Innovations recognised at the fourth AXA Health Tech and You Awards

A glove that translates sign language into text and speech and a bracelet that fends off menopausal hot flushes were among some of the innovations recognised at the fourth AXA Health Tech and You Awards.

There were six awards up for grabs on the night, with each category focusing on health technology that can support specific health problems, which this year included dementia, the menopause and mental health in the workplace.

Before the awards took place on 9 May, Digital Health News was invited to a press preview and spoke to several of the nominees. A full list of nominees and winners are listed below.

This included Hadeel Ayoub, founder of BrightSign, who went on to win the Women Entrepreneurs in Health Tech category.

Ayoub spoke about how she developed a ‘smart’ glove capable of translating sign language into text and speech.

She said being part of the awards was “huge”, as it meant she was able to introduce her product to the health technology field.

Another winner was Grace, a bracelet that helps to ease menopausal hot flushes, which won the Peri-Menopause Challenge.

Creator Peter Astbury said being part of the awards was the “right sort of partnership” for start-ups, adding that it provided a good platform for them to get “support and coaching”.

Emoquo, an digital coaching app for employees to help them in the workplace, was another winner.

Finalists and winners can benefit from a “tailored social media and support programme” and “industry recognition”, which can lead to new partnerships and mentoring.

Richard Cooper, head of digital and e-commerce at AXA PPP healthcare, said that from AXA’s perspective, the awards helped them “build a direct relationship” with its customers, and offers the chance for new innovations to be introduced to them.