Major funding boost for EIT Health supported Amethyst Care

Amethyst Care, a start-up project based in ADAPT, the SFI Research Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology at Trinity College Dublin, has received more than half a million euro in funding from Enterprise Ireland through its Commercialisation Fund Programme. The funding will significantly advance Amethyst Care’s mission to develop an AI-driven voice assistant designed to assist and support patients with mobility-related diseases. In 2021, Rebecca McManus, Founder and Commercial Lead at Amethyst Care, participated in the EIT Health Patient Innovation Bootcamp. 

Led by Professor Vinny Wade, Chair of Artificial Intelligence at Trinity’s School of Computer Science and Statistics, the start-up will leverage advanced generative AI techniques and personalisation technology to create a voice-based companion for individuals living with mobility-related challenges. 

The AI-driven voice assistant from the start-up project will provide continuous health monitoring, daily assistance with medication and appointments, emergency alerts, cognitive support, and real-time notifications for family members and healthcare professionals. This voice-enabled technology is especially beneficial for individuals with tremors and other mobility issues that make traditional devices difficult to use. 

EIT Health’s Patient Innovation Bootcamp helped the start-up refine their solution and connect with a network of experts in healthcare and technology.  

“It is always great to hear of businesses and founders like Rebecca, who have benefited from EIT Health programmes as they progress along the innovation pipeline. EIT Health programmes are intended to complement and extend national provision and to encourage early engagement with European ecosystems. I’m pleased that the experience of our Patient Innovation Bootcamp has contributed to the knowledge and confidence with which Amethyst Care is developing. We look forward to following the progress of Rebecca and the Amethyst Care team and wish them success in their commercialisation fund journey,” said Graham Armitage, Managing Director, EIT Health Ireland-UK. 

Rebecca McManus is an entrepreneur with a decade-long background in tech sales and a personal passion for innovation and problem-solving. Her interest in this field was sparked by her experience as a family caregiver for her parents, both of whom faced significant health challenges, including Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Realising the need for practical and user-friendly solutions for patients with reduced mobility, Rebecca dedicated herself to creating a technology that addresses these critical issues. 

 “Our technology addresses key issues faced by patients, caregivers, and the healthcare system, including loneliness, medication management, cognitive decline, caregiver stress, and healthcare professional shortages. This Enterprise Ireland funding will significantly advance our efforts, enabling us to expand our team and prepare for full-scale commercialisation over the next 18 months,” said Rebecca McManus. 

“Joining the EIT Health Patient Innovation Bootcamp in 2021 helped me develop my business case and value proposition on my journey to become market ready. I met like-minded innovators from across Europe with varied backgrounds and it was one of the best experiences I had on a programme,” added Rebecca.  

The funding will be instrumental in driving the start-up’s development, covering essential areas such as regulatory approvals, including FDA and CE mark classifications, and rolling out a quality management system. The team aims to spin out of Trinity College Dublin within the next 18 months.