The UK Government has announced new investment in 40 top female entrepreneurs on International Women’s Day (IWD), 8 March 2021.
It’s hoped the financial boost will help women innovators to ‘scale up’ their plans, with pioneering ideas and businesses across a range of sectors set to receive a £50,000 government grant each through the scheme.
Bespoke mentoring and business support will also be included for the 40 selected entrepreneurs, as the government seeks to boost the economy and ‘build back better’ through science and research, following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Science Minister Amanda Solloway said: “As we build back better from COVID, it is a priority of mine to continue equipping our brightest female innovators with the tools they need to succeed, while encouraging a new generation of women to come forward and pursue their ambitions.
“Today we are supporting 40 of our most trailblazing female entrepreneurs, helping them to turn their innovative ideas and aspirations into a reality, creating the products and services that will help improve our lives and boost our economy.”
Among the sectors invested in, the health tech industry has representation in a number of projects. These include:
- Lise Pape, founder of Walk with Path. She is developing ‘Path Feel’ – a smart insole for older people with chronic conditions. The insole aims to improve mobility by helping the user feel the floor and balance, thereby removing reliance on walking aids.
- Becca Hume, founder of TapSOS. Becca is developing technology to make emergency services more accessible and inclusive. The TapSOS app, initially designed for deaf and hard of hearing people, provides a ‘non-verbal tool’ that can be used to create alerts to services. This will now expand to add discreet reporting for domestic abuse.
- Deborah Coughlin, founder of Method X Studios. Deborah is combining tech, science and media to produce digital mental health products.
- Katharine Paterson, founder of So To Company. Katharine has designed Karekot, an ‘innovative cot’ to help babies sleep safely.
- Professor Helen Maddock, founder of InoCardia. Helen is working on AI solutions to make drugs safer and assess their impact on the heart.
- Dr Chen Mao Davies, founder of LatchAid. Chen is developing an app called LatchAid that supports early parenthood and breastfeeding skills with 3D and AI technology.
- Caz Icke, founder of SoleSense. Caz is running a digital startup that uses wearable technology to develop customisable rehabilitation solutions for neurological injuries.
- Dilrini De Silva, founder of Jāna Bio. Dilrini’s biotech startup aims to improve treatments for ethnic minority populations by developing an integrated technology platform and combining AI and stem-cell engineering techniques.
- Nicola Filzmoser, founder of Happyr Health. Nicola works to improve the lives of children with chronic pain by providing personalised, digital interventions.
To find out more about all 40 successful innovators, or to attend a webinar, visit ktn-uk.org.
