The Smartlink Partners fund invested PLN 2.8m (USD 0,7m) in the US-based startup WearLinq, which offers the minimalist eWave device for heart monitoring using the Holter method. The device, along with an application, provides access to 24/7 real-time ECG measurement data.
Smartlink Partners Fund: Innovating Heart Health with the eWave Mobile Telemetry Device
The Smartlink Partners fund was established in 2023 by JRH ASI S.A. (formerly JR Holding) in collaboration with the Corporate Connections entrepreneurs’ organization and experienced managers Bartek Kurylak and Paweł Szydłowski, who manage the fund. It is a completely private fund, and the investors are large Polish private entrepreneurs.
The proprietary eWave measurement device, small in size (approximately the size of a matchbox), is attached using a stretchable “patch” adhered to the patient’s chest. It provides 6-lead measurement parameters, producing a detailed, high-quality, multidimensional image of the heart with exceptional clarity of ECG data recorded 24/7. The eWave device focuses on mobile heart telemetry and extended Holter monitoring, offering unparalleled convenience thanks to wireless communication and greater diagnostic value compared to competitors. The dedicated eWave app facilitates the use of real-time data by both patients and doctors. One charge provides 5 days of device operation.
WearLinq Partners with Smartlink for US Expansion, Leveraging Stanford Roots and FDA-Cleared Heart Monitoring Technology
“WearLinq has a licensing agreement with Stanford University, from where the company’s founders originate, and where I met them. The product is FDA-cleared and allows reimbursement for medical tests (Holter-type procedures and telemetry monitoring procedures), which enables financing through medical insurance in the vast US market. The rapid sales growth indicates a product-market fit, and the growth forecasts, including displacing large competitors, are promising,”
declares Bartek Kurylak, Partner at Smartlink Partners.
The company collaborates with cardiologists in private practices and other clinical facilities across the United States. WearLinq plans to apply for additional FDA certifications soon, including those related to the use of artificial intelligence algorithms for disease diagnostics.
“We are excited to collaborate with a fund from Poland, not only because I’m of Polish descent but also because we have a team of engineers in Poland helping us enhance our products,”
says Konrad Morzkowski, CEO and co-founder of WearLinq.
Smartlink Fund Expands Investments Across CEE, Targeting SaaS, Medtech, and Deeptech Sectors
So far, the Smartlink fund has completed 6 investments and is in the advanced investment process with 4 more projects in several CEE countries. Smartlink invests in companies in the SaaS (HRtech, AI), Medtech, and Deeptech (Spacetech) sectors, which not only have existing products but also products that are proven in the markets they operate in, with growing revenue traction, i.e., from seed to Series A rounds. Besides providing financing, the fund is eager to connect the companies it invests in with business owners from its network (e.g., entrepreneurs associated in the Corporate Connections organizations). Additionally, the fund’s Partners are actively involved in supporting portfolio companies, including in the process of raising subsequent investment rounds.