Entrepreneurship with Impact: The Journey of Kidney Beam
Where it all began
My entrepreneurial journey began when I was 25 and decided to leave my corporate job as a IT consultant in the finance industry with no plan other than to start my own software business. My dad, mum and brother had all built successful businesses, so it was clear that I was destined to tread the same path of exhilarating highs followed by painful gut-punches, sometimes all in the same day! It was never going to be easy, even harder as a female, but founder life was the only journey to fulfilment that I could see then and still feel now.
Becoming an entrepreneur
Being female in predominantly male environments has been common to me since the age of 16 when I turned up to my first A-Level Computing class to find I was the only girl taking the subject and 2 years later discovering I was in only 5% of female students on my Computer Science course at university. Looking back, these experiences gave me the perfect foundation to become an entrepreneur, being in an environment where I was a minority was normal. This has proved more than helpful as, had I known the success rates of female-led businesses, especially when it comes to fundraising, I might have taken a different route. Here’s a little known fact - for every £1 of equity investment in the UK, just 2p goes to fully female-founded businesses, representing no improvement in the past decade.
The path to Kidney Beam
Starting and selling my first, socially driven tech businesses early on, I recognised how powerful an impact technology can have on people’s lives. When a friend moved abroad, I saw the opportunity to create a solution to stay connected and share our love for yoga across miles. Little did I know, by crafting a prototype using Skype and YouTube, I was laying the groundwork for a healthtech platform that would revolutionise the lives of those with chronic conditions. This initial idea evolved into Beam, connecting people through exercise and led me to meet my first co-founder who recognised the urgent need for a healthtech solution for those with cystic fibrosis. Since then we have relentlessly iterated the product, expanded and contracted and used the same technology platform across many health conditions. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the kidney community urgently need remote support and community. People with kidney disease had to stay at home to protect themselves, yet they were still striving for wellness.
Fast forward to today
I’m now the CEO of Kidney Beam alongside my co-founder Dr Sharlene Greenwood, who’s drive and dedication to help as many people living with kidney disease, while keeping the solution free for all users, inspires me daily. There isn’t a day when I don’t feel energised by the opportunity our technology has to do this.
If I had to sum up my experiences, I'd say: if you believe in a better way of doing things, pursue it. Despite never envisioning myself in health-tech, my co-founders and I saw an opportunity to improve the lives of those with chronic conditions. I've unexpectedly fallen in love with this industry and mission, dedicating myself to creating technology that profoundly enhances people's lives. While many warn of challenges in integrating digital solutions into the NHS, I'm determined to overcome obstacles and make a difference.
It's a journey of resilience, adaptability, and perseverance, which is why we are now in our seed round of investment, and offering the opportunity for anyone to become a part of Kidney Beam's journey. Together, we can bring exercise and lifestyle management to people living with chronic conditions globally through a cutting-edge health-tech product accessible to all.
Together we can make a difference.
Pledge today www.crowdcube.com/early-access/kidney-beam.
