Executive Summary

The European healthtech market is demonstrating remarkable resilience and strategic evolution in 2025, navigating a dynamic global landscape. Valued at USD $96.68 Billion in 2025, the sector is actively transitioning from early-stage experimentation to scalable, proven business models, significantly propelled by supportive European Union (EU) policies and a surge in private investment, particularly within Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Globally, digital health exit activity experienced a cooling trend in the first half of 2025, with a total of 113 exits, comprising 6 Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and 107 Mergers & Acquisitions (M&As). However, M&A remains the predominant exit pathway by volume, often manifesting as venture-to-venture transactions and strategic consolidations. Despite nascent signs of revival from major US-based digital health IPOs like Hinge Health and Omada Health, the broader IPO market is projected to remain subdued throughout 2025, posing a continued challenge for larger private equity-backed companies seeking public listings.

AI-driven solutions are unequivocally the primary magnet for both investment and M&A interest, commanding higher valuations and driving critical efficiencies across diagnostics, drug discovery and patient care workflows. The market is increasingly characterised by a "selective scale" funding model, where investors demand clinically validated datasets, clear reimbursement pathways and robust, defensible AI pipelines. Consolidation is a defining trend, with private equity firms actively merging traditional healthcare businesses with AI-native startups to achieve greater efficiency and scale. The second half of 2025 is anticipated to witness accelerated deal activity within the health tech and AI platforms, driven by intensified competition between strategic buyers and private equity firms.

The current market conditions reveal a compelling narrative: while global exit volumes may have softened, Europe is experiencing a qualitative shift towards larger, more strategic deals. This indicates a maturing market where acquirers are prioritising high-quality assets. The consistent preference for M&A over IPOs underscores a pragmatic approach by investors and companies, favouring immediate liquidity and strategic alignment. Furthermore, the substantial capital flowing into AI-driven solutions is not merely a trend but a fundamental re-evaluation of value.

Companies that effectively integrate AI to demonstrate tangible clinical efficacy and clear pathways to profitability are gaining a significant competitive advantage, commanding premium valuations in the exit landscape. This market dynamic is further bolstered by Europe's proactive policy environment and inherent demographic pressures, which create a sustained demand for innovative digital health solutions.

European HealthTech, Digital Health and Healthcare AI Exits in 2025: A Mid-Year Analysis and Outlook

Europe's healthcare sector is undergoing a profound technological transformation in 2025, propelled by persistent challenges such as rising costs and an aging population, coupled with supportive policy shifts and continuous innovation across digital health, medtech, and physician support domains. The European digital health market is projected for substantial growth, valued at USD $96.68 Billion in 2025 and forecast to reach USD $222.22 Billion by 2030, demonstrating an impressive 18.11% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR).

In 2024, Europe held the largest share of the global digital health market, accounting for 34.67% of the revenue. This robust expansion is fuelled by escalating healthcare expenses, an aging demographic, continuous technological advancements (including Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things and Robotics), and proactive government initiatives promoting digital healthcare solutions. The European digital health ecosystem is vibrant, housing over 3,800 active ventures, with the United Kingdom, Germany, and France leading in terms of venture volume, signifying an accelerating pace of market maturity.

Overall Investment Trends and Market Maturity

The investment landscape in European healthtech reflects a maturing sector. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, European startups collectively secured €12.79 billion in private funding, with healthtech emerging as the most funded sector, attracting a substantial €4.42 billion, according to Dealroom data. Europe experienced a remarkable surge in digital health funding in Q1 2025, reaching $2.1 Billion, its second-highest quarterly total and accounting for 32% of global digital health investment. This strong performance signals renewed investor confidence following the pandemic-driven boom.

AI-driven digital health investment in Europe is on track to reach levels not seen since the 2021 boom, with $701 Million already raised by AI-deploying startups in 2025. If this momentum persists, the figure could surpass the records set in the past three years. The market has evolved from a period of "exuberance to a more grounded reality," where the focus has decisively shifted towards demonstrating tangible outcomes and profitability, leading to the adoption of a "selective scale" funding model.

