EIT-supported Innovator Recognised Among Europe’s Most Influential in Startups and Venture Capital

An innovator with links to the EIT Community has been recognised in the EU-Startups 2026 list of Europe’s most influential women in the startup and venture capital space. The list highlights women who are shaping Europe’s innovation landscape through entrepreneurship, investment and leadership. 

EIT Community Driving Innovation Across Sectors 

This recognition reflects the EIT Community’s broader support for women innovators through its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), helping them build companies and bring innovations to market. 

It also reflects the EIT’s wider commitment to supporting women innovators, as seen in initiatives such as the European Prize for Women Innovators 2026, for which finalists were recently announced, and winners will be revealed in June. 

Advancing Health Innovation: Joana Pinto 

Among those recognised in the list is Joana Pinto, co-founder and CEO of Clynx, a Portuguese healthtech startup that participated in the 2018 EIT Health InnoStars Awards. 

Based in Lisbon, Clynx is rethinking how physiotherapy is delivered. Its solution, Motiphy+, uses digital tools and gamification to make rehabilitation more engaging and easier to follow, whether in hospitals or at home. By improving the patient experience and supporting more flexible care, the platform has the potential to ease pressure on healthcare systems while helping patients stay motivated throughout their recovery. 

Following its participation in the EIT Health InnoStars Awards, Clynx has continued to grow and develop its solution. In 2022, the company secured €150,000 in pre-seed funding from Think Bigger Capital. Reflecting on this journey, Joana Pinto highlighted the role of EIT Health support:  

It allowed us to earn our first smart money grant as well as to receive mentoring and follow our first acceleration program. Not only this, but becoming EIT Health Alumni has given us several networking opportunities that have been valuable for our growth: we have participated in the Coffee with the CEO and CTO, several community workshops and events, the most recent one being the Health Tech Meetup at the Web Summit.

Joana Pinto, CEO of Clynx

Alongside her role at Clynx, Joana Pinto is also Chief Growth Officer at Lampsy Health and supports health tech teams in scaling through strategy, partnerships and go-to-market execution. 

Strengthening Diversity in Europe’s Innovation Ecosystem 

The recognition highlights the importance of continued efforts to support diversity and inclusion across Europe’s innovation ecosystem. By supporting women entrepreneurs and leaders through education, funding opportunities and networks, the EIT contributes to creating more inclusive pathways for innovation and growth.