Grants or investment?
In one sentence
A grant gives you money without taking ownership but comes with rules, while an investment gives you money in exchange for a share of your company.
Grants are money you don't pay back and that doesn't cost you any shares. In exchange you follow the funder's rules: what the money can be spent on, reports, and often your own share of the costs. Grants are common early in health because public funders want research to reach real use. In Finland, Business Finland is the main public funder for innovation, with grants and loans for different stages. The EU also funds startups, for example through the European Innovation Council, which has a programme for women-led deep tech companies. Universities offer small grants for student teams to test ideas.
Investment means someone buys part of your company. Angel investors invest their own money. Venture capital funds invest money from others and expect a few companies to grow very large. Investors bring money, and the good ones also bring advice and contacts. In return they own part of the company and expect it to grow.
Many health ventures combine both: grants to prove the science, then investment to build the business. Some grants also require you to raise private money alongside them.
Questions to ask before applying: Do I need a registered company? How much of my own money must I add? What can I spend it on? How long until I get an answer?