The significant EU funding and supportive policy shifts, such as the European Health Data Space and initiatives for ePrescriptions, are fundamental drivers of this growth. This public sector support is not merely enabling but actively accelerating the digitalisation of healthcare. The integrated EU funding and proactive policy frameworks are directly fostering a conducive environment for digital health innovation and market expansion. This unique synergy between public and private sector initiatives provides a more stable and predictable environment for healthtech innovation and scaling compared to regions where such integrated support might be less pronounced. For investors, this translates into a market with reduced regulatory uncertainty and a clear governmental commitment to digital transformation, making it an attractive destination for capital.

The market's pivot to "selective scale" and the demand for "defensible AI pipelines" are prominent trends. The substantial funding flowing into AI-driven healthtech solutions (€4.42 Billion in Q1 2025) and the expectation for AI investment to surpass previous peaks indicate that AI is not just a technological trend but a critical enabler for companies to achieve the "proven business models" and "profitability" that investors now prioritise. This suggests that AI is the key to unlocking the next phase of market maturity by enabling demonstrable value. For healthtech companies operating in Europe, the deep integration of AI is no longer an optional feature; it is becoming a prerequisite for attracting significant investment and achieving successful exits. The market is maturing beyond early-stage experimentation, demanding AI solutions that can demonstrate tangible value, clinical efficacy, and clear pathways to sustainable revenue and profitability. This creates a significant competitive advantage for AI-first or AI-integrated companies.

Furthermore, Europe's aging population and rising healthcare costs are explicitly identified as fundamental, long-term drivers of digital health market growth. Chronic diseases, for instance, consume over 70% of health spending, and Europe faces a projected 1.8 million clinician shortfall by 2030. These persistent demographic and systemic pressures create an undeniable and sustained demand for digital solutions that can improve efficiency, expand access and manage chronic conditions more effectively. The underlying demographic challenges in Europe provide a robust and enduring market for healthtech and digital health solutions, largely insulating the sector from short-term economic fluctuations. This inherent demand makes the sector particularly attractive for long-term strategic investments, as digital tools are increasingly recognized as indispensable for managing an aging population and alleviating the growing strains on traditional healthcare systems.

2. European HealthTech Exits in H1 2025: An Overview

Total Exit Activity (IPOs vs. M&A Volume and Value)

Globally, digital health exit activity experienced a cooling trend in the first half of 2025, with a total of 113 exits. This comprised 6 Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and 107 Mergers & Acquisitions (M&As), representing only a marginal increase of one IPO compared to H1 2024. M&A activity constituted the vast majority of exits by volume in H1 2025, with 107 deals recorded globally. This marks a 5% increase over the 101 M&A deals observed in H1 2024, indicating a sustained preference for this exit route. The digital health sector is on a trajectory to nearly double its 2024 M&A total (121 deals), having already reached 107 deals in the first half of 2025 alone.4 The anticipated robust return to a buoyant IPO market in 2025 is unlikely to materialise, with projections indicating continued sluggishness and a challenging environment for public listings through year-end.

Comparison with Previous Periods

Global health industries M&A activity generally slowed from H1 2024 to H1 2025, experiencing a 22% drop in deal volumes and a 25% fall in values. However, within Healthcare Services, while deal count fell by 25%, deal values notably rose by approximately 50%, driven by a return of larger transactions, including several billion-dollar deals in late 2024 and early 2025. Geographically, the Americas witnessed the most significant declines in both deal volume and value. This lost market share was primarily absorbed by Europe, the Middle East, and Asia (EMEA), highlighting a regional shift in activity. The European healthcare sector, specifically, saw an 87% spike in deal value (EUR 31.8 Billion) year-to-date as of June 24, 2025, despite an 8% decline in deal count compared to the same period in 2024. This indicates a focus on larger, more impactful deals.

The market dynamics reveal a notable divergence between global and European M&A trends, particularly concerning the emphasis on value over volume. While global health industries M&A saw a decline in both deal volumes and values from H1 2024 to H1 2025, the European healthcare sector experienced a substantial 87% spike in deal value, even with a slight decrease in deal count.

This apparent contradiction suggests that while the total number of transactions in Europe might have slightly reduced, the individual transactions that did occur were significantly larger and more impactful. This "bigger cheques, fewer bets" approach points to a maturing European market where acquirers are prioritizing high-quality, high-value assets. For market participants, this implies a more strategic and less opportunistic M&A environment in Europe, favouring companies with clear market leadership or innovative, high-impact solutions.

