In the picture, from left to right: Zoi Kantounatou (Co-founder, FutureX), Richard Gill (Managing Partner, Dentsu Aegis Network), Xinyue Bi (Technology Intern, IBM), Dr Elizabeth Fairley (Co-founder, Talking Medicines) Joy Lewis (CEO, AAI EmployAbility), David Ward (Sales Director, Newsquest), (Danielle Kelly, Director of Strategic Development, STV), Bruce Walker (Co-founder, FutureX) // Photo by Erika Stevenson
We're delighted to announce that Dr Elizabeth Fairley, Co-founder and COO of healthcare data startup Talking Medicines, is the winner of the Startup Summit Competition 2019!
Elizabeth held off strong competition from fellow finalists Daniel Winterstein (Good-Loop) and Pasquale Saviano (Photocert), who had been selected from over 100 applicants from across the UK and industries spanning healthcare, advertising and communications.
Judges from Business Gateway, Scottish Investment Bank and STV deliberated on the three leading entrepreneurs before announcing Elizabeth as the winner for her work on Talking Medicines.
Talking Medicines brings medicines to life for improved insight into how patients take their medications. It captures the voice of the patient and reinvents the way pharmaceutical companies buy consumer insight about the who, what and why people take medicines.
Elizabeth will take home not just the title, but also a fully-funded place on FutureX’s Silicon Valley Accelerate programme and a business support package worth over £220k from Johnston Carmichael, AAI EmployAbility, STV, The Herald, Dentsu Aegis Network and IBM.
"We are thrilled to have won the Startup Summit Competition," Elizabeth said. "It is fantastic timing for us as we raise our profile and mission to capture the voice of the patient and drive the effective use of medicines around the world.
"We are delighted to be partnering with media companies STV and Dentsu Aegis Network - with their support, we will have a much stronger voice." - Dr Elizabeth Fairley
Touching on her upcoming trip to Silicon Valley, Elizabeth commented: “We are excited about our trip to the US as we love the fast pace and can-do attitude there. We look forward to broadening our network, and meeting with investors and potential exit partners.”
STV’s Commercial Director Peter Reilly said: “Scotland’s entrepreneurs form a vital part of our economy, and STV is pleased to give our continued support to Startup Summit for the third year. STV is committed to driving the Scottish economy and this year’s event has been another fantastic opportunity to celebrate the role of innovation and entrepreneurship play in the country’s growth."
Zoi Kantounatou, Co-founder and CFO of FutureX, said: "Each of the finalists deserved to be on our Silicon Valley Accelerate programme. The judges had an unenviable task of choosing the winner! I am excited to have Elizabeth join the programme - I look forward to seeing where the opportunity takes her and Talking Medicines."
FutureX’s Co-founder and CEO, Bruce Walker, said: "The introduction of the tech for good criterion this year took the competition to another level. As we become more reliant on tech in our lives, we have to consider the opportunities and risks that dependency creates.
"Elizabeth, and each of the finalists, epitomise how tech can create a positive impact on the people around us." - Bruce Walker
Do you want to join Elizabeth and other leading tech entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley this spring? Learn more and apply here.