(l-r) Sinead O’Sullivan, CEO of fusion space technologies; David Hatton, CYF 2016 winner; Holly Millar, CYF programme manager and Danny McConnell, technology consulting partner at Deloitte. Image via CYF
A young entrepreneur from east Belfast was awarded £5,000 in Catalyst funding after his dementia and Alzheimer’s digital platform took top prize at the Connect Young Founders competition.
A new tool to help both patients and carers living with Alzheimer’s and dementia won David Hatton the £5,000 prize fund to help turn his “innovative idea into a successful business”.
Called Hindsight, Hatton’s web-based platform uses reminiscence therapy to stimulate sufferers’ memory and assist with everyday tasks and personal interaction.
It was impressive enough to sway the judges in a competition of five at the culmination of the Connect Young Founders Programme (CYF) over the summer, with a final pitch from Hatton sealing the deal.
“CYF programme has provided me with an entrepreneurial experience I will never forget,” said Hatton.
“I can’t wait to put the £5,000 to use and turn my idea into a reality – a product that will change the lives of millions of Alzheimer and dementia sufferers and their dedicated carers.”
“It was a very tough call,” said CYF’s programme manager Holly Millar. “All five business ideas were of outstanding quality and very well articulated.
“The judges, however, thought that David’s just pipped the rest at the post, in terms of potential for early adoption and market fit.”
CYF’s final pitch was at Deloitte’s Belfast studio, with technical consulting partner Danny McConnell awarding the prize to Hatton.
“Innovation is such an important factor in the economic growth of our region and we recognise the importance of building the right ecosystem where innovators, academia and industry come together,” said McConnell.