Furthermore, M&A is clearly established as the preferred and pragmatic exit route amidst persistent IPO hesitation. Multiple reports consistently highlight M&A as the "primary driver of digital health exits by volume" globally, with 107 deals in H1 2025.3 Concurrently, IPOs are described as remaining "sluggish" and a "challenging exit option" for larger private equity-backed companies. This clear and consistent preference for M&A over IPOs signals a pragmatic approach from both investors and companies in a cautious and uncertain market environment.

Companies planning exits in Europe should primarily focus on developing robust M&A strategies. This involves emphasising strategic fit, demonstrating clear operational efficiencies, and articulating compelling value propositions for potential acquirers. While IPOs offer prestige and broader market access, the current market conditions strongly favor the more immediate liquidity, lower risk, and strategic alignment offered by M&A, particularly for mature companies seeking a definitive exit. This also suggests that private equity firms, facing longer holding periods, are likely to actively pursue M&A exits to generate liquidity for their portfolios.

3. Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Landscape

Key M&A Trends and Drivers

The HealthTech M&A landscape in 2025 is characterised by a blend of opportunity and caution. Financial discipline and strategic alignment are paramount for successful deals, particularly given the increase in distressed company M&As.

Several key trends and drivers are shaping this environment:

Technological Advancements and Innovation: The integration of AI is a primary driver. HealthTech firms possessing proprietary AI algorithms or scalable platforms are attracting heightened interest from buyers. Companies with proven AI solutions can command revenue multiples of 6-8x, significantly above the sector average of 4.5-5x, as buyers are willing to pay premiums for innovation and future revenue potential.

Market Consolidation: The highly fragmented medical device market, in particular, is prompting companies to pursue M&A to consolidate market share, achieve economies of scale, and streamline operations. Larger entities are acquiring smaller, specialised firms to broaden their product portfolios and enhance competitiveness.

Strategic Shift to Holistic Care: M&A activity reflects a broader strategic shift in the healthcare ecosystem, moving towards prevention, early intervention, and connected, consumer-centric care. This transformation is significantly driven by global mega-trends such as AI.

Biopharma's "String-of-Pearls" Strategy: Large-cap biopharma players are increasingly adopting a "string-of-pearls" approach, acquiring early- to mid-stage innovators. This strategy aims to strengthen pipelines, fill capability gaps, and offset upcoming patent cliffs. The $1 Billion-$10 Billion deal range remains particularly active, with a strong focus on oncology, immunology, and rare diseases.

Alternative Deal Structures: There is a growing preference for alternative deal structures, including earn-outs, royalties, licensing agreements, and joint ventures. These structures are utilised to share risk and fund innovation, especially in biotech and diagnostics, and co-development partnerships are helping mitigate regulatory and reimbursement risks in digital health.

Economic and Financial Pressures: Rising interest rates and increased capital costs in late 2024 and early 2025 have made financing large transactions more challenging, leading some buyers to re-evaluate or face difficulties in securing necessary funding.

Shift to Profitability Over Growth: Investors are increasingly prioritising profitability and stable growth over aggressive expansion. HealthTech companies that scaled rapidly during the pandemic but lack sustainable revenue models may become less attractive targets, potentially leading to deal terminations.

The strategic acquisitiveness observed is largely driven by the imperative of AI integration and the looming biopharma patent cliffs. Reports consistently highlight AI integration and biopharma patent cliffs as primary M&A drivers. Large pharmaceutical players are employing a "string-of-pearls" strategy to acquire early- to mid-stage innovators. This is not merely about expanding market share; it is about filling critical pipeline gaps and gaining access to cutting-edge technology (AI) that can fundamentally transform diagnostics, drug discovery, and patient care.

This represents a proactive response to future market needs. Companies with strong, defensible intellectual property in AI-driven solutions or innovative biopharma assets (particularly in oncology, immunology, and rare diseases) are positioned as prime M&A targets. This trend suggests that strategic buyers are willing to pay a premium for innovation that addresses future market needs and competitive pressures, even in a cautious economic climate. This creates a clear roadmap for healthtech startups to align their development with these strategic priorities.

