Publications and Patents
While specific new patent filings are not detailed, Tucuvi has been recognized for its contributions to scientific research, with publications in prestigious journals such as the European Heart Journal Digital Health. The company continues to grow its team and expand its influence in the healthcare sector.
Conclusion
Tucuvi Care SL has leveraged the EIC Accelerator funding to enhance its AI-powered healthcare solutions, demonstrating significant advancements in clinical trials and market adoption. Its commitment to improving patient care and healthcare efficiency positions it as a leader in the digital health sector.
Sources:
- Tucuvi
- Revolutionizing Hospital-at-Home Units through AI
- Artificial Intelligence-based patient follow-up with voice automation
- AstraZeneca, Vall d'Hebron, and Tucuvi launch the AZerca project
- TUCUVI Voice and Artificial Intelligence
- Impact of the automation of clinical follow-up calls
- Blog - Tucuvi
- Real World Data and Real World Evidence
- A year of results delivering safe and precise Clinical Conversational AI
5 The Partnerships and Customers
Tucuvi Care SL, a Spanish EIC Accelerator winner (2022), has strategically expanded its partnerships and customer base to enhance market positioning and technological capabilities. Below is an analysis of their key collaborations and their impact:Partnerships & Customers
- Cera (UK): Partnered in 2022 to deploy LOLA, Tucuvi’s AI-driven virtual assistant, for remote patient monitoring. This collaboration aimed to improve home-care efficiency by automating follow-ups and integrating data via secure sFTP workflows.
- Hospital Son Espases & AstraZeneca: Collaborated on a heart failure program in 2025, achieving a 1.6% readmission rate by providing daily AI follow-ups. This partnership highlights Tucuvi’s role in reducing clinical workload through automated symptom monitoring.
- Integr@atención (Portugal): Launched elderly care initiatives in rural Portugal in 2022, focusing on telemonitoring for chronic patients via personalized AI calls.
- CUF Cascais Hospital (Portugal): Integrated LOLA post-discharge to reduce nursing call time by 70% while maintaining patient engagement at 95%.
- Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus: Partnered with AstraZeneca to deploy conversational AI for chronic disease management, improving early symptom detection.
Nature of Relationships & Market Positioning
Partnerships focus on: (1) scaling remote care programs globally; (2) integrating hybrid AI workflows combining deterministic protocols with LLMs; (3) addressing workforce shortages through automation. These relationships position Tucuvi as a leader in clinically validated conversational AI, particularly for chronic and post-acute care.Technology Advancements & Scaling Impact
- Hybrid AI Architecture: Combines structured clinical protocols with LLM adaptability while maintaining CE certification as a medical device.
- Interoperability: sFTP/HL7 integrations enable bulk data exchange with EHRs, reducing manual entry burden across healthcare systems.
Sources Used:
Deployment in Portugal
AI reduces nursing call time
Financial Times recognition
Hybrid AI architecture
6 The Hiring and Company Growth
Tucuvi Care SL: Team Growth and Developments
Introduction
Tucuvi Care SL, a Spanish company, specializes in automating medical phone conversations using empathetic AI. Their platform has been recognized for its impact on healthcare efficiency and patient satisfaction. Since receiving the EIC Accelerator funding in June 2022, Tucuvi has shown significant growth and innovation.Current Headcount and Team Size
As of the latest available data, Tucuvi's team size is between 11 and 50 employees, with a focus on clinical experts, engineers, AI specialists, and biomedical professionals. In 2024, the company's team expanded by 76.9%, indicating a substantial increase in staff to meet growing demands for their conversational AI solutions.Hiring Status
Given the significant growth in team size, Tucuvi is likely still hiring to support their expanding operations. However, specific open positions are not detailed in the available information.Growth and Key Positions
The expansion of Tucuvi's team reflects the increased demand for their AI solutions in healthcare. Key roles likely include AI developers, clinical specialists, and software engineers to enhance their platform, such as LOLA, which serves as a voice-based virtual clinical assistant. These new hires help improve the company's ability to scale, deliver more efficient care, and enhance patient satisfaction through automated medical conversations.Impact on Company Future
The growth of Tucuvi's team and technology helps the company scale its services across multiple healthcare systems. By automating repetitive tasks and improving care team efficiency, Tucuvi is well-positioned to continue impacting the healthcare sector positively. The addition of new team members allows them to expand their clinical protocols and enhance their AI capabilities, further solidifying their position as leaders in clinical conversational AI.Major Changes in Management or Founding Team
There is no specific information available regarding major changes in the management or founding team of Tucuvi since receiving the EIC Accelerator funding.Conclusion
Tucuvi's growth and team expansion are crucial to their mission of transforming healthcare through AI. As they continue to innovate and scale, their impact on patient care and healthcare efficiency is expected to grow significantly.Sources: - Tucuvi
- Revolutionizing Hospital-at-Home Units through AI
- A year of results delivering safe and precise Clinical Conversational AI
- Tucuvi company information, funding & investors
- Artificial Intelligence-based patient follow-up with voice automation
- Financial Times recognizes Tucuvi as a leader in Clinical Conversational AI
- TUCUVI Voice and Artificial Intelligence to reduce the impact of chronic diseases
- Tucuvi - TheVentureCity Job Board
7 The Media Features and Publications
Media Features and Industry Recognition Tucuvi Care SL has garnered significant media attention for its AI-driven healthcare solutions. The Financial Times highlighted its collaboration with AstraZeneca to support Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital in advancing patient care for chronic conditions like heart failure and COPD. The company was also recognized by Forbes, Bessemer Ventures, and Avia Marketplace, and featured in prominent outlets such as ITV (UK), TVE (Spain), and Wired Magazine.Publications and Clinical Evidence
Tucuvi’s clinical protocols have been validated in peer-reviewed journals, including the European Heart Journal Digital Health and the European Respiratory Society, focusing on areas like CPAP adherence and TAVI post-operative care. Their technology reduced heart failure readmissions to 1.6% at Hospital Son Espases, as reported in a case study, while CORDIS EU documented their AI assistant’s role in scaling patient follow-ups.
Podcasts, Interviews, and Events
The company participated in the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast to discuss AI’s role in redefining care delivery and was interviewed by Planeta Chatbot about LOLA’s conversational AI capabilities for remote patient monitoring. Though specific conferences or fairs are not detailed, Tucuvi emphasized partnerships with over 40 healthcare systems globally during 2024, suggesting active participation in industry events.
Sources
- Financial Times recognizes Tucuvi as a leader
- A year of results delivering safe Conversational AI
- Publications - Tucuvi
- Conversational AI reduces heart failure readmissions
- CORDIS EU Project: TUCUVI Voice AI
- Becker’s Healthcare Podcast collaboration (mentioned on homepage)
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