Neap: Diabetes self-care at your fingertips

An e-health solution for the diabetic community

An EPIC project

Graphics taken from NEAP the mindful diabetes app

Some companies are named after their founders. Others describe what the business or product does. In true Cornish fashion, Neap founder George Fry was inspired by a visit to a local beach. Peacefully watching the tide wash in and out, he wanted to emulate the calm feeling his app users would feel from having their diabetes under control. And so, Neap was born.

Originating out of Falmouth University’s Launchpad programme, Neap provides an e-health solution for the diabetic community that meets EPIC’s goals of strengthening online support networks in rural areas and reducing feelings of isolation.

Designed to help users with diabetes look after their physical and mental wellbeing, the innovation uses a variety of reward-based and mindfulness techniques. Including features such as guided meditation, an online health journal, and a peer-to-peer support network, the app targets users aged 18-35 who are struggling with the daily pressures of dealing with diabetes.

Background

Neap founder George Fry was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in his early 20s and struggled to find resources to help him cope with the stressful, life-changing consequences of living with the condition. After joining the Falmouth University Launchpad programme and connecting with innovators at the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, he began researching the issue and found that:

Poor management of blood sugars can result in a multitude of personal harm. Amputations, heart disease, blindness and death are very real threats to the wellbeing of people with diabetes.
The diabetes population worldwide is set to grow to 700 million by 2045.
In Cornwall alone, it is reported that there are 31,237 people with diabetes. Caring for diabetes, the Kernow CCG spends an around £587 per patient per year, which is above the national average.

Through Launchpad, George heard about EPIC and reached out in 2020 for assistance addressing these issues by developing a mindfulness app to help with diabetes management.

How has EPIC helped Neap?

Aided by EPIC researcher Daniela Austin, Neap were able to set up three focus groups between December 2021 and January 2022 with people living with Type 1 diabetes and obtain qualitative feedback about their app. End-user feedback was extremely positive and encouraged Neap to take the next steps with their product. The app differentiates from other diabetes management resources currently on the market by covering mental as well as physical wellbeing – an addition that focus group participants found extremely beneficial.

Neap was awarded a £4,000 Challenge Fund grant to carry out the feasibility study, which was matched by Launchpad, enabling them to create their MVP.

The Neap team have since had monthly calls with Dani to guide them through their development process, and she has also helped them with referrals to ORCHA and funding to enable them to attend the Slush start-up event in Helsinki.

“Dani was extremely helpful; really valuable,” says George. “She guided us toward the feasibility study and funding and from that we were able to build our MVP.”

The Neap app is currently available to download on the App Store and has a community of around 400 users.

What’s next for Neap?

Attending the Slush start-up event in Helsinki has been extremely helpful to Neap, who made connections at Astra Zeneca and are hopeful that the introduction will result in some type of collaboration over the next few months.

Neap are also hoping to be able to be able to announce a new injection of funding in early 2023 and are waiting to hear back from external reviewers for confirmation. They recently placed in the top 20 companies for an innovation competition with a diabetes research centre in Switzerland.

Poised to begin both a research and development partnership and commercial partnership with the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust (RCHT), the company is at a transitional phase in its development with many potential avenues for future progression.

If that comes off it will be a huge win, It will certainly mean the trip to Helsinki was productive.

Neap founder George Fry

Throughout all of this process EPIC have been extremely helpful. Dani’s been really great and we’ve had some great introductions from Nick… being surrounded by this community of health tech companies has really helped too, that’s the value of EPIC.

Neap founder George Fry