In a significant move towards revolutionizing pediatric care, Little Journey, a digital health startup, has secured £6 million in Series A funding. This development aims to enhance its personalized psychological support platform for children and families interacting with healthcare systems. As a finalist in the 2022 Digital Health Rewired Pitchfest, Little Journey has demonstrated its commitment to transforming pediatric healthcare through innovative digital solutions. Their digital eSupport platform is designed to prepare, inform, and support children and their families not just before, but also during and after healthcare interactions, significantly easing the stress and anxiety typically associated with medical treatments for young patients.
Expanding Global Reach and Enhancing Features
Scaling Operations Globally
The newly secured funding, led by venture capital firm Par Equity and bolstered by additional investments from Mercia Ventures, the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, Octopus Ventures, Calm/Storm Ventures, and several healthcare angel investors, is strategically aimed at scaling Little Journey’s operations on a global level. A primary focus is the US healthcare market, where the demand for specialized pediatric care solutions is on the rise. This international expansion is expected to help Little Journey bring its innovative platform to a larger audience, ensuring more children and families can benefit from its tailored support features.
Furthermore, the funding will enable the enhancement of the platform’s product features. These enhancements will include scalable content, improved interoperability, and advanced data collection capabilities. Such improvements aim to facilitate a more data-focused, patient-centric approach to pediatric care. By leveraging these capabilities, Little Journey plans to create a more streamlined and effective way to deliver care, using data-driven insights to personalize support for each child based on their specific needs and circumstances. This holistic approach ensures that every child receives the best possible care during their medical journey.
Reducing the Burden of Pediatric Clinical Trials
Little Journey’s cofounder and CEO, Chris Evans, has emphasized the vital role this investment will play in alleviating the burden of pediatric clinical trials. These trials often face challenges such as lower recruitment, adherence, and completion rates compared to adult trials, primarily due to a lack of specialist pediatric knowledge. The enhanced platform will be designed to improve these areas, making it easier to recruit participants, ensure their adherence to trial protocols, and achieve higher completion rates. This will be particularly beneficial in expanding the range and effectiveness of treatments available for pediatric patients.
Sophie Copley, Little Journey’s cofounder and chief product officer, underscored that the platform already provides tailored support based on variables such as age, language, procedure, and trial protocol. With the new funding, these capabilities are set to be significantly enhanced, allowing for an even more personalized and supportive experience for young patients and their families. This globalized offering aims to enrich the existing model of care by ensuring that each interaction is as supportive and informative as possible, reducing the anxiety and stress associated with medical treatments for children.
Partnerships and Grant Funding
Addressing Accessibility and Neurodivergence
Further complementing the Series A funding round was a significant amount of grant funding, which included £2.09 million from the LEGO Foundation’s Play for All Accelerator and £493,000 from SBRI Healthcare. These funds are set to support various initiatives, including improving app accessibility for children with disabilities. Little Journey’s partnership with the LEGO Foundation aims to develop innovative solutions specifically targeting neurodivergent children, ensuring that the digital platform is inclusive and accessible to all children, regardless of their individual needs and abilities.
Elizabeth Young, investment manager at Par Equity, highlighted the urgent need for bespoke technologies specifically tailored to children. She acknowledged Little Journey’s innovative approach in addressing these needs by providing a user-friendly and supportive platform. The grant funding will assist in projects that are crucial for making healthcare interactions less daunting for children with unique needs. This focus on inclusivity ensures that every child, regardless of their abilities, can benefit from the advancements in pediatric care that Little Journey is pioneering.
Practical Applications and Future Potential
In a significant advancement for pediatric care, Little Journey, a digital health startup, has successfully raised £6 million in Series A funding. This influx of capital is set to expand its specialized psychological support platform, which is tailored for children and families navigating healthcare systems. As a finalist in the 2022 Digital Health Rewired Pitchfest, Little Journey has clearly showcased its dedication to revolutionizing pediatric healthcare with cutting-edge digital solutions. Their digital eSupport platform is crafted to prepare, educate, and assist children and their families not only before medical procedures but also during and after interactions with healthcare providers. This comprehensive approach is aimed at substantially reducing the stress and anxiety that young patients typically experience during medical treatments. The platform’s holistic support system is poised to make significant strides in the way pediatric care is administered, offering much-needed relief and reassurance to both children and their families during challenging healthcare journeys.