Notable European M&A Deals in H1 2025 by Theme, Sub-market and Country

Several significant M&A activities involving European entities or targets have shaped the H1 2025 landscape:

Hims & Hers acquires Zava: US-based Hims & Hers announced its intent to acquire European digital healthcare provider Zava in an all-cash deal, expected to close in H2 2025. Zava, headquartered in London, UK, with operations expanding into Germany, France, and Ireland, will significantly expand Hims & Hers' European footprint. This acquisition focuses on telehealth services for sexual health, hair loss, mental health, and weight loss

Sanofi acquires Blueprint Medicines: French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi completed its $9.1 billion acquisition of US-based Blueprint Medicines in July 2025. While the target is US-based, Sanofi's European origin makes this a significant European-led acquisition, adding a commercialised rare immunology disease medicine (Ayvakit/Ayvakyt) and a promising pipeline to its portfolio.

GSK acquires IDRx: UK-based GSK acquired US-based IDRx for up to $1.15 Billion.Similar to Sanofi, GSK is a major European pharmaceutical company, and this acquisition reflects the European biopharma sector's strategic pursuit of innovative assets.

Novartis acquires Anthos Therapeutics: Switzerland-based Novartis acquired US-based Anthos Therapeutics for $3.1 Billion ($925 Million upfront) in Q1 2025.10 This further illustrates the trend of major European Pharma players acquiring promising US biotech targets.

EssilorLuxottica acquires Optegra: French/Italian company EssilorLuxottica acquired Optegra, an AI-driven ophthalmology platform, marking a direct European healthtech/AI acquisition focused on diagnostics, therapeutic care, and surgical treatments.

VitalHub acquires Induction Healthcare Group (UK): VitalHub announced a recommended cash acquisition of UK-based Induction Healthcare Group PLC for approximately $11 million, aiming to integrate Induction's Zesty platform to enhance product efficiency and user experience.

SanoPass (Romania) Exited: SanoPass, a Romanian HealthTech platform providing digital access to medical and wellness services, was acquired by MedLife (Romania) in September 2022. Although the exit occurred prior to 2025, its mention in a 2025 report indicates its continued relevance as a successful European healthtech exit example.

Role of Private Equity in M&A

Private equity (PE) firms are facing extended holding periods due to limited exit routes, characterized by muted IPO markets, soft public valuations, and high financing costs. In response, they are increasingly resorting to secondary transactions and continuation funds to generate liquidity.

PE firms are actively engaged in merging legacy healthcare businesses with AI-native startups, exemplified by New Mountain Capital's plan to combine three companies into an AI-based revenue cycle management platform, aiming to drive significant efficiency and scale. The volume of European healthcare private equity deals reached a record high in 2025, surpassing the previous peak set in 2021. This increase was primarily driven by a higher number of smaller transactions, particularly within the biopharma and MedTech sectors.

Sponsor buyout deals in the European healthcare sector surged by an impressive 276% year-to-date 2025, reaching EUR 29.6 Billion, compared to the same period in 2024.19 Notable PE deals in H1 2025 include Hellman & Friedman's EUR 2 Billion investment into Finnish healthcare services provider Mehiläinen (alongside CVC) and UAE-based PureHealth's EUR 1.3 Billion acquisition of a 60% stake in Hellenic Healthcare Group.

The evolving role of private equity in M&A is shifting from pure financial engineering to a more pronounced focus on operational value creation. Reports indicate that PE firms, facing longer holding periods and limited IPO exits, are increasingly turning to M&A. Crucially, they are not just acquiring for financial leverage but are actively involved in operational improvements and strategic tuck-ins, such as "merging three companies into an AI-based revenue cycle management platform".

This signifies a strategic pivot from pure financial plays to a more hands-on, value-creation approach, where operational synergies and technological integration are key. Private equity firms are emerging as more sophisticated and direct competitors to corporate buyers for healthtech assets. Their increased engagement in operational value creation means they are not merely seeking to flip companies but are actively building more efficient and scalable healthcare enterprises. This suggests that healthtech companies seeking PE investment or an exit to a PE firm should emphasize their operational maturity, scalability, and potential for synergistic integration, rather than solely focusing on growth metrics.

4. Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) Landscape

Current State of the IPO Market in Europe

The anticipated robust return to a buoyant IPO market for digital health in 2025 appears unlikely to materialize, with projections indicating continued sluggishness through year-end. While the first half of 2025 saw a modest increase in digital health venture funding globally, signalling a market that has found its footing after the pandemic-driven boom, the IPO environment remains challenging. Globally, there were only 6 digital health IPOs in H1 2025, just one more than in H1 2024. Public listings continue to be a difficult exit option for larger private equity-backed companies, often viewed as a channel of last resort for assets too big to sell otherwise.

Despite this, there are nascent signs of revival. The IPO market is more receptive than in previous years for HealthTech companies, driven by a renewed focus on profitability, strong business models, and the ongoing digital transformation of healthcare. In H1 2025, EMEA IPO proceeds reached $9.4 Billion, with European IPO proceeds at €4.0 Billion. The aftermarket performance of recent European IPOs has also been broadly positive, providing encouraging momentum.

Notable European IPOs or Lack Thereof

While the global digital health IPO landscape saw significant bellwethers like Hinge Health (May 2025) and Omada Health (June 2025) making their NASDAQ debuts, signaling a cautious reopening of the public exit window for mature, high-growth digital health firms with proven business models, these were primarily US-based. Hinge Health, a digital musculoskeletal care company, raised approximately $437 Million, while Omada Health, a virtual-first provider for chronic conditions, raised $150 Million.

Specific European digital health IPOs in H1 2025 are less prominent in the provided data. However, a Swedish provider of medical products and a Polish provider of medical diagnostics saw strong aftermarket gains in European IPO activity, both closing H1 over 50% up on their launch prices. Doctolib, a French-based company, appears to be definitively positioned for an H2 2025 IPO based on public statements and financial transparency. Veraxa Biotech AG, a German company focused on antibody therapeutics for cancer treatment, announced a business combination agreement with Voyager Acquisition Corp., a SPAC, in April 2025, with an expected NASDAQ listing in Q4 2025. This indicates a potential European healthtech IPO, albeit through a SPAC merger on a US exchange.

The selectivity of the IPO market and the maturation of public market expectations are clear. The continued sluggishness of the IPO market for digital health, despite some high-profile US-based debuts, highlights a significant shift in public market expectations.3 Companies like Hinge Health and Omada Health, while successful in going public, had been "long-awaited" and even took "valuation haircuts" compared to their private valuations. This indicates that public markets are demanding sustained profitability and growth, moving beyond the "growth at all costs" mentality of previous years. For European healthtech companies considering an IPO, this implies a higher bar for public listing. They must demonstrate a clear path to profitability, robust business models, and a proven ability to scale sustainably, rather than relying solely on rapid user acquisition or market share expansion. This market condition encourages companies to prioritise financial health and operational efficiency well before contemplating a public offering.

5. Venture Capital Investor Activity and Influence

Key European VC Funds Active in HealthTech

The European venture capital landscape in healthtech is vibrant and growing. The number of identified European funds investing in digital health has grown from 84 in 2021 to 254 in 2025, reflecting sustained investor interest.

Top European VC funds actively investing in HealthTech startups include:

CEE (Central and Eastern Europe): APEX Ventures (Vienna, Austria) focuses on early-stage deep tech with defensible IP across healthcare and diagnostics. Vinci S.A. (Warsaw, Poland) funds early to growth-stage high-tech startups in biotech and IT, emphasising commercialisation and international expansion. Smart Impact Capital (Bucharest, Romania) has Sanopass as a notable acquisition in its portfolio.

DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland): Ananda Impact Ventures (Munich, Germany) supports impact-driven HealthTech startups tackling sustainability and AI-driven care. Thuja Capital (Utrecht, Netherlands) invests from early to late stages in biotech, MedTech, and digital health across Europe, with a strong foundation in the Benelux region and a focus on clinically validated, high-impact innovations. High-Tech Gründerfonds (Bonn, Germany) is Germany's leading early-stage investor.

