As an entrepreneur who has navigated multiple industries, built successful startups, and tackled some of the most unique challenges, Violetta Bonenkamp brings a sharp perspective to the booming world of HealthTech and AI-powered solutions. The recent surge in cancer cases, projected to reach 35 million per year by 2050, has profound implications for healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, and society at large. Finland’s Gosta Labs, a startup co-founded by leaders in the MedTech industry, is turning this challenge into an opportunity by raising €7.5 million to scale its AI system for automating oncology documentation.
Gosta Labs: Empowering Healthcare Through Automation
The healthcare industry is notoriously burdened by administrative tasks, with oncologists spending significant hours manually documenting patient interactions. Gosta Labs, led by Lauri Sippola and Henri Viertolahti, seeks to radically disrupt this status quo. Their AI-based operating system automates critical documentation processes, streamlines workflows, and frees clinicians to focus on patient care.
Backed by major European players like Voima Ventures and Reaktor, Gosta Labs has already demonstrated success in reducing documentation time by over two-thirds during real-world trials. Simply put, their technology doesn't just promise efficiency, it delivers measurable results.
As Bonenkamp often emphasizes, “True innovation isn’t just about creating a tool; it’s about changing how industries function fundamentally.” Gosta Labs exemplifies this vision, with its operating system able to capture structured data in real-time, summarize patient journeys, and provide actionable insights aligned with international oncology guidelines.
The Oncology Market: A Ticking Time Bomb for Entrepreneurs
Why would a founder, or anyone focused on scalable innovation, take notice of Gosta Labs' milestone? Because oncology alone presents one of the most significant opportunities in the HealthTech sector. Entrepreneurs looking to make an impact will find essential insights in these statistics:
- Cancer Cases Surge: A forecast by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) notes that global cancer cases hit 20 million in 2022 and are expected to skyrocket to 35 million by 2050.
- Healthcare Inefficiencies: Research shows that healthcare professionals often spend nearly 50% of their time on administrative tasks rather than delivering quality care.
- Technology’s Role: By streamlining workflows through AI, Gosta Labs is tackling these inefficiencies head-on, essential in an era where clinicians are overextended.
Bonenkamp highlights the importance of understanding user pain points in startups: “It doesn’t matter if you build software or hardware, the question is, what problem are you solving? There's nothing more urgent than meeting human health needs efficiently.”
Advice for Entrepreneurs Eyeing HealthTech
Violetta’s entrepreneurial journey offers actionable advice for those navigating HealthTech or tackling large-scale problems like Gosta Labs:
1. Focus on Real Validation
Gosta Labs didn’t stop at promising time-saving, national trials proved their solution cuts oncology documentation time, bringing direct value to users. Entrepreneurs in AI or HealthTech need to measure, validate, and showcase their product’s effectiveness, not just in ideal conditions but in real-world settings.
2. Partner Strategically
Strategic relationships with investors and technology partners, like Gosta Labs with Reaktor, can unlock resources, credibility, and greater adoption. For startups venturing into healthcare, teaming up with seasoned industry players is often a pivotal step.
3. Prepare for Scaling
Gosta Labs’ investment serves as a lesson for startups looking to scale rapidly: secure funding not just to build, but to penetrate international markets. Expansion isn’t just about having more customers; it requires tailored deployment strategies for different healthcare systems.
Mistakes to Avoid When Tackling Big Markets
Even the sharpest founders face hurdles when scaling solutions in complex industries like healthcare. Bonenkamp outlines common mistakes to avoid:
- Underestimating Regulations: The healthcare sector is governed by stringent legal frameworks, particularly in Europe. Success stories like Gosta Labs showcase the importance of adhering to those rules early.
- Ignoring User Feedback: Founders sometimes assume they know the best functionality for their product without consulting end-users. The Gosta operating system was validated by healthcare professionals team-first, not tech-first.
- Scaling Too Quickly: Raising €7.5 million is impressive, but the priority for startups should be scaling sustainably rather than overextending the team prematurely.
“Entrepreneurs often fall in love with solutions instead of processes,” says Bonenkamp, “but it’s only through perfecting processes that they consistently deliver value.”
