The Catalyst Podcast

BioLiberty is a medical device company with an aim to bridge the gap between hand weakness and independent living. In the UK, 2.5 million people suffer from hand weakness which can be a result of many problems including Arthritis, MS, MND, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Stroke. With reaching to grasp objects being the most common arm activity performed in everyday life, hand weakness is devastating to an individual’s independence. Solution: a robotic glove which strengthens the user’s grip and a digital therapy platform. Our Grip Assist glove combines breakthrough advances in robotics and digital signal processing to help users regain their grip strength. It improves hand strength and assists the user to perform various gripping movements by measuring muscle activity along the wrist and forearm. Our digital therapy platform allows the user to re-build hand strength through exercise routines and also provides a platform for medical professional to monitor patient progress remotely.Bioliberty value proposition;Bioliberty’s aim is to empower every human to live a longer independent life by providing assistive robotics and rehabilitative technologies.​ Bioliberty vison; Bioliberty is shaping a future where independence is no longer restricted by traumatic and degenerative conditions. We will empower medical professionals with life changing technology to provide exceptional social care services to improve patient outcomes.​LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/biolibertyTwitter: @bio_liberty Website: https://www.bioliberty.co.uk/ 

About TaraTara Nicholas is a Clinical Hypnotherapist / Psychotherapist, with direct customer insights into the problem Mind-Mapper is addressing. Tara is also a chartered management accountant and qualified PRINCE 2 practitioner with over 20 years’ experience in financial analysis project management, implementation, and delivery. Linkedin - Tara NicholasAbout Mind-MapperMind-Mapper will function as a Fitbit for mental health tracking within the field of talk-based therapies.  The non-invasive device can be easily integrated into therapy practice and provide real time visual and easily interpreted evidence to track a client's physical brain activity throughout the course of therapeutic interventions. Using bespoke software, the device will empower therapists for the first time in therapy practice to gain access to quantitative neuro imaging data to validate the effectiveness of their therapeutic practice in improving their patients’ mental health.   

Sinead Lynch is a Co-Founders 2020 graduate, a personal trainer and co-founder of Ruby’s Fitness App, a platform for providing and promoting specialised exercise and wellbeing programmes to children and adults with additional needs.  Ruby’s Fitness was inspired by Sinead’s daughter, Ruby, who sadly passed away in 2018 aged 7 years old.  Ruby had Down syndrome and other complex needs and her short life opened up an amazing world to Sinead as she gave her the opportunity to meet other children and adults with additional needs and demonstrated her ability, not disability.  What drives Sinead on in the development of Ruby’s app is the creation of a legacy for her daughter and her passionate belief, and rightly so, that exercise should be inclusive for all.  In the episode, Sinead speaks openly and with courage about her daughter, her passion for inclusive exercise, building an app without a technical background and the imposter syndrome that won’t beat her.  She’s an inspiration and just proves the importance of passion and drive on the start-up journey.   Support for the topics covered in this episode can be found at https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/about-dsa/who-we-are/what-we-do/  Company name: Ruby’s App  Interviewee: Sinead Lynch   Co-founders: Bronagh McNamara, Jason McDevitt.   Connect with Sinead & the Ruby’s App team: Twitter:@BronaghNamara Instagram:@inclusivelyfit_ Facebook:@inclusivelyfit_ Email: [email protected]  

Ryan is a Co-Founders 2021 Graduate and Co-founder of NetworkFit, an all in one health and fitness platform dedicated to providing a searchable network of local gyms and an easy-to-use booking system with benefits for both users and small gym owners. In this episode Ryan talks about his 2021 co-founding journey.  He chatted about how he found his co-founders and learned how to communicate his idea to others.  He also explored his journey with understanding when to step back and allow others to take the reins, as well as how he has navigated those entrepreneurial bumps typical of the start-up experience.  Ryan personifies determination, thinking of setbacks as opportunities, which will stand him in good stead. *Since the interview NetworkFit have brought a new technical co-founder onboard.    Company name: Network Fit   Interviewee: Ryan O’Reilly  Co-founders at the time of recording: Clare Rhine & Conor Newton.  Co-founders at the time of publication: Clare Rhine & Paddy Duff. Connect with Ryan/NetworkFit : Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/networkfit1 Follow them on social @NetworkFit1 Website: www.networkfit.io The Co-Founders ProgrammeLearn more about Co-Founders here: www.co-founders.co