BENELUX (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg): EIT Health (Brussels, Belgium) is a major EU-backed network funding and accelerating healthcare innovation. Forbion Capital Partners (Naarden, Netherlands) is a leading biotech and MedTech fund with a broad European focus.

UK & Other Europe: Octopus Ventures (UK) has a healthtech-focused team. Heal Capital (Germany) is backed by German insurers, and MTIP (Switzerland) is a digital health scale-up investor. Nina Capital (Spain) specialises in early-stage health tech. F-Prime Capital (London, UK) invests across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, backing therapeutics, medtech, and digital health innovations. EQT Life Sciences (Stockholm, Sweden) manages €3.5 Billion across 12 funds, targeting biotech, medtech, digital health and diagnostics. Karista (France) is an early and growth-stage VC fund backing innovative startups across Western Europe.

Investment Focus and Impact on Exits

Venture capital investors are increasingly focusing on AI-driven solutions and companies with proven business models. AI-enabled startups captured 62% of digital health venture funding in H1 2025 globally, raising an average of $34.4 million per round, an 83% premium over non-AI-enabled counterparts. This emphasis extends to early-stage deals, with AI-enabled Series A and B rounds significantly larger than their non-AI counterparts. This trend is particularly pronounced in Europe, where AI-driven digital health investment is projected to reach levels not seen since the 2021 boom. Investors are demanding clinically proven datasets, clear reimbursement pathways, and defensible AI pipelines, reflecting a "selective scale" funding model.

Specific Investors Related to Identified Exits

SanoPass (Romania): This Romanian HealthTech platform, acquired by MedLife in September 2022, had received funding from venture capital firms including Smart Impact Capital, Founders Bridge, and PrimaInvest Capital Management. SeedBlink also participated in a €760,000 Seed Round in March 2021.

Zava (UK/Europe): Acquired by US-based Hims & Hers in H1 2025, Zava (London, UK) had raised $32 million in Series A funding in June 2019, led by HPE Growth Capital.

Veraxa Biotech AG (Germany/Switzerland): This German company, focused on antibody therapeutics for cancer treatment, is undergoing a SPAC merger with Voyager Acquisition Corp. for a NASDAQ listing in Q4 2025. Its main shareholder is the Swiss company Xlife Sciences AG, with other shareholders including the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and its technology transfer arm EMBLEM, private investors, founders, and management.

The venture capital focus on AI and proven models is a dominant theme. The significant premium paid for AI-enabled startups in venture funding, even at early stages, demonstrates that AI is not just a technological differentiator but a fundamental driver of investment decisions and future exit potential. This indicates a shift in venture capital strategy towards de-risking investments by backing companies that can demonstrate tangible value creation through AI, rather than speculative growth. For healthtech startups, this means that securing VC funding and ultimately achieving a successful exit hinges on their ability to clearly articulate and prove the impact of their AI solutions on clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, and a clear path to profitability. This pressure on AI-driven value creation is intensifying competition and pushing companies to mature faster.

The geographic specialisation of European VC funds is also noteworthy. The presence of specialized funds with strong regional focuses (e.g., APEX Ventures in CEE, Ananda Impact Ventures in DACH, Thuja Capital in Benelux) suggests a nuanced approach to investment across Europe.11 These funds leverage local market knowledge, regulatory nuances, and regional talent pools to identify and nurture promising startups. This localized expertise helps mitigate risks associated with fragmented European healthcare systems and diverse regulatory landscapes. For startups, understanding which VCs specialize in their region and sub-market is crucial for securing funding and leveraging networks that can facilitate growth and eventual exits. For larger acquirers, these regional VC portfolios represent a curated pipeline of potential targets that have already navigated local market complexities.

6. Predictions for the Next 6 Months (H2 2025 and Early 2026)

Predictions for M&A Activity

The second half of 2025 is anticipated to see an acceleration of deal activity in the health tech and AI-driven platforms. This will be fuelled by intensified competition between strategic buyers and private equity firms.The overall M&A environment is expected to become more favourable due to potentially lower financing costs and normalised market growth rates.

Key themes driving M&A will continue to include:

AI Integration and Innovation: Companies with proven AI solutions will remain highly attractive, commanding premium valuations (6-8x revenue multiples) as buyers seek to cut costs and improve outcomes. AI's ability to drive efficiency, personalisation, and scalability will be a core component for M&A targets.

