#VFS22 Early Stage Innovator award Winner Interview: Laura Meehan
When the award-winning Journally app was launched to a wider business audience at #VFS22, it was the catalyst for funding opportunities and establishing new partnerships.
As a result of innovator Laura Meehan’s participation, the company is now working on two significant initiatives and looking forward to pitching the app in London and the United States.
Journally’s CEO Laura and CTO Jessica Jobson picked up the Early Stage Innovator award for their cutting-edge app. Laura said:
“Our app harnesses the power of psychological research to empower and support individuals to take control of their health. Our user-friendly interface removes the barriers of medical jargon and simplifies the tracking of mental and physical health.
“When health does become a concern, we support users throughout their journey by streamlining communications between users and clinicians, improving health outcomes and minimising diagnostic errors. At Journally, we believe in giving users’ the power to make informed decisions about their health and that’s why we prioritise privacy by giving users full control over their data sharing. We’re here to make a difference, because no one should ever feel like they don’t have a voice!
“We are dedicated to improving the overall health and well-being of our users and making a meaningful impact in the global community.”
Laura says they were honoured to receive the Early Stage Innovator award at their first business event. She said:
“The support and encouragement we received during and following the event has motivated us to expand our ambitions and enhance our impact.
“#VFS22 provided us with the opportunity to establish vital connections with individuals who inspire us to strive for excellence, align with our vision, challenge us, and recognise Journally’s potential.”
Recent developments in refining the vision and market for Journally led to success in securing a first round of funding. Laura and Jessica are now actively pursuing additional funding opportunities to support growth.
They are also seeking to establish partnerships with organisations that are committed to enhancing the physical and mental wellbeing of their employees and fostering a more positive and productive work environment.
Laura said:
“We have undertaken significant efforts to engage with clinical professionals to obtain valuable insights and have made necessary adjustments to ensure that our product features are both practical and impactful. We welcome the opportunity to connect and engage with clinical professionals or businesses that are interested in learning more about our app and its capabilities.”
“As a result of our participation in #VFS22, we were able to establish connections with two significant initiatives and look forward to pitching our business in London and the United States in the near future.”
Laura encourages other young innovators and start-up businesses to attend future VFS events and advises:
“Focus on building a strong team. A start-up’s success is heavily dependent on the people behind it. Having a dedicated team who bring their own unique skills and experiences, but share the same vision and goals, is paramount.”
Looking back at the VFS experience, she adds:
“It provided us with our first exposure to the business world as a team and served as a significant and positive learning opportunity for us.”
Find out more: https://journallyapp.com/