A How-To Guide: Implement AI Innovation Like Gosta Labs
For founders and innovators, adapting lessons from Gosta Labs requires practical steps. Here’s Violetta’s AI startup blueprint to efficiently tackle large sectors:
- Identify Scalable Pain Points: Beyond identifying healthcare problems, ask, “How do I turn inevitable bottlenecks into opportunities?” Examples include workflow inefficiencies or data fragmentation.
- Validate Your Technology: Partner with academic institutions, launch trials, and showcase numerical outcomes, like Gosta Labs cutting documentation time by two-thirds.
- Build With Users, Not Around Them: Consult industry insiders to design systems that match professional needs. This radically improves user adoption.
- Secure Funding from Mutual Visionaries: Align with investors who don’t just offer capital but guidance, such as Voima Ventures’ strategic expertise in tech startups.
- Think Global, Act Local: Local partnerships in Finland and Switzerland were pivotal to Gosta Labs’ success. Entrepreneurs must adapt solutions to regional needs before tackling international deployment.
Closing Insights: What Entrepreneurs Should Remember
Gosta Labs’ €7.5 million milestone isn't just about raising funds, it signals the transformative power that AI is bringing to complex industries like oncology. For Bonenkamp, the key takeaway is this: “Entrepreneurs in AI-powered HealthTech must aim not merely for innovation but for integration. Transcend tech hype and build solutions that healthcare professionals adopt as indispensable.”
For those inspired by this story, Gosta Labs is proof that a meaningful startup can thrive by blending innovation with human-centric outcomes. Whether you’re building the next AI-driven tool or scaling impactful solutions, companies like Gosta Labs offer the perfect blueprint, and opportunity.
If you're considering venturing into HealthTech, explore Gosta Labs further to see how they're reshaping oncology workflows and learn from their approach.
FAQ
1. What is Gosta Labs, and what problem are they solving?
Gosta Labs is a Finnish HealthTech startup aiming to reduce oncology clinicians' administrative workload through AI-powered automation of clinical documentation. Their innovative systems allow healthcare professionals to focus more on patient care. Learn more about Gosta Labs and their mission.
2. How much funding did Gosta Labs raise, and what are their plans?
Gosta Labs raised €7.5 million in a seed round to scale their AI system internationally and deepen capabilities for automating oncology workflows. Read more about their funding journey.
3. Why is AI important in healthcare, particularly oncology?
AI streamlines workflows, addresses inefficiencies, automates documentation, and helps healthcare professionals focus on patient care. It is critical in oncology due to the predicted rise in global cancer cases, reaching 35 million by 2050. Explore the importance of AI in oncology workflows.
4. What measurable results does Gosta Labs' AI system deliver?
During real-world trials, Gosta Labs' AI system reduced oncology documentation time by over two-thirds per visit, allowing oncologists to spend more time with patients. Learn more about their trial results.
5. Who are the key leaders behind Gosta Labs?
Co-founders Lauri Sippola and Henri Viertolahti lead Gosta Labs, with Sippola having a proven track record in HealthTech as the founder of Kaiku Health, which was acquired by Elekta in 2020.
6. What distinguishes Gosta Labs from other HealthTech startups?
Gosta Labs prioritizes clinical validation and collaboration with healthcare professionals, with early results validated at major oncology events like ESMO 2025 Congress. Their AI system integrates international oncology guidelines for real-time patient care decisions.
7. Who are the investors supporting Gosta Labs?
The €7.5 million funding round was led by Voima Ventures, with participation from Reaktor and other notable investors. These partnerships also contribute to their credibility and expansion efforts.
8. What is the projected global cancer burden by 2050?
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) forecasts that global cancer cases will surge to 35 million annually by 2050, driven by population growth and aging. Read more about cancer projections.
9. How does Gosta Labs' technology integrate user feedback?
Gosta Labs works closely with healthcare professionals, ensuring their AI system is built to meet real-world clinical needs. This collaborative approach significantly improves adoption rates and efficiency in the healthcare system.
10. What advice does Violetta Bonenkamp offer to HealthTech entrepreneurs?
Bonenkamp advises focusing on validated results, strategic partnerships, scalable pain points, and user-centric designs when building complex solutions like those tackled by Gosta Labs.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.