Five innovative startups have joined the AWRC Wellbeing Accelerator programme since it launched just over a month ago – and your business could be next.

Get inspired to apply by finding out who they are, why they were accepted and what they hope to get out of it.

Footfalls & Heartbeats

A Nottingham-based intelligent textiles business with a patented technique to knit sensors directly into textiles. The technology can be applied to compression bandages, wound care, injury rehabilitation, baby monitoring and performance monitoring for athletes.

They joined the accelerator to validate their sensors against gold standard techniques, and to network with more than 50 industry mentors associated with the programme.

We accepted them because:

• Their product is highly innovative and fits the three accelerator eligibility themes
• Their prototype product already exists and can be easily produced
• They have initial testing data that proves their technology concept
• Our AWRC labs have the gold standard techniques to validate their products

Selfit Medical Ltd

An Israeli startup based in Tel Aviv, focusing on solutions for the ageing population. They have developed a ‘robot therapist’ for people with brain and heart disorders. This guides individuals through a personalised physical therapy plan – projecting movement directions and combining audio prompts with the capacity to film and review. 

They joined the accelerator for support to enter the UK healthcare and wellness market.

We accepted them because:

• Their product is highly innovative and fits the three accelerator eligibility themes
• Our academics and mentors have experience of supporting and implementing products in the health and social care sectors
• We have considerable experience in stroke rehab – the main use for this technology

Golf in Society

A Yorkshire-based social enterprise on a mission to improve the lives of our ageing population – by introducing them to the health and wellbeing benefits of golf. To date, they have run over 450 golf sessions for people living with dementia, stroke and Parkinson’s.

They will use the accelerator to validate the session benefits, and connect with NHS services that will allow them to socially prescribe their golf sessions.

We accepted them because:

• They fit two of the accelerator eligibility themes: healthy and active 100, and living well with chronic disease
• Our academics have experience of quantifying health, wellbeing and quality of life indicators of activity-based interventions
• Our mentors and wider network have relevant links to the NHS
• We have considerable experience in interventions for people living with dementia and stroke 

Mynurva

A London-based startup specialising in online mental health therapy. They provide confidential, secure and discreet access to therapy or counselling via a live video platform.

They want to make use of the accelerator mentors and other networks, and be introduced to key contacts in the NHS. They are also interested in digital product development.

We accepted them because:

• Their technology fits two of the accelerator eligibility themes: living well with chronic disease, and technological and digital innovations to promote independent lives
• Our mentors and wider network have extensive links to the NHS
• We have the required expertise in digital product development

Etexsense

A Southampton-based startup developing e-textiles for wearable healthcare applications.

They want to access the accelerator’s industrial design, product evaluation and medical device regulatory expertise.

We accepted them because:

• Their technology fits two of our accelerator eligibility themes: living well with chronic disease, and technological and digital innovations to promote independent lives
• We can provide access to Design Futures – Sheffield Hallam’s commercial product design consultancy
• Our mentor network can provide medical device regulatory expertise
• We can offer the right product evaluation

About the AWRC Wellbeing Accelerator

The AWRC Wellbeing Accelerator is a rolling programme running from April 2020 to March 2021 that supports startups, academics, and businesses working in wellbeing with mentoring, sector expertise and specialist facilities. 

Based in Sheffield Hallam University’s AWRC, participants will have access to world-class R&D capabilities that allow for rapid prototyping through to precision engineering, laboratories for product testing, support networks and a clinical research centre.