Academic Researchers

Third Age Therapeutics solution supports older people who are at risk from loneliness, anxiety and depression.

Through weekly telephone sessions with a trained therapist, users can work with the health professional to build a personalised action plan that supports their mental health and provides an alternative to using medicine. The company was part of the 2024 cohort on our Propel@YH digital accelerator programme that brings the best digital health innovations to market, with the Yorkshire and Humber region the first to make use of them..

How we supported Third Age Therapeutics

The programme has helped Third Age Therapeutics in two ways:

Firstly, it helped them to chart a pathway into the NHS.  It’s sometimes difficult to know where to start as an academic or clinician in bringing innovative solutions into a large complex organisation like the NHS.

Secondly, it gave them the opportunity to meet and collaborate with the  cohort, where they could share ideas and discuss the challenges of running a start-up and securing funding.  The camaraderie is a unique selling point of the programme. The cohort support one another and help solve each other’s problems and find solutions. There is plenty of shared learning, and amazing diversity among the co-founders.

In addition, the The Propel@YH partners are invaluable and support innovators throughout their journey on the programme and beyond. Propel gave Third Age Therapeutics a deeper understanding about the digital and innovation ecosystem in West Yorkshire, something they had little knowledge about before joining the programme.

The company has also been introduced to a wide-variety of knowledgeable stakeholders.

Impacts and Outcomes

Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber and its Innovation Hubs has been supporting Third Age Therapeutics to find the right fit for their solution in the NHS and social care and have secured pilot implementation projects to help demonstrate the value of their solution to NHS patients.

The programme provided the company with 6-months of structured support and guidance including masterclasses, 1-2-1 support and access to expert partner organisations including NHS providers and commissioners, NHS trusts, academic institutions and industry representatives. The 1:1 mentorship and the workshops have helped the company  to move an idea into a workable plan to achieve scale and spread.

Next Steps since the programme

Third Age Therapeutics wants to enhance scalability by further embracing digital opportunities.  Propel@YH helped the company to partner up with local digital creators and to seek funding to support this.

Finally, the company is seeking investment opportunities after Propel@YH has helped to sharpen their business plan.