MedTech Super Connector

Please click here to read the full article.

"Cohort Two participant, Pepita Stonor, joined the programme whilst completing an MSc in Applied Positive Psychology after successfully pitching at a two-day MTSC led hackathon proposing a solution to the challenge, Mental Health, Wellbeing and Happiness. The solution developed with support from a researcher at the Royal College of Music initially focused on university student wellbeing, including how to manage their finances. One-year post programme, Ms Stonor has continued to pursue the venture pivoting towards supporting positive mental health in children via the development of a mobile application called Coggi. While using the app children engage with Coggi, a chameleon, who responds to user input through games and interactions promoting psychological well- being. Ms Stonor credits the design of Coggi to understanding user experience – in this case child psychology. As a patient facing solution the application is designed to focus on the needs of the user, “[children] need to feel comfortable and children want to use phones. They don’t want to use a piece of paper.” Bringing this learning back to her own MSc cohort, as well as a new cohort studying positive psychology, Ms Stonor has been able to challenge traditional academic thinking and apply it beyond the institution.Networking opportunities have also proved invaluable, after being introduced to a specialist lawyer in intellectual property via a consortium partner Ms Stonor has receivedCoggi the chameleon is the main character in Ms Stonor’s new digital health solution promoting positive psychology receiving just over £200,000 in collective funding, along with educational. The programme has provided participants with significant opportunity to connect with industry and develop entrepreneurial skills with access to +20 hours of 1-2-1 business coaching along with specialised workshops. Challenge led cohorts, in which participants are encouraged to develop solutions to challenges posed by an industry partner, has pro-bono legal advice, critical to protecting the code that sits behind the application. Mr Harlow has similarly found the resources and support available on how to approach intellectual property (IP) key to been able to explore alternative avenues for the commercialise his product, “If I was doing it personally, I may not have gone down the patent route, because it’s an expensive process to get started but MTSC has facilitated that because they give you an allotted amount so that you can apply for IP.”