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First Place Technovation Winners
20th November 2024

As a top five finalist in the Technovation competition, our team - comprising Claudia, Jess, Annette, and Sarah, were invited to San Francisco for an all-expenses-paid trip.

During our visit, we had the opportunity to tour prominent tech companies such as Nvidia, Netflix, and Salesforce. Following this enriching experience, we were honored to win the Grand Prize, competing against over 2,000 teams from around the world. This achievement was both inspiring and eye-opening, exposing us to entrepreneurial cultures that emphasise agility, innovation, and creative problem-solving.

In the dementia app market, most available products focus primarily on interactive games. However, MicroGlio aims to address the often-overlooked challenges faced by dementia patients, offering a more personalized approach than existing solutions. Through consultations with healthcare professionals, professors, care home system developers and caregivers, we learned that patients frequently forget basic needs such as thirst, toileting, and physical movement. They may also experience difficulty recalling words or forget to eat, which can lead to eating disorders. These seemingly minor issues, if left unaddressed, can result in significant health complications. Moreover, dementia profoundly impacts a patient’s mood and stability, necessitating continuous monitoring by caregivers.

To meet these needs, MicroGlio was developed with several key features:

  1. Customisable reminders for essential daily needs, such as hydration, toileting, and movement.

  2. A mood and appetite tracker, with an automatic email function to keep caregivers and family members informed of the patient’s status.

  3. A word-to-picture bank to assist patients in expressing themselves when they struggle with verbal communication.

  4. A memories page where patients can upload photos and audio memos from loved ones, allowing them to relive significant memories whenever they wish.

MicroGlio is now available on the Apple App Store and has garnered interest from over 20 care homes, hospitals, and charity organisations across four countries who are eager to trial the app.

The journey of dementia is emotionally taxing for both patients and their families. At MicroGlio, we believe that every individual, regardless of cognitive abilities, deserves to live a life of purpose, respect and dignity. Our goal is not only to assist patients with daily tasks, but also to empower them to maintain their independence and enhance their overall quality of life.

Annette, SFC2