Market Consolidation and Strategic Tuck-ins: The fragmented medical device market will continue to drive consolidation, with larger entities acquiring smaller, specialised firms to broaden portfolios and achieve economies of scale. Private equity firms will increasingly focus on operational improvements and strategic tuck-ins to drive long-term value, potentially merging multiple companies into AI-based platforms.

Biopharma's "String-of-Pearls" Strategy: Large-cap biopharma players will persist in acquiring early- to mid-stage innovators to strengthen pipelines and offset upcoming patent cliffs, with oncology, immunology, and rare diseases remaining active areas.

Alternative Deal Structures: The use of earn-outs, royalties, and licensing agreements is expected to increase, particularly in biotech and diagnostics, as a means to share risk and manage uncertainty around drug approvals and market conditions. Co-development partnerships will also be crucial in digital health to mitigate regulatory and reimbursement risks amidst a slow IPO recovery.

Distressed Assets: An increase in distressed HealthTech assets may lead to more M&A opportunities, though buyers will exercise caution during due diligence.

From a geographical perspective, Europe is expected to continue to absorb market share from regions like the Americas, which saw declines in H1 2025. Countries like Germany, France, and the UK, with their strong digital health ecosystems and supportive regulatory frameworks, are likely to be hotspots for M&A activity. The acquisition of Zava by Hims & Hers, expected to close in H2 2025, exemplifies this continued cross-border interest in expanding European market presence.

Predictions for IPO Activity

The overall IPO market for digital health is expected to remain sluggish through the end of 2025, and a robust return to a buoyant IPO market in 2025 is unlikely to materialise. Public listings will continue to be a challenging exit option, particularly for larger private equity-backed companies. However, for companies that can demonstrate sustained profitability and growth, the IPO window may remain cautiously open. The positive aftermarket performance of some recent European IPOs provides encouraging signals for those in the pipeline. Private equity exits and demergers are expected to drive listing activity, particularly in Europe, through H2 2025.

Companies like Doctolib are well-positioned for an H2 2025 IPO. Additionally, the SPAC merger for Veraxa Biotech AG, targeting a NASDAQ listing in Q4 2025, indicates that alternative routes to public markets will continue to be explored, especially for innovative biotech companies.

Continued Influence of AI and Regulatory Environment

AI will continue to dominate the healthtech landscape, attracting the lion's share of venture capital funding and driving M&A activity. The market will increasingly demand AI solutions that demonstrate clear return on investment (ROI) and clinical efficacy, moving beyond mere pilots to full system-wide deployment. The growth of healthcare data (expected to rise from 2,300 to 10,800 exabytes between 2020 and 2025) will further fuel the need for AI-driven analytics and infrastructure.

The regulatory environment, particularly the European Health Data Space (EHDS), will play an increasingly critical role. The EHDS obliges providers to offer standardized electronic records from March 2025, positioning compliant software firms for continent-wide scale. This regulatory push, along with initiatives like Germany's DiGA framework and France's PECAN fast-track, will accelerate enterprise-class platform rollouts and create new revenue pools for secure identity and consent-management solutions by 2026. However, GDPR-driven data privacy complexity and fragmented reimbursement across EU-27 will remain challenges.

The sustained M&A momentum, driven by a strategic imperative, is expected to continue. The observed trend of larger, more strategic M&A deals in Europe, coupled with the biopharma sector's "string-of-pearls" strategy and private equity's shift towards operational value creation, suggests that M&A will remain the primary exit route. This means that companies with strong, defensible AI-driven solutions and clear pathways to profitability will be highly sought after. The market is increasingly sophisticated, and acquirers are looking for assets that can deliver tangible synergies and long-term value. This implies that healthtech companies should prioritise building robust, scalable solutions with clear clinical and economic benefits to maximise their attractiveness for acquisition.

The continued dominance of AI as a value driver is undeniable. AI has proven its ability to enhance valuations and drive strategic interest in H1 2025, and this trend is set to intensify. The increasing demand for clinically proven datasets and defensible AI pipelines means that companies merely dabbling in AI will likely struggle to attract significant investment or achieve favourable exits. The market is rewarding deep, impactful AI integration that addresses critical healthcare challenges. This reinforces the necessity for healthtech companies to invest heavily in AI research and development, ensuring their solutions are not only innovative but also clinically validated and scalable to meet the stringent demands of investors and acquirers.

