Another truly mission-driven business in this week’s episode, solving a big problem that’s very close to my heart, as well as that of my guest, Naveed Parvaz. Thousands of children in the UK rely on orthoses to maintain posture and enable the optimal use of their limbs, and the fitting and daily wearing of their orthosis is invariably an emotionally draining and painful experience for children and parents alike.  Andiamo is dedicated to creating a family-centred treatment system that goes way beyond current orthotic practices and which will greatly improve outcomes for these determined kids and their families..

Naveed is a passionate entrepreneur and a deep thinker, seeing the need for a fundamental change to health systems, and the huge potential of a tailore-made wearable device, created with 3D printing technology and digital simulation. He talks about how it all started, as well as the challenges they are navigating - from identifying the best market to launch the product to the attitudes of investors when it comes to impact-driven investments.

Andiamo has covered a lot of the hard yards on its ambitious journey, and is now set for imminent scale and commercialisation. So reach out to Naveed directly at [email protected] if you’re a fund with available capital, a clinician with relevant expertise or a family facing some of the issues discussed.

The Impact Interview takes its first foray into wearable technology, exploring the achievements and ambitions of Tim Brownstone, founder and CEO of Kymira. Kymira describes itself as a “life-conscious technology company” and the impact and potential of their ‘smart garment’ products is far-reaching.

Tim has been studying the impact of infrared light on tissue repair since he was an injured athlete at school,, and his team has successfully developed a commercial product line that has taken off in the high performance arena. Kymira is also making serious progress in the medical field, proving the benefit of the same infrared technology in pain relief and other areas.

The company’s mission now encompasses both enhancing lives and saving them, with the current flagship product being a cardiac device which will monitor and diagnose in real-time, offering predictive diagnostics to the precursors of acute cardiac events such as heart attacks.

As usual, I talk to Tim about his entrepreneurial journey and his vision for the business, motivated by moving personal stories of those who have benefited. One of their key next steps is to partner with a global medical device business that can fast track product marketing and distribution in new markets  - so please reach out to Tim at [email protected]  if this is your field.

Tim’s a thoroughly down-to-earth guy who seems to be equally at home as a scientist, entrepreneur and visionary, and it’s going to be exciting to see how much he and Kymira can achieve.

Listen in here or on any major podcast platform.

And you can find out more at www.kymira.co.uk, and check out the full range of products on www.kymiramedical.com and www.kymirasport.com.

TALi is pioneering the development of gaming technology that addresses the most common neurological disorder in young children - inattention. The experience of lockdown in recent months has really highlighted this issue to many parents and schools, and is propelling TALI’s growth throughout Australia - and towards their ambitious goal of improving the lives of one million children globally in three years. Even this is just a tiny percentage of the children worldwide who suffer from inattention issues, with the consequential impact on their education, their social inclusion and their general wellbeing. This is a really interesting space, with potential for creating lasting social impact.

TALi’s software solution TALi TRAIN is registered as a medical device in Australia, the US and Europe and the emphasis on clinical validation of their products sets them apart from many technology startups in the mental fitness sector. Beyond this, Pete also talks about how the amazing, positive feedback they receive from parents as a big motivating factor.

Pete himself trained in design and visual communications before becoming an entrepreneur in digital health and social impact. His passion for the business and its potential is very evident and it was a pleasure speaking to him.

Check out www.talihealth.com.au to find out more - there are some great resources for parents as well as information for schools and healthcare providers.

Cancer remains one of the world’s biggest killers. Lung cancer alone is responsible for 1.7 miliion deaths globally every year, and prevalence in developing markets is very much on the rise. Irrespective of geography, most cases are identified  when they are already at a late stage, and the chances of beating the cancer are much slimmer.

Oncimmune’s EarlyCDT Lung blood test, first patented nearly 20 years ago, is clinically proven to detect lung cancer on average 4 years before a standard clinical diagnosis. It is a simple, non-invasive finger prick test that has been shown to save lives, as depicted in their moving “Extra Time” campaign on www.extratime.gallery.

My guest in this episode is Adam Hill, CEO of Oncimmune, who took the helm in 2018 and led the company into its current strong position, with global partnerships in place and a number of other cancer testing products soon to be announced. This is a relatively rare example of a biotech business with a product that is already saving lives.

Adam talks about the significant shift in the oncology community in recent years, to recognise the importance of the immune system in policing cancerous cells. Oncimmune’s ImmunoINSIGHTS platform supports pharma companies by working to predict immune related adverse events in patients by profiling autoantibodies and predicting the immune response. They use advanced data science to stratify or triage patients, enhancing drug development and allowing a more personalised and effective treatment.

