Barclays Female Founder Accelerator 2023 member
Smplicare

Smplicare is empowering the future of independent ageing by accelerating the path to predictive, preventative, proactive health - starting with falls.
We have been funded by the UKRI Healthy Ageing Challenge to conduct the largest study ever involving wearables and older people to create an algorithm that can predict the escalating risk of a fall.
Why did you apply for the Female Founder Accelerator?
I applied to the accelerator to build a network of female founders who support each other through our entrepreneurial journeys and to meet leaders who will inspire me in my contribution to Smplicare's success.
Do you think there's a need for programmes like this for Female Founders?
There is absolutely a need for programmes like this for female founders. There is not enough representation within the entrepreneurial community for female founders, particularly those in tech, and we are learning how important representation is for communities to be recognised and to succeed. This accelerator is also incredibly important for female founders looking to raise funds, and for those who wish to expand their network, as these are some of the hardest areas to break through as women leaders.
Why did you want to start your business?
Honestly, it started because I believed that our mission - to help older people stay independent for longer - was such an incredibly important problem to try to solve. I wasn't always sure how I would or could contribute to our vision but I was willing to work hard and try. Since starting the company, I've been pushed out of my comfort zone more than I ever thought I would be and have had the opportunity to try all kinds of roles - from HR to Product Development to Operations. It's been a blast.
What are you looking to get out of this programme?
By the end of the programme, I would like to have the pitch deck for our seed round investors, and the confidence and capability to support my co-founder during the raise.
I want to expand my network of female entrepreneurs who I can support and who support me back throughout our journeys and telling our stories. I’d also like to build my capabilities around financial modelling to the point that I can help build our model further and hold my own when questioned on it.
I’d also love to potentially meet with other non-technical co-founders who have taken on technical roles, like I have, and I’d like to share my story with folks. I think I have a lot more to offer non-technical founders because I’ve been through building our software twice and have learned a lot in the process. I’ve given talks before on no-code but haven’t been as active in the community as I’d like to be. The Barclays Female Founder Accelerator presents an opportunity to change that.
Which entrepreneur inspires you the most and why?
There are an incredible number of entrepreneurs that I respect and am inspired by, but the person I find myself coming to and listening to when I'm most out-of-sorts is Brené Brown. It's not just her story, or her research, or her work, but her relentless authenticity, clarity of purpose and strong values that I find so inspiring. She has taught me how to align my value system to my business in a way that I believe has strengthened our team and the work that we do every day.
What has been your biggest win in your entrepreneurial journey?
The biggest win in my entrepreneurial journey was designing, developing and launching our first minimum viable product, using the no-code tool Bubble. It was difficult from so many different angles, including the fact that I was non-technical and had no design experience. In nine months, however, I was able to bring it all together with my cofounders and release an MVP that contributed to our receiving the UKRI funding in January, 2022.
What has been your biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge has been expanding our business from three co-founders to a team of eight, and all of the communication, planning, administration and emotions that it come with. It has been a challenge navigating the journey of a very young business, with all its ups and downs, while bringing new people on. It's an incredible amount of responsibility, and one that I don't take lightly. We are so lucky to have incredibly committed and talented individuals on our team and I think we're really hitting our stride now.
Where did you go for business advice and how did it help you?
I think the question might be, where didn't we go for advice. We talked to everyone and anyone that would take our call, using our personal network, our MBA programme contacts, and the University of Edinburgh's entrepreneurial support network. The advice we sough ranged from what IP we should aim to file, how to incorporate, and putting our first pitch deck together. We found most helpful talking to a few different people about the same topic, for example, three different legal teams who might give us 30 minutes pro-bono, to discuss a certain topic and we'd take the advice we felt the best about.
What drives you to make your business a success?
It started with my own personal inner drive to have a positive impact on older people trying to remain independent for as long as possible. That drive is still there, but it has expanded to an immense feeling of responsibility to do right by our research participants, investors, employees, business partners and anyone who has contributed to and given their time and energy to Smplicare. It's now more than just me, Garrett and Adrian - it's about the community we've built that rely on us to succeed. It's a lot of pressure, but really motivating!
What advice would you give other founders thinking about starting their own business?
Talk to everyone you can, and don't be afraid to ask the "dumb question". Find a tribe of core folks who can support you, and seriously consider a cofounder - I could not have done this alone. Be prepared to be patient because everything takes longer than you think it will, even if it feels fast. Take the time early to set you values in place and reflect on them regularly to see if you're sticking to them.