As International Women’s Day on 8 March approaches, the EIC Community continues to spotlight the journeys of pioneering women innovators who have participated in the EIC Women Leadership Programme. In this edition, we turn to EIC Accelerator beneficiary Alicia Martínez Piñeiro, CEO and co-founder of the Time is Brain, who reflects on her experience with the programme and her ongoing mission to revolutionise stroke care while championing women in leadership.
Closely in line with the International Women’s Day worldwide call to “acknowledge strategies, resources, and activities that positively impact women's advancement and to support and elevate their implementation”, the EIC Women Leadership Programme is championing women researchers and entrepreneurs in tech. It boosts their skills and builds a thriving community, offers a robust set of tools and support to boost their innovation. Its ultimate aim is to inspire, empower, and connect women innovators through training, networking events, business coaching, and mentoring opportunities to help them advance their careers and businesses in the deep-tech field.
Time is Brain: bringing innovation to stroke diagnosis and treatment
Alicia Martínez Piñeiro’s journey into entrepreneurship stems from her deep-rooted commitment to improving stroke outcomes. In her position as CEO and co-founder of Time is Brain, a spin-off from the Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), she is advancing innovation to enhance the prognosis of acute ischemic stroke by improving diagnosis and treatment.
“The co-founders of Time is Brain are all neurologists trying to improve the standing impact of a stroke, and we are developing BraiN20® to better diagnose and treat patients and improve their outcomes,” Alicia explains. With stroke being one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, her work is not just about technology, but about giving stroke patients a second chance at life.
The name of Alicia’s company stems from the common neurologists’ saying that “time is brain”, meaning that time is of the essence when treating a stroke. According to their website, a total of 1.9 million brain cells die every minute after a stroke, and up until recently, neurologists have had to operate in the dark, unable to see what is happening in the patient’s brain during a precise time. Their BraiN20® sensor seeks to change this, making it possible to monitor the brain throughout the entire patient’s journey.
Time is Brain's BraiN20® sensor
Stepping up as a leader through the EIC Women Leadership Programme
Since founding Time is Brain in 2020, Alicia and her team have achieved significant milestones, many of which were supported by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). Now, as the company prepares to launch BraiN20, Alicia found herself facing the new challenge of navigating the complexities of scaling a MedTech business while leading a growing team.
“I felt that I needed to improve my skills to negotiate and deal with critical stakeholders,” she shares, adding that “the programme helped me to better manage these deals, as well as different situations in my daily routine as a woman and a CEO.”
The power of shared experience and practical learning
For Alicia, a valuable aspect of the programme was the ability to connect with other women facing similar challenges. “It’s great to share and build relationships with different women who are managing the same pains and problems in their daily routines,” she says. But beyond networking, the programme provided actionable insights that Alicia immediately began incorporating into her leadership approach. “In just two hours during the kick-off meeting, I received feedback that I knew I needed to incorporate into my business as soon as possible,” she shares.
She highlights how the programme delivered clear, specific calls to action - something she found rare in other leadership initiatives. “Just in my first day, I took some notes on at least three or four specific actions I wanted to implement to better manage my time, be more assertive, learn to say no without fearing that I’ll create a difficult environment, and enabling the sustainable growth of our team while maintaining the company culture.”
The road ahead: growing the team and staying true to mission
Currently leading a team of 13 employees, Alicia is gearing up to expand the team in the coming years as the product reaches the market. But for her, success isn’t just about growth: “Our team is expected to grow a lot in the next few years, but for me, the most important is to maintain the motivation, mission and vision of the company, and our commitment to making an impact in stroke patients’ lives,” she explains.
#AccelerateAction for women in deep-tech
As a woman in STEM and the CEO of a MedTech start-up, Alicia has often found herself as the only woman in the room, but rather than seeing this as a disadvantage, she has turned it into an opportunity.
“International Women’s Day has always been a moment of reflection and motivation for me. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come, but also of the challenges that still exist for women in leadership - especially in deep-tech and healthcare innovation,” she shares.
Living by this year’s campaign theme, Alicia actively works to drive real change for women in STEM. Asked about her daily efforts to accelerate action, she cites leading by example, ensuring women have a voice in key decisions, advocating for inclusion in MedTech, and mentoring future women leaders:
This day is not just about celebrating achievements but about reinforcing the need for equal opportunities and representation. It has inspired me to actively support other women in science, technology, and entrepreneurship, ensuring that the next generation of female leaders doesn’t just see the path—I want to help them walk it with confidence.
Encouraging women to take the leap
Reflecting on her experience with the EIC Women Leadership Programme, Alicia strongly encourages other women entrepreneurs to consider joining. “I encourage them to at least think about it and to join in spreading women’s presence at the C-level. Bridging this gap can create real change in the short term,” she states.
About the EIC Women Leadership Programme
Supporting women innovators is integral to the EIC's strategic goals for 2021-2027, aimed at enhancing Europe’s economic competitiveness. The EIC has allocated significant resources to women-led companies, demonstrating a commitment to closing the gender gap in research and business. Initiatives like the EIC Women Leadership Programme and Women TechEU are crucial in driving deep-tech innovation and empowering women across Europe.
If you have any questions, please contact us through the EIC Community’s contact page by choosing the 'EIC Women Leadership Programme' category, or visit the frequently asked questions (FAQ).
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The EIC Women Leadership Programme is an initiative of the EIC Business Acceleration Services.
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DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.