This year we are thrilled to have launched the Patient Entrepreneur Programme. 

In this series we speak to our new patient entrepreneurs and find out why they decided to innovate. This week we are pleased to welcome Funmi Vanessa Ullam, CEO and founder of the Eli App.

Tell us a bit about yourself 

As a mother of two boys, one of whom has sickle cell; I’ve gained firsthand insight into the complexities of managing a chronic health condition. From his diagnosis as a baby to his current age of 12, our family has navigated the challenges associated with this long-term condition.

My professional background lies in technology, and I started to explore how we could simplify our daily lives by combining my passion for technology with my desire to provide the best care for my son. As I delved into this exploration, I identified gaps in the data we were collecting. It struck me that AI could play a pivotal role in helping parents understand patterns and trends related to their child’s symptoms and by potentially predicting or facilitating changes, we could positively impact outcomes—whether during a pain crisis, his time at school, or his overall mood and mindset. This realisation fuelled my vision for creating an app to support parents like me and children like my son, in managing their long-term condition.

Tell us about your innovation  

As my son grew, I faced increasing challenges in ensuring he followed the necessary health routines daily. These routines included drinking 2 litres of water, maintaining a healthy diet, getting sufficient sleep, and taking his medication—tasks that even adults find demanding. To address this, I decided to explore ways to incentivise these activities, and I created a simple weekly chart, where he was awarded computer game currency when he met his goals. This approach proved effective, motivating my son to consistently engage in these health-promoting behaviours. Eventually, this visual chart served as the foundation for the Eli app, which I began developing.

Eli is an app equipped with essential features, including mood logging, water tracking, medication reminders, symptom monitoring, and a reward system—all designed to encourage, support, and motivate children. Notably, it also features a comprehensive pain diary, crucial for reporting back to health professionals during outpatient appointments. Often, recalling pain instances or their severity and location can be challenging, but having all this information logged in one place allows parents to provide a concise overview of their child’s life with the condition. The diary includes detailed reports on hydration, medication, sleep, mood, pain location, intensity, and frequency. This thorough record helps identify patterns in pain occurrences, such as specific triggers or times of day when the pain is most intense, enabling more tailored treatment plans. Additionally, tracking the effectiveness of pain management strategies over time provides valuable insights into what works best for the child’s time.

As we evolved, we have begun to integrate AI into the app. By leveraging the data collected, the AI will make predictions that empower parents and children to potentially adjust their behaviours. Whether it’s related to drinking habits or mood, the app identifies trends and explores ways to enhance wellbeing.

On the other side of the app, we’ve established brand partnerships that offer rewards for children. This not only acknowledges their presence but also helps combat the isolation often felt by children with long-term health conditions. By integrating this award system, we aim to make navigating life’s challenges a little easier.

Why did you apply to join the programme, and what are you most looking forward to?

I applied because it just seemed perfect!

Reflecting on my past applications to other accelerators, I now recognise that they wouldn’t have aligned with the specific goals I have for the Eli App. When working on innovation within health, having an ecosystem that genuinely supports and comprehends your vision is crucial. That realisation led me to the Patient Entrepreneur Programme.

The educational Pit Stops within this programme have proven incredibly relevant, and connecting with fellow health innovators has been rewarding. Unlike some other programmes that prioritise scale and financial gains, our focus remains on solving health-related challenges—a priority I hold dear. Moreover, this programme grants me access to the NHS, actively driving transformative changes in healthcare based on real-life experiences.

What motivates you?

My motivation stems from witnessing the Eli app in action, positively impacting children’s lives. I aspire for it to empower children to remain in school, improve their well-being, and foster a sense of empowerment. By encouraging behavioural changes related to health, we aim for positive health-related outcomes—reducing hospital visits, cutting down on the number of A&E admissions to the NHS, improving mental health, and combating health inequalities, ensuring these children feel genuinely heard.

What are your ambitions for the next year?

Over the next year, I aim for the Eli app to transform the way children with sickle cell manage their long-term health condition. I want to be able to say this confidently with data evidence. Additionally, I hope for the app to gain recognition and acceptance from the NHS as a recommended tool for children dealing with sickle cell.

What is your key piece of advice to aspiring patient entrepreneurs?

Apply to the Patient Entrepreneur Programme!

The people closest to the problems have the best solution, and as a patient, you have experienced the frustration, anxiety and dissatisfaction but your experiences can create a better solution for the future. Define the problems and constraints; identify the gap & begin to think about strategies that lead to tangible health benefits.