Our Propel@YH digital accelerator programme provides a six-month course of bespoke support to enable HealthTech startups and scaleups to bring innovative digital health and patient solutions to the Yorkshire and Humber health economy.
In this article, we speak to Rebecca Wilson, Founder and Senior Clinical Safety Specialist at DigiSafe and Micheal Bell, Partner at Acorn Compliance about how they support innovators on the Propel@YH programme.
Why did you choose to partner with Propel@YH?
Rebecca: I was introduced to Propel@YH through my network, particularly as I’m based in Leeds and work closely with Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, where I offer compliance services. After learning more about Propel@YH’s offering, I saw a strong alignment with our goals at DigiSafe. We were recommended to the programme, and after a conversation with the Propel@YH team, partnered with Propel@YH.
Michael: Acorn Compliance were already working with Digisafe to provide holistic compliance services for DTAC and Medical Devices and were introduced to Propel@YH by DigiSafe in February 2024. Acorn’s mission is to help world changing HealthTech innovations get to those that need them most and being part of the Propel@YH programme, and having the opportunity to connect with innovators, presented an amazing opportunity to help make this happen.
What is your contribution to the programme?
Rebecca: DigiSafe brings clinical safety expertise to Propel@YH. As experienced clinical safety officers from diverse backgrounds in clinical and social care, our focus is on ensuring compliance with mandated standards such as DCB0129 and DCB0160. We provide education, workshops, and support to innovators, helping them understand and navigate these standards. Additionally, we offer practical services where needed, ensuing compliance and building strong relationships within the organisations, ensuring a safety culture is embedded.
Michael: Acorn Compliance has been working to both educate and assist innovators with compliance since 2021. We’ve over 100+ years of combined HealthTech expertise in the business and are assisting the Propel@YH programme through our DTAC Squirrel™ automated compliance platform, which is helping innovators become DTAC compliant up to 10 times faster. Additionally, we offer consultancy-led services to assist innovators with medical device regulations, ISO 27001 and emerging AI stadndards. Collectively, when also taking Digisafe’s clinical safety services into account, we provide everything a HealthTech innovator will be required to have in order to meet the stringent compliance and regulatory standards needed in the UK and worldwide.
How does Propel@YH differ from other digital accelerator programmes?
Rebecca: Propel@YH stands out due to its personalised, community-driven approach. It’s deeply embedded in the Leeds ecosystem and advocates for the region’s health and tech advancements. The programme creates meaningful partnerships, educates innovators on diverse topics, and leads to collaboration across the region and internationally! Not only is the programme helping UK-based innovations, but it’s also enabling great solutions to be showcased and used from overseas.
Michael: The quality and breadth of the innovators and their innovations that have been selected for the Propel@YH programme are second to none. Mix this with the programme and masterclasses that the programme offers and this is really a programme that is setting up innovators for success in the UK and beyond.
Can you tell me about the funding bid you have just helped Propellers apply for?
Rebecca: DigiSafe, and Acorn Compliance collaborated to provide guidance to innovators applying for the CPI Regulatory Support funding. We helped them structure their bids and emphasised key areas to include. I’m pleased to report that three of the applications from Propel@YH innovators were successful, we look forward to supporting them on their compliance and regulatory journey and taking them one step closer to success.
Michael: The winning bids cover a wide array of innovations, from a wearable medical device that reduces pain and builds resilience to stress, to software aiming to revolutionise pre-operative surgical assessments and an app that will empower autistic children to complete everyday tasks through digital play.
What is one piece of advice you would give to a HealthTech startup?
Rebecca: The most important piece of advice is to invest in knowledge early on. Ensure that your team are well-versed in compliance and regulatory requirements-especially DCB0129 and DCB0160-before you start developing your product. Build compliance and clinical safety into your roadmap from day one. If your solution involves digital health or care, engage with clinical safety officers and clinicians during the design phase, this ensures the safe design and build of your solution, compliance shouldn’t be seen as a tick box or do it once, it’s an ongoing need. The end user/recipient is at the receiving end of your solution so ensuing it is safe for use is paramount!
Michael: My advice would be to start compliance early, otherwise you build up compliance debt and this can stall your time to market. By starting early and impacting your product’s design to ensure it meets clinical safety, data protection and technical security compliance standards, you will identify potential challenges in your product that if otherwise identified later, may mean you cannot launch on time, and that can impact opportunities and revenues.