Innovative Leicestershire – UKRI Children’s Health Impact Accelerator Success for Moti Me

Moti Me, led by Katie Michaels, is an innovative enterprise geared towards enhancing children’s health. With a special focus on children with developmental delay disabilities, their products support children in achieving significant milestones and consistently practising their physiotherapy exercises. Katie, a member of the Loughborough University studio program, was recommended to join a Charnwood Campus Innovation Surgery. The Charnwood Campus Innovation Surgeries are a collaboration between East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN), Medilink Midlands, Mills & Reeve and Charnwood Campus and consist of face-to-face meetings at Charnwood Campus. Hosting these workshops collaboratively enables companies to have individual confidential discussions regarding the development of new products, from advice on funding all the way through to engaging with the NHS, without having to engage with each organisation separately, accelerating product development time.

After taking part in the Innovation Surgery, Katie applied for the UKRI Founders Factory children’s development bootcamp, funded by Innovate UK and the Medical Research Council. The Children’s Health Impact Accelerator is a 10-week non-equity startup programme and participants will have the opportunity to pitch in front of a group of investors and friends of the program for potential grant funding that could support feasibility studies and proof of concept. Katie worked closely with the EMAHSN developing her pitch and application as it was an extremely competitive application process. Following the application, Moti Me were accepted onto the Accelerator programme, a great outcome for both the company and for the Charnwood Campus Innovation Surgeries.

Katie Michaels, Founder of Moti Me said: “It is wonderful to have received so much help and advice from the Leicestershire Innovation team, being able to attend an Innovation Surgery and then the subsequent assistance in developing my pitching has resulted in Moti Me being accepted on the bootcamp, which is a perfect fit. Our product evolves around children’s health and aims to support children (with developmental delay disabilities) in achieving their milestones such as sitting, standing, crawling, or walking. Our product specifically aims to encourage a child to practice their physiotherapy exercises which may include building skills such as hand-eye coordination, torso movements, range of motion, stretching, balancing and muscle strengthening.”

Alison Mlot, Commercial Manager at East Midlands Academic Health Science Network said: “Katie stands out as a shining example of a young entrepreneur who is deeply driven by a personal mission to tackle challenges in children’s health. It is fantastic to see her hard work and dedication being acknowledged with a spot on the Accelerator Programme. This opportunity will undoubtedly give Katie the intensive support needed to propel her innovation to greater heights.”

Jo Maltby, Senior Innovation Advisor, Medilink Midlands said: “The Innovation Surgeries enable companies like Moti Me to receive combined advice and support from key Midland based organisations. The opportunity that Moti Me has achieved through securing their place on the Accelerator Programme will enable the growth of the company and provide the final piece to ensure the successful adoption of their product. As a young entrepreneur, supporting Katie through the process has been humbling with her motivation being driven to support young children’s health.”

Charlotte Morris, Mills & Reeve commented that: “This is a fantastic example of how collaboration can result in successful outcomes.  We’re delighted that Katie chose to participate in the Innovation Surgery, and that she has been able to lean on the connections she made at the Surgery to lead to further successes.  We wish Katie and Moti Me all the best for the future.”

Dr Lucy Alexander, Head of Business Development, Charnwood Campus commented: “The life sciences innovation in Leicestershire, from start up to mature business life sciences in Leicestershire is a real success story. It was wonderful to support Katie and Moti Me and we are absolutely delighted that the accelerator award will help drive the development of Moti Me. Katie is going to speak at our next event in partnership with Medilink Midlands, which is celebrating and shining a light on some of the phenomenal innovation in Leicestershire, Innovative Leicestershire, A Life Sciences Success Story.   So do come along to hear more about and network with our Innovative Leicestershire Life Sciences companies, book into one of our two last remaining clinics for 2023, if you have an innovation project that needs turbo charging or if you are interested in joining our cluster at the campus, more details can be found on our website Charnwood Campus UK Science Park.”

Innovative Leicestershire – A Life Sciences Success story, tickets can be booked here.