So please listen in to this eye-opening conversation, and contact Oncimmune via the website at www.oncimmune.com - particularly If you are a clinician or a patient wanting to find out more about Oncimmune’s Early CDT test, or a pharma company and would like to know more about how Oncimmune’s ImmunoINSIGHTS platform can support your drug development.

www.theimpactinterview.com

My guest in this episode presents a very clear case that the current model of drug discovery is unsustainable. It is a long, expensive and laborious process, and there is growing lack of trust in the quality of the biomedical data being produced. Pharmaceutical R and D has been declining at the same time as the industry recognises the need for a more personalised approach to disease treatment, which will rely on a much greater number of more bepoke drugs reaching the market.  Martin-Immanuel Bittner of Arctoris goes on to describe how his company, the world’s first automated drug discovery platform, is pioneering the most viable solution.

Martin discusses the business and the problem they are solving, with exceptional clarity, and it should be a very interesting conversation for anyone concerned with the future of drug discovery. It is a classic example of the impact of AI, and how it enables the transformation  of traditional practices. It will be very exciting to see how this develops and the potential impact Arctoris and this ‘reimagined’ approach can have on the treatment of rare diseases.

Martin also talks about the success of Biotarget (www.biotarget.org),  a nonprofit initiative “directed at identifying and supporting emerging biotech companies dedicated to innovation within drug discovery.” Launched last year by Arctoris, with Cancer Research UK and other leading industry players, they are excited to invite applications for 2020 (deadline 14 September).

www.arctoris.com

[email protected]

www.theimpactinterview.com

In this episode, I am speaking with Giles Tongue, an entrepreneurial leader in consumer-focused products and design, who joined ChatableApps as CEO last year. Chatable has developed a revolutionary hearing assistance app that has been described as ‘life-changing’ by many of its users. Using neuroscience-led AI to create an auditory cortex on a smartphone, founder Dr Andy Simpson has designed a technology that could transform the lives of the 466 million people globally who have disabling and moderate hearing loss. With the founding team, and early investment from US entrepreneur and investor Mark Cuban,  Giles led the launch of the app on Apple iOS and it has received immediate recognition and positive feedback.

It’s a really thought-provoking conversation about helping people to regain one of our most fundamental senses. Giles speaks openly about their journey and their mission to transform the "“conversational hearing” experience of millions - from the UK (despite free hearing aids being available on the NHS), to the US (where a hearing aid can frequently cost over $10000) to the massively underserved markets of India and China.

This is Healthtech which really enhances lives and promotes social inclusion and equality, regardless of financial circumstances.

After a successful launch, Giles is now engaging with partners who can help to further validate the technology and allow more people to experience the benefits.  He is also very open to conversations with potential investors who recognise the enormous opportunity that the tech presents. Please contact him on [email protected].

www.theimpactinterview.com

In this episode, I speak to Arjun Ananth about his career journey and his mission to build a broad, inclusive healthcare services platform across southern India.  Arjun is CEO of diagnostic services company Medall (www.medall.in), having stepped in to the role in November 2019, just three months before India was hit by Covid-19. With serendipitous timing, Medall had already begun to develop and expand serrvices that have been key to their growth during the pandemic.

We discuss his very varied career, from technology investment banking in Silicon Valley during the dotcom boom (incidentally, a similar path to Babylon founder Ali Parsa), to setting up Nike’s first office in India, running heavy industrials businesses and working in private equity.

Medall was set up by Peepul Capital, the private equity buyout firm that Arjun joined in 2016.  We discuss the changes he has implemented in a very short period, including redefining the customer focus and, with perfect timing, developing both a home collections business and a teleconsulting service immediately before Covid-19 arrived and the country went into lockdown.

Inevitably, technology is driving innovation -Arjun is ambitious for growth in the Wellness space and sees the secure use of data as key.

Arjun gives great insights into the Indian market - both in terms of the diet and lifestlye of the general population, and the price point for healthcare compared to other countries. “In many ways, India’s biggest opportunity lies at the bottom of the pyramid”. He talks about specific programs they have initiated to assist those in poverty, and the satisfaction he derives from making an impact.

He also shares a few thoughts on effective leadership and lessons he has learned.

If you are interested in connecting with him regarding collaboration and partnership opportunities, then please feel free to email him on [email protected]

www.theimpactinterview.com

In the first episode of The Impact Interview, I talk to Jose Bastos, co-founder and CEO of Knok Healthcare, a dynamic telehealth business based in Porto, Portugal.  Founded in 2015, Knok has recently successfully closed a new round of funding, led by impact investors Mustard Seed, and the current health crisis has undoubtedly helped to accelerate their growth. He tells me about the pros and cons of launching a tech start up in Portugal, how they successfully pivoted early in the journey and how they have positioned the business for international growth. He explains his focus on a simple user experience as key to growing market share,  and the importance to Knok of creating a very customisable product that can be “adjusted to the reality” of diverse international customers. Jose’s warm personality and people-oriented style are very evident, and it is clear that his family and the wider social impact of the business have been major motivating factors from the outset. Many thanks to Alex Pitt, co-founder of Mustard Seed for making this great introduction. Jose can be contacted at [email protected] Links: www.knokcare.com   www.mustardseed.vc