Business

#IWD2023: Trailblazing women's game-changing ideas scoop national award - and £50,000

Michelle Connor, co-founder of Kinva (left) and Susan Kelly, co-founder of Respiratory Analytics.
Michelle Connor, co-founder of Kinva (left) and Susan Kelly, co-founder of Respiratory Analytics.

TWO entrepreneurs from Northern Ireland are among 50 from across the UK to win an Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award, which go to female trailblazers who are developing novel solutions to major social, environmental and economic challenges.

And each will now benefit from a £50,000 grant, one-to-one business coaching, and a suite of networking, role modelling, and training opportunities.

Susan Kelly from Derry, co-founder of Respiratory Analytics, designed an AI-led respiratory device called aflo for those with asthma, after witnessing her partner and two children being hospitalised due to life-threatening asthma attacks.

Almost 90 per cent of asthma sufferers don't master the right technique to get the best benefit from their inhalers, and aflo has been designed to do this automatically for them.

The inhaler device
The inhaler device

And Michelle Connor, from Lisburn, co-founder of Kinva, who having struggled to find the right UK health therapies for her daughter’s rare genetic disorder, has created an innovative AI platform that connects health therapists from around the world with potential clients.

Coinciding with International Women’s Day, the flagship Women in Innovation Awards is a key part of Innovate UK’s commitment to boosting the number of women entrepreneurs.

Now in its sixth year, the competition drew a record number of 920 applications from women business leaders, 10 per cent up from last year, reflecting the growing number of women-led businesses in the UK.

Susan Kelly of Respiratory Analytics said: “It's terrifying to witness a family member having a life-threatening asthma attack. Inhaled medications are the cornerstone of asthma management and I've seen how difficult it is to get inhaler technique right to optimise these drugs, which is why this innovation was born.”

Emily Nott, head of equality, diversity and inclusion programmes at Innovate UK said: “Each year I am blown away by the brilliant ideas and talent we uncover through our Women in Innovation programme.

“Despite these challenging economic times, this year’s winners have shown great leadership, passion and resilience in driving their innovations forward.

“Innovate UK will work alongside them now to ensure they have the resources and support required to grow and scale their businesses, while encouraging a new generation of women to get involved in innovation, pursue their ambitions and transform our economy and society.”

Indro Mukerjee, chief executive at Innovate UK, added: “The Women in Innovation programme is an important part of our many activities to make a real difference to the talent and skills pipeline for UK business innovation by inspiring, involving and investing in greater diversity.”