FemTech startup Daye wins Digital Health Rewired Pitchfest 2026

Nelson Advisors
2 hours ago
2 min read

FemTech startup Daye has been announced as the winner of the Digital Health Rewired Pitchfest 2026 competition following the live final held at Rewired 2026 at the NEC, Birmingham.

What Daye does

Daye is a women’s health biotech focused on closing the gender health gap through science-led innovation.

Its flagship product is the Daye Diagnostic Tampon, which turns a familiar menstrual product into an at-home tool for detecting high‑risk HPV, the leading cause of cervical cancer.

About the Pitchfest 2026 win

Pitchfest is Digital Health Rewired’s startup competition, offering finalists exposure to NHS digital leaders, investors, and potential NHS pilot partners.

For 2026, 16 startups were shortlisted, eight progressed to the live final, and Daye was selected as overall winner after pitching against other digital health innovators such as Astron Health and Cogniss.

The winner receives advisory support and the opportunity for a potential NHS pilot with CW+ and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, giving Daye a route to scale adoption in the NHS.

Why judges backed Daye

Judges and organisers highlighted Daye’s strong potential to make a real impact in healthcare by reducing barriers to cervical cancer screening through at-home HPV testing.

Daye’s founder, Valentina Milanova, framed the solution as a way to turn the UK’s strong science base into delivery at scale, with the aim of contributing to the eradication of cervical cancer and delivering returns both in lives saved and health system savings.

Judging Panel

Jon Hoeksma, chief executive of Future Health Intelligence

Mindy Simon, co-director of NHS Innovation Accelerator

Michael Morgan-Curran, chief executive of Asclepius MedTech Limited

Lloyd Price, partner at Nelson Advisors

Sara Nelson, programme director at DigitalHealth.London

Pei-Fen Lin, clinical director of innovation at Moorfields Eye Hospital

Chris Sawyer, innovation lead – digital health at Innovate UK

The other finalists who competed in the Pitchfest 2026 live final were:

Astron Health

Cogniss

Into-Action.Health,