Finally, the regulatory environment will continue to be a shaping force, not merely a hurdle. The European Health Data Space and various national initiatives are actively creating a more harmonized and data-rich environment for digital health. While GDPR and fragmented reimbursement policies present challenges, the proactive regulatory push to standardize electronic records and facilitate cross-border data exchange will ultimately unlock significant opportunities for compliant companies. This means that healthtech companies must view regulatory compliance not as a burden but as a strategic advantage. Those that proactively align with evolving regulations, particularly around data interoperability and privacy, will be better positioned to scale across Europe and attract acquirers seeking to capitalise on a more unified digital health market.

Conclusions

The European healthtech, digital health, and healthcare AI sectors in 2025 are characterised by a profound shift towards maturity, selectivity, and value-driven growth. While global exit activity has shown signs of cooling in terms of volume, Europe stands out with a significant increase in deal value, indicating a strategic focus on larger, more impactful transactions. This qualitative shift underscores a market that is moving beyond speculative growth to prioritise proven business models and demonstrable impact.

Mergers and acquisitions remain the overwhelmingly preferred exit route, a pragmatic choice in an IPO market that continues to face headwinds. The strategic imperative for M&A is driven by the dual forces of AI integration and the biopharma patent cliff, pushing large corporate players to acquire innovative, early-to-mid-stage assets. Private equity firms are also evolving their strategies, moving beyond purely financial plays to actively engage in operational value creation, seeking to merge traditional healthcare businesses with cutting-edge AI solutions for enhanced efficiency and scale.

The pervasive influence of Artificial Intelligence cannot be overstated. AI is not merely a technological enhancement but the primary catalyst for value creation, commanding premium valuations and shaping investment decisions across all stages. Companies that can demonstrate clinically validated AI solutions with clear pathways to profitability are gaining a significant competitive advantage.

Looking ahead to H2 2025 and early 2026, M&A activity is expected to accelerate, particularly within AI-driven platforms, as competition intensifies between strategic and financial buyers. The IPO market, while showing nascent signs of life, will likely remain selective, demanding strong financial performance and sustainable growth models. The evolving regulatory landscape, particularly the European Health Data Space, will continue to play a pivotal role, creating both opportunities for compliant companies to scale and challenges for those unprepared for increased data interoperability and privacy demands.

For stakeholders in the European healthtech ecosystem, the message is clear: success in this maturing market hinges on a strategic pivot towards building robust, AI-driven solutions that deliver demonstrable clinical and economic value. Prioritising operational efficiency, securing clear reimbursement pathways, and proactively navigating the complex regulatory environment will be crucial for attracting capital and achieving successful exits in the dynamic European healthcare landscape.

Nelson Advisors > Healthcare Technology M&A

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Meet Us @ HealthTech events

Digital Health Rewired > 18-19th March 2025 > Birmingham, UK

NHS ConfedExpo > 11-12th June 2025 > Manchester, UK

HLTH Europe > 16-19th June 2025, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Barclays Health Elevate > 25th June 2025, London, UK

HIMSS AI in Healthcare > 10-11th July 2025, New York, USA

Bits & Pretzels > 29th Sept-1st Oct 2025, Munich, Germany

World Health Summit 2025 > October 12-14th 2025, Berlin, Germany

HealthInvestor Healthcare Summit > October 16th 2025, London, UK

HLTH USA 2025 > October 18th-22nd 2025, Las Vegas, USA

Web Summit 2025 > 10th-13th November 2025, Lisbon, Portugal

MEDICA 2025 > November 11-14th 2025, Düsseldorf, Germany

Venture Capital World Summit > 2nd December 2025, Toronto, Canada

Nelson Advisors specialise in mergers, acquisitions and partnerships for Digital Health, HealthTech, Health IT, Consumer HealthTech, Healthcare Cybersecurity, Healthcare AI companies based in the UK, Europe and North America. www.nelsonadvisors.co